"The Majesty of Spain:Royal Collections from the Museo del Prado & Patrimonio Nacional is a $9.8 million, eye-popping hoard of more than 600 treasures - furniture, costumes, tapestries, ivories, sculptures, porcelain, room re-creations and paintings by Goya and Tiepolo - from Spain's royal palaces and largest museum, dating from 1746 to 1833.
Such a collection of masterworks has never left Spain - and never will again, Spanish officials insist.
Some of these objects have never been seen before, even in Spain. Others are hugely popular there, the Mona Lisas of Spain, as it were. Yet they will be in Jackson - and only in Jackson - for six months, nearly twice the length of most museum art exhibits.
Moreover, Spain's ambassador to the U.S. hints strongly that King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia will visit Jackson soon to see the exhibit and to visit "the illustrious" Jack Kyle, as Spanish officials affectionately refer to him.....Meanwhile the rest of the city is grabbing onto 'Spain's' coattails. The planetarium plans a 'Majesty of Space' program. The Old Capitol Museum will mount an exhibit of Mississippi as an 18th century 'Outpost of Majestic Spain'. Flamenco queen Maria Benitez and her dance troupe will perform at a popular local restaurant, Hal & Mal's. Restaurants and hotels are putting Spanish dishes on menus, and liquor stores are stocking Spanish wines."