All About Spain

With the best beaches on Lanzarote, a wonderful microclimate and an idyllic location right on the coast, seemingly within touching distance of near neighbour Fuerteventura, Playa Blanca boasts all of the right ingredients for an ideal holiday in the Spanish sunshine.

Lanzarote´s fastest growing resort takes its name from the small white sand beach that still lies at its heart and which remains a popular spot for sunbathing and swimming with holidaymakers today despite the resorts rapid transformation from small fishing village to bustling tourist destination.

Indeed some of the most striking stretches of sand in the Canaries are located in and around Playa Blanca.  Such as the stunning set of coves and bays at nearby Papagayo, or the many other excellent beaches located within the resort itself such as Playa Dorada and Playa Flamingo.

Playa Blanca was developed some time after the resort rivals of Costa Teguise and Puerto del Carmen to the north but is now home to the best selection of hotels and villas in Lanzarote.  With new four and five start establishments lining the promenade that runs from one end of the resort right through to the other providing a delightful environment for a leisurely seafront stroll.

The harbour area remains the central hub of the town.  From here visitors can catch one of the regular ferries that criss-cross the Bocaina Straits to the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura or hop onto one of the beach taxis or excursion boats that embark throughout the day.

Whilst at the other end of Playa Blanca the relatively new Marina Rubicon adds a touch of class providing mooring for luxury yachts and an atmospheric backdrop for the many bars and restaurants that line the quayside.  Here tourists can also learn to sail and scuba dive as well as enjoying a day out at sea on board the Rubicat – a giant luxury catamaran that transports guests to the beaches at Papagayo.

Playa Blanca is also handily located in close proximity to Lanzarote´s leading tourist attraction – the Timanfaya National Park which is just a ten minute drive away and which is located right at the centre of a series of violent volcanic eruptions that rocked the island during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Fortunately all of the volcanoes are now dormant but the surreal scenery here is simply unforgettable and is often likened to the surface of the moon with solidified lava, punctuated by spent volcanic cones, stretching for as far as the eye can see.

Villas in Lanzarote

The historically rich city of Toledo in Spain with a population of less than 500,000 is the capital of the province bearing the same name and covers an area of over 15,000 km², bordering the river Tagus on both its banks.

To the north-east of the city a series of stunning mountain ranges watch over the River Tietar valley whilst the Toledo hills with their abundance of Holm Oaks, aromatic plants and game stretch out over a vast area of the landscape. Out to the east lies the region of La Mancha and the flat expanses of terrain typical of this part of Spain.

Located south of Madrid, the province of Toledo is one of five that make up the Castile-La-Mancha region and is linked to the capital (75 km away) by a good network of road and rail routes. Secondary roads provide ample opportunities to explore “off the beaten track” whilst the N-V and the N-IV connect the region to Madrid/Extremadura and Andalucia respectively.

A climate typical of Spain’s central plateau can be experience in the Toldeo province with cold winters and hot summers being the norm although neither seasonal extreme is unduly excessive due to the protecting nature of the mountain ranges to the north and south.

The relatively mild climate supports vast vineyards and fields growing wheat, tobacco and cotton, which are liberally spread across this (mainly) farming province. The farming and livestock, consisting of mainly sheep and goats, make up the majority of the industry as most of the small local businesses are in some way connected to agriculture. The Spanish painter El Greco (amongst many others) favoured this idyllic location high above the Tajo river and his home and museum houses many of his paintings depicting scenes around the province.

Prior to the capital being moved from Toledo to Madrid in 1561, the city was one of the most prosperous in Europe and was noted for its’ medicine and manuscripts. A society which practiced great tolerance, Toledo attracted men of learning commerce from the Muslim, Christian and Jewish faiths and it was these scholars which prevented works of the Greek and Roman empires from being lost to future generations. Highly regarded schools of mathematics, theology and science grew here along with schools dedicated to the occult and alchemy.

Although in these modern times Madrid has now somewhat overshadowed Toledo in terms of international recognition, it is the narrow winding streets, the stone houses and the unassuming museums of this city which symbolize the essence of Spain’s history.

View holiday homes to let in Castilla La Mancha

Holiday home to let in Almeria

The cottage is believed to be approximately 100 years old and still retains many of its original features. On the ground floor of the cottage there is a well-appointed kitchen / diner / lounge (with sofa bed), and a bathroom. On the upper floor there are two bedrooms (one double and one twin). The cottage also has a courtyard.

Bed linen and towels are provided and changed weekly.

A welcome pack of essential groceries is provided for your arrival.

Rental charges include gas, electric, water and during the cold weather logs.

We are able to offer the use of our swimming pool (please note however that the pool is not suitable for use by non-swimmers without aids, due to its depth).

The property also benefits from a shady pine terrace where you can relax and read. Bikes and horse riding lessons are available on the property.

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Altea is located just 10 minutes (about 7km) away from Benidorm on the Costa Blanca and was once know as the ‘hippy centre’ of the area as large numbers of artists and musicians often visited and then proceeded to stay for quite some time. There has been a surge in construction in Altea in recent years, which along with the national road N-332, has helped to bring tourism to a village full of little white houses trying desperately to cling on to the ‘Mediterranean village’ charm of previous years. This being said, it is still a pretty little place and still has the Spanish village image having retained its original atmosphere.

Steep and narrow streets winding their way up and through this hillside village take you to a church (with its blue domed roof) and a town square at the top, which are popular with both locals and tourists alike. The old part of the village runs down to the sea where you can find a lovely sandy beach, a new promenade linked to Albir beach and the fishing port. The most attractive, and therefore most visited part of Altea is definitely the port area with its many nice restaurants and bars.

Large numbers of foreigners now call this part of Spain their home although as in the way in Spain, these newcomers are made to feel welcome and are as much a part of the village and local culture as the native inhabitants are.

The Local Area

In the hills around Altea, particularly the Sierra de Bernia, you can get a magnificent view of the village and the Mediterranean coastline. There are some nice hotels in the hills surrounding Altea, many of which are fairly new due to the recent construction boom. Some of the regions best golf courses are also a short drive from the village allowing for a few holes in the morning and a refreshing swim in the sea in the afternoon.

Fiestas of Altea

• 16th July – Mariners de la Virgien del Carmen
• End September – Moors and Christians festival

Cuisine to Try

Altea has lots of different dishes you can try out, mainly due to the diversity of its people (native and newcomers) but as it was and still is a fishing port, then the seafood (especially mussels) is a must.

Sights You Should See

The fish auction – 17:30 weekdays
The old centre with its cosy bars and restaurants
The fishing port
The promenade with its pavement cafes and terraces
The church with the ‘blue dome roof’
The village square up the hills
Guadalest – a village about 15km away perched on the edge of sheer cliffs.
Terra Mitica – the largest theme park on the Costa Blanca

Holiday homes in Altea, Valencian community

The 250-kilometre coastline which borders the province of Murcia in south east Spain is also known as the Costa Calida.

The world famous La Manga Club is located here, boasting some of the top sports and leisure facilities of any self-contained tourist complex in Europe. The Costa Calida also encompasses one of the finest coastal regions in Spain – the Mar Menor – which is a huge natural salt water lagoon separated from the Mediterranean by a 22-kilometre narrow sandy strip of land.

The Mar Menor attracts a wide array of wildlife to its shores along with water sports enthusiasts, attracted by the calm, safe waters and thousands of people who swear by the healing powers of its mud and the minerals it contains. The curative properties of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iodine and bromide, which can be found here in plentiful supplies, are believed to ease many of the ailments afflicting sufferers of rheumatism, arthritis and gout amongst others. Soaking in the healing salt waters of the lagoon or the natural mud baths is free of charge or for a fee you could try a range of natural therapies in one of the many hotel spas lining the shores of the Mar Menor.

The sheltered waters of this inland sea which has an average depth of just 1.7 meters is an ideal place to either learn to swim or perhaps try out a new water sport. The warm and tranquil waters cover an area 26 kilometres long by 1.5 kilometres wide (at its widest point), allowing plenty of room for everyone.

The whole Mar Menor region is dotted with traditional Spanish villages which have remained somewhat untouched by the mass tourism of other neighbouring regions. The villages are a different world from the stunning La Manga Club which offers every kind of sport and leisure facility imaginable. Spanning 1,500 acres, the resort boasts many top quality restaurants, 5 star hotels, water sports facilities, three championship golf courses and much, much more. La Manga Club is not for the budget conscious traveller but if you can afford it, it is a hard place to beat for serious self-indulgence.

The somewhat lower key resort of Mazzaron a little further south along the Costa Calida is a popular destination for the ex-pat property buyer mainly due to the lower property prices and the lack of a mass tourism market in the region.

Properties to buy or holiday homes to let can be found on Rentaccomspain.com

Catalonia is an Autonomous Community of Spain, with the status of historical region, the capital of which is Barcelona. The region covers an area of 32,114 km² and forms borders with Valencia to the south, Aragon to the west, France and Andorra to the north, and the Mediterranean Sea to the east and southeast. Immigrants from outside Spain represent 12.2% of the 7.08 million population.

Best known apart from the capital, is of course the Mediterranean coastal area known as the Costa Brava. With its ample beaches and mild climate, it is without a doubt a first-rate tourist attraction.

Catalonia is not just beaches as it also offers high mountain ranges such as the Pyrenees in the north, the curious formations of Montserrat, the inactive volcanoes of Garrotxa, and a wide plain area in the region’s centre.

Catalonia has a culture all of its own, which is generally of Mediterranean tradition, but distinguished from most other Spanish regions in several ways not just its language, Catalonian (although everybody speaks and understands Castilian Spanish perfectly). It is regarded by many as one of the most cosmopolitan regions of Spain, thanks to its long tradition of international commerce.

The coast offers ideal facilities for all sorts of water sports, but everywhere you go you will recognize that special talent to combine the beauty of nature or buildings with modern attractions, a main reason why Catalonia has developed into one of the preferred tourist destinations of Spain.

Seafood and rice dishes, characterizes Catalonia’s excellent gastronomy along with wines boasting a great international reputation and traditional desserts like the famous “Catalonian Cream”.

Major Attractions in Catalonia

Barcelona

Catalonia’s capital, located beside the Mediterranean Sea, offers the structures of a true metropolis. Among its most outstanding sights are the Gothic Quarter and the works of architect Antoni Gaudi.

Costa Brava

This is certainly one of the most famous Spanish coasts, stretching from the north of Barcelona over the province of Girona. It is of great natural beauty, with steep cliffs and small romantic coves.

Lleida (Lerida)

Located inland in a mountainous area. Most interesting is its cathedral, “Seo”, built between 12th and 15th century.

Girona

A beautiful historic city with the old Jewish Quarter among its major sights.

Figueres

The birthplace of great painter Salvador Dali. Its main attraction is the museum dedicated to the artist, showing a collection of some of his finest works.

Costa Dorada

The Golden Coast, stretching from south of Costa Brava to Tarragona, offers apart from its great beaches and beautiful landscapes towns of outstanding beauty such as Arenys del Mar, Sitges (with the museum of Cau Ferrat) and Castelldefels.

Tarragona

An important city of the Roman Empire, still preserving some outstanding monuments: the aqueducts, an ampitheatre and the Tomb of the Scipios, located beside the sea. Close to Tarragona there are the monasteries Santes Creus and Santa Maria de Poblet, both of high historic-artistic interest.

Language

Catalan, regarded as the native language of Catalonia, is one of the three official languages with the others being Castilian Spanish, which is the official language throughout Spain, and Aranese.

Airports of Catalonia

Barcelona International Airport
Girona-Costa Brava Airport
Reus Airport
Sabadell Airport

Catalan Cuisine

The cuisine of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and the Comunitat Valenciana in Spain; as well as French Roussillon relies heavily on ingredients found along the Mediterranean coast, including fresh vegetables (especially tomato, garlic, aubergine, red pepper and artichoke), wheat products (bread, pasta), olive oils from Arbequina, wines, legumes (beans, chick peas), mushrooms, numerous methods of pork preparation (eg. sausages from Vic, Ham, etc), all sorts of cheese, poultry, lamb and many types of fish like sardine, anchovy, tuna, and cod.

Traditional Catalan cuisine uses a lot of pasta (second only to the Italian cuisine) and cod (salted, dried, fresh, etc). The cuisine includes many preparations that mix sweet and salty and stews with sauces based on botifarra (raw pork sausage) and the characteristic picada (ground almonds, hazelnuts, pine nuts etc, sometimes with garlic, herbs, biscuits).

Some examples are:

Savoury Dishes

Catalan-style cod (with raisins and pine nuts).
Suquet (a seafood casserole).
“Sea and mountain” dishes (delicious combinations of meat and fish).
Calçots (specially cultivated onions, grilled).
Allioli, a thick sauce made of garlic and olive oil, used with grilled meats or vegetables and some dishes like Valencian Fideua.

Sweets and Desserts

Crema catalana: a crème brûlée-style custard with cinnamon.
Mel i mató: a plain dessert of mató cheese with honey.
Tortell: a typical O-shaped pastry stuffed with marzipan, that on some special occasions is topped with glazed fruit.
Torró: a nougat-like traditional Christmas confectionery. Nowadays many variants and flavours exist, but the traditional ones are those based on almonds and honey.

Wines

There are 11 Catalan wine-growing regions qualified by the INCAVI (The Catalan Institute of Wine): Priorat, Penedès, Catalunya, Costers del Segre, Conca de Barberà, Montsant, Alella, Tarragona, Empordà-Costa Brava, Pla del Bages and Terra Alta. The sparkling wine cava, the Spanish equivalent to champagne, is widely exported.

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The popular destination of Lanzarote in the Canaries is an ideal year round holiday choice as the sun rarely stops shining on this small speck of Spain, which is located off the coast of the Western Sahara, with the mercury reaching 20 Celsius even during the depths of winter.

As a result this small volcanic island has become a big hit with tourists.  Last year alone for example more than 1.5 million foreign visitors touched down at the islands sole international airport of Arrecife. Whilst the credit crunch and weak pound is expected to take its toll on the islands holiday industry this year Lanzarote still expects to attract over one million visitors in 2009.

In fact the island has been welcoming intrepid tourists since the Victorian days of empire but since the 1970´s this trickle has become a flood, creating demand for good quality holiday accommodation, around 40% of which is accounted for by the island’s hotels.  Many of the visitors from the UK and Eire prefer to create their own holidays and book their flights and accommodation direct online.

Consequently, demand for good quality villa accommodation is high and rental properties are available in all of the three main resorts of Costa Teguise, Puerto del Carmen and Playa Blanca as well as in outlying rural areas such as Oasis de Nazaret and Arrieta.

The islands southern-most resort of Playa Blanca is home to the largest selection of holiday villas on the island thanks to the fact that this type of accommodation was at the core of the blueprint when the resort was first developed during the 1980´s. As a result there are now hundreds of villas in Playa Blanca for visitors to choose from.  Most of which boast private pools, great views and all of the mod cons you´d expect with prices starting from as little as €450 per week for a party of four.

Demand for character properties in Lanzarote´s volcanic countryside is also on the up as an increasing number of return visitors seek to connect with the authentic Lanzarote away from the main holiday resorts.

The small village of Haria in the north of the island is located in the aptly named Valley of 1000 Palms and is home to Finca La Crucita. A delightful rural complex of eight individual villas all named after a village on the island and decorated in traditional rustic style.

View a large selection of Lanzarote villas by visiting the Lanzarote Guidebook website.

3 Bedroom Villa - El Raso

Villa in Spain for sale direct from the owner.

A stunning 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom detached villa on the stunning El Raso urbanisation close to Ciudad Quesada and a short drive from Quesada Country Club. This Spanish villa is situated within its own gardens incorporating car parking space, all of which are enclosed by walls topped with a decorative metal railing.

The lovely Spanish town of Guardamar del Segura and the fantastic blue flag beaches are just a short drive away with the night market being popular with locals and visitors alike.

Located on the El Raso urbanisation beside the designated nature reserve of Salinas de la Mata (a natural salt lake) and just 1.5km from some of the best beaches on the Costa Blanca.

More properties for sale on the El Raso urbanisation can be found on Rentaccomspain.com

Ninety plus beaches. Year round sunshine. A surreal volcanic terrain. It´s little wonder that Lanzarote, the most easterly of the Canary Islands is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Spain. Attracting around 1.5 million visitors every year.

Tourism first took off on the island back in the 1970´s. As General Franco sought to attract much needed foreign currency by transforming Spain’s hot spots into package holiday destinations. A policy which resulted in large swathes of southern Spain becoming buried beneath a sea of high rise hotels.

Fortunately Lanzarote escaped this fate. Thanks to the intervention of an island born artist called Cesar Manrique. Who campaigned for the considered and controlled development of tourism on the island.

Manrique was born in Lanzarote´s capital of Arrecife in 1919 and was at the vanguard of the Spanish surrealist movement in the 1950`s. Before moving to New York to work and exhibit – where he rubbed shoulders with creative contemporaries such as Andy Warhol.

However, Manrique soon became aware that his beloved island was under threat as hoteliers and property developers began to circle. So he returned to Lanzarote and used his considerable influence on the island to mitigate against the worst excesses of mass market tourism.

As a result the island today is still surprisingly unspoiled – especially in comparison to close Canarian cousins such as Tenerife and Gran Canaria. There are no high rise buildings – as Manrique successfully had any construction taller than a Canarian palm tree banned. And there’s a total absence of adverting billboards – as these were also outlawed.

Consequently – outside of the three main resorts – Lanzarote remains largely as nature intended. Which is fortuitous as the island boasts a great deal of natural beauty. Some of which is unconventional and raw – such as the incredible terrain of the Timanfaya Volcano Park. Scene of a series of huge eruptions in the 1730´s which created hundreds of new volcanic peaks and an eerie lava scape that covers around one quarter of the island.

The north of Lanzarote is a complete contrast to the arid, volcanic region in the south. As here picturesque white washed villages such as Haria and Maguez nestle in the folds of palm packed valleys – such as the aptly named Valley of 1000 Palms. Where locals plant one palm for every new born girl and two for a boy.

Lanzarote is small – measuring just 58km by 38km – so exploring this island of contrasts and discovering its many attractions is easy. With both car hire and petrol much more affordable than in the UK.

Find more Lanzarote tourist information at Lanzarote Guidebook

Flamenco dancing is an expressive form of dance, which has its roots in Andalucia, Spain and more specifically, according to some experts, in Jerez de la Frontera. It originated among Indian gypsies who had arrived and settled in Spain after travelling around Europe in the early part of the 15^th century, to later be joined by others who came from North Africa.

The gypsies brought with them their own language, Romano, and an oriental style of music never before heard on the Spanish mainland. As the centuries passed, the cultures of the local population of Jews and later the Moors all had an influence on the gypsy music with elements from their musical styles being incorporated.

From their arrival in Spain, the gypsies were classified as outcasts of society and special laws were made specifically for them. Forced to live in camps as they were not allowed to own any property, many took up work in local mines or in the fields of the region leaving those with any sort of skill to make a slightly better living in work such as blacksmiths and jewellers.

The people were treated badly and the flamenco song (the cante) was initially performed at family gatherings as a way to express feelings of depression and misery. During the early years, flamenco is thought to have been entirely a vocal art form, which was accompanied by the rhythmic clapping of hands.

King Carlos III changed the fortunes of the gypsies in the 18^th century when he removed their specific laws and gave them the same rights as other Spanish citizens; however, this did not remove the stigma of mistrust that the Spanish people had of them. Due to their newfound freedom, the gypsies were able to improve their financial status and some of the previously out of reach items such as musical instruments became within their means, hence the arrival of the guitar (el toque) and its addition to the cante.

As the flamenco style of music became more popular near the end of the last century, performers began to appear at parties of the richer members of society with professionals staging the music and dance, the most popular of which were the fandangos, at ‘cafes cantantes’.

The ‘opera flamenca’ period followed as the flamenco gained in popularity and began to appear in theatre stage shows. These, however, tended to focus more on the melodic style of music – cante bonito – which did not express the passion as much as the early gypsy styles.

As the Second World War progressed through Europe there was little prospect of performances on stage, but during the 1950s festivals in Andalucian towns such as Malaga, Jerez and Cordoba rekindled public interest producing a new generation of performers.

The motions and facial expressions of the female flamenco dancers can be compared to those of Oriental dancers with the only exception being that they are more forceful. Each style of dance uses a handheld musical instrument – the flamenco dancer, castanets and the oriental dancer, finger cymbals – however; the cymbals used in flamenco are not traditional and have only been in use for the last 100 years or so.

The centuries have seen flamenco progress from sombre home songs expressing feelings of hardship to popular stage shows throughout the world that continues to be developed.

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