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Wreck of the Isabella

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In late July 1961, a white marble sculpture 1.50 meters high representing Dionysos was found on the beach of Torrequebrada among the remains of a shipwreck. As soon as it was discovered, the statue was erroneously considered to be from the Roman period. This sculpture was sent to Malaga, where it entered the Provincial Archaeological Museum and remained on display outdoors at the Alcazaba.

In later years, 1961, 1974, and 1984, new sculptures appeared around the "Pecio de los Santos" shipwreck.

Finally, research into the origins of these sculptures culminated with the discovery of the identity of the shipwrecked vessel, the Isabella, an English "brig-barc" owned by the shipowner Robinson that sank in a storm off the coast of Benalmádena on March 4, 1855 while traveling, commanded by Captain Brown, with a cargo of marbles, from Genoa to Calcutta, probably to decorate a villa with classical style statues.

The Isabella statues are currently in the Felipe Orlando Museum of Pre-Columbian Art in Benalmádena.