After kicking off its 2026 tour in Aranjuez, coinciding with the International Year of Grasslands and Shepherds, José Barea’s photographic exhibition makes a stop at the Valdeparaíso Palace in Almagro on April 25 and 26, accompanied by a full program of cultural and leisure activities.
A unique experience focused on the rural and sustainable world of sheep and goats, including wool and children’s workshops, tastings of Manchego lamb sandwiches, traditional music, lectures, and screenings of documentaries about extensive livestock farming.
On the weekend of April 25 and 26, Almagro becomes one of the most attractive destinations in Castilla-La Mancha for enjoying a different, cultural, and free experience. The Interprofessional Agri-food Organization for Sheep and Goats (INTEROVIC) continues its tour of Spain with the Bestiarium Roadshow, a cultural project that combines art, sustainability, and rural heritage. Since 2021, this project has been bringing the world of sheep and goats to a wider audience through cultural and leisure activities.
After its first stop in Aranjuez in 2026, the ephemeral event travels to Almagro, where it will stop at a very special historical site: the Valdeparaíso Palace, the University of Castilla-La Mancha’s campus in the city.
For two days, this emblematic building will open its doors to host a free, immersive experience in the rural world, in a particularly significant context: the celebration of the International Year of Grasslands and Shepherds, an initiative that highlights the role of extensive livestock farming in the planet’s sustainability and the conservation of territories.
A Weekend to Rediscover Rural Culture
The centerpiece of INTEROVIC’s Roadshow is Bestiarium, a photographic exhibition by José Barea on display at the Palace. The exhibition portrays native breeds of sheep, goats, and other livestock from Spain. It features a carefully curated selection of images that allow visitors to rediscover the value of extensive livestock farming and the beauty of its inhabitants: from the well-known Churra and Merino sheep to the Guadarrama goat and the Manchega sheep, all so closely linked to the history and identity of this land. “Bestiarium is a tribute to the rural world and these animals, so familiar yet so often overlooked, that are part of our very history,” explains the photographer.
The exhibition program is rounded out by the display of the tapestry “Map of Wool,” a piece crafted from wool sourced from 44 native Spanish breeds. Created by Hilandia, it highlights this natural resource in an artistic and educational way.
For its part, gastronomy will take center stage with a free tasting of lamb fritters, courtesy of INTEROVIC, available on Saturday the 25th at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., and on Sunday the 26th at 1:00 p.m.
The conference program will feature three talks and discussions in the Aula Magna. On Saturday the 25th at 11:00 a.m., “Domestic Biodiversity, a Heritage for All: The Case of the Manchego Consortium” will be held, with the participation of specialists from the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), the Manchego Lamb Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), AGRAMA, the Manchego Cheese PDO Regulatory Board (CRDO), and the IRIAF (Regional Institute for Agri-Food Research and Development). At 12:30 p.m., “Transhumant Shepherds of the Alcudia Valley” will take place, featuring a veterinarian, a transhumant livestock farmer, a rural communicator, and a historian. On Sunday the 26th at 11:00 a.m. The discussion will focus on “Generational Transition and New Livestock Farming Models,” with the participation of representatives from the Castilla-La Mancha School of Shepherds and innovative livestock farmers.
The cultural program also includes the recital “Music and Oral Tradition in Rural Areas,” performed by Luis García Valera of the Entresierras School of Folk Music, on Saturday the 25th at 6:00 p.m., and the screening of the documentary “The Legacy of the Shepherdesses” on Sunday the 26th at 12:00 p.m., followed by a discussion with its coordinator, María Julián Prados, and local livestock farmers.
The program also includes hands-on workshops for all ages, such as the traditional wool spinning workshop, where participants can learn the complete process from fleece to skein, available both days. There will also be children’s workshops on drawing and creating badges with animal motifs, recommended for children aged 6 to 10. All workshops are free and open to the public; no prior registration is required.
Culture, Livestock, and Sustainability in Motion
The Bestiarium Roadshow is part of the European campaign “Celebrate the Everyday with Sustainable European Lamb,” through which INTEROVIC highlights the role of grazing as a tool for ecological balance, rural revitalization, and social cohesion. “For this edition, we have chosen a location steeped in history and significance in the heart of La Mancha. We want the public to enjoy the culture surrounding the sheep and goat sector through workshops and activities.”
“It’s a time when you discover everything around it up close, from its artistic dimension to its value in the rural environment,” explains Tomás Rodríguez, director of INTEROVIC.
Bestiarium, with its artistic and documentary approach, has established itself as a platform for highlighting the importance of native breeds and the role of livestock farmers in preserving ecosystems. INTEROVIC supports this initiative as part of its objective to promote responsible and local consumption, encourage sustainable lamb and kid meat, and showcase the positive impact of grazing on the landscape and biodiversity.
