Sonsoles Vallina,
a Spanish woman in Riyadh
l n t e r v i e w
“More than 60% of
Saudi women have
a college education”
Sonsoles Vallina is a woman who loves art
and lived three years in Saudi Arabia with
her husband, Pablo Bravo, former Spanish
ambassador in that country. They returned
to Spain nearly a year ago and she agreed
to an interview at the Reina Sofia Museum
where she currently works so that we could
learn a bit more about Saudi Arabia and its
capital, Riyadh.
What do you do?
I am an art historian and a curator at the
National Centre of Art Reina Sofia, a res-
ponsibility that I have been able to combine
with the diplomatic posts of my husband
abroad, even though it has sometimes
been difficult for me. In the case of Saudi
Arabia, I decided to accompany him since
I think that my husband needed me and it
was all a challenge. I had the opportunity to
learn about a culture that is totally different
from the European culture, everything seem
shrouded in mystery and moving to Riyadh
gave me the opportunity to experience a
new way of life.
How many years did you live in Saudi
Arabia?
About three years.
How would sum up your relationship
with Saudi Arabia?
One of great friendship thanks to the friends
that I made, of success thanks to the oppor-
tunity of becoming closer to a society that
unknown to me, of understanding certain
