Tourist Information

The region’s history is a rich mixture of Spanish and Moorish influences thanks to the Moorish occupation which extended into the 15th century and Islamic palaces and Catholic churches exist side by side in harmony today. To name just a few, the Mezquita in Córdoba, the Al-Hambra Palace in Granada and the Giralda in Seville are examples of Moorish architecture which rate as some of the most beautiful buildings in the world.

After early settlements by north African tribes and the Phoenicians, the Romans invaded in the third century bringing roads, trade, Christianity and Latin, which formed the basis for modern Spanish.

Following the collapse of the Roman empire, various barbarians from northern Europe fought for control of the region which eventually found stability under the Moors, Islamic warriors from Arabia and north Africa who invaded in 711AD. They called the region al-Andalus and the name stuck, as did their skills in areas such as architecture, gardening, music and textile crafts. Agriculture, mining, trade and industries all flourished under the Moors.

But by the end of the 15th century, the Christian reconquest of Spain under Isabel of Castille and Ferdinand of Aragón and Catalonia had been successful and the Moorish period was over with the fall of its last outpost of Granada, where the breath-taking Moorish palace of Al-Hambra still survives today. It gave way to what is known as the Spanish Golden Age (or Siglo de Oro) and the country enjoyed the Renaissance as much as England, building a great empire while the arts flourished at home. Cervantes, Lope De Vega, El Greco and Velasquez are among the many great Spanish artists and writers producing work during this period. Christopher Columbus (or Cristobal Colon as the Spaniards more correctly call him) set off for the New World from Andalucia bringing back immense riches in gold. It was not a time for tolerance however and the new Catholic monarchs used the Inquisition to persecute Jews and Muslims.

Andalucia suffered as Spain went into an economic decline over the next couple of centuries, losing the last of its colonies of Cuba, Puerto Rica and the Philippines at the end of the 19th century.

Franco took power in 1939 having overthrown the existing republic in the Spanish Civil War and his dictatorship lasted until his death in 1975. After that, Spain became a parliamentary democracy, joined the EU and began the process of economic and cultural recovery. Much political power was decentralised in stark contrast to the iron grip of Franco and 17 autonomous communities were formed each with their own parliament and president. Franco’s legacy was one of poverty, not least in Andalucia, but things gradually improved and today, Andalucia is a thriving part of the modern Spain.

Culture and Religion

Spain is a Roman Catholic country and much of its cultural identity and traditions come from the Church. While 80% of the population would define themselves as catholic, around 40% go to Mass.

Semana Santa, the week before Easter, is always a time for celebrations, with most towns and villages having their own street processions.


FIESTAS
Fiesta is not something that really translates into English as it is a very Spanish tradition. Most Spanish towns and cities have their own day of the year, usually their patron saint’s day, which is their fiesta. The whole town has a holiday and there is usually a street procession with huge icons of figures from a mixture of folklore and Catholicism carried through the streets on the shoulders of the locals. Everyone has a good time enjoying the traditional food, music and plenty of wine.

Just try to imagine it on the streets of any town in England and you will have a good idea of how different and lively life in Spain can be. There are fiestas going on throughout the year in Spain, but many of them take place in July and August, the hottest months of the year.

February or March (depending on when Easter falls) is also a time for celebrations with Shrove Tuesday carnivals taking place throughout the region.

During Semana Santa (the week before Easter) every town and city has its own series of celebrations which, although not without piety, owe very little to the more sombre ideas we may have of religious celebrations in the UK.
Other festivals include Seville’s Feria de Abril (seven days of partying in April in the region’s capital), the Feria del Caballo (an equestrian festival at the beginning of May in Jerez), the Potaje Gitano (a flamenco festival in Utrera), the Feria de Málaga, September’s Fiesta de Moros y Cristianos in Valor and the Fiestas de Otono at the end of September in Jerez. So whatever time of the year it is, there’s always a party somewhere to be found in Andalucia.

Useful Information and Contact Details

POLICE
There are three kinds of police in Spain: the national and municipal police forces and the Guardia Civil. The Guardia Civil wear green and are responsible for national security, customs and some aspects of traffic policing.

The national police wear black and white and deal with crime investigation. The municipal or local police wear blue and white and are responsible for traffic control and parking offences.


TELEPHONES
The international dialing code for Spain is +34 and the national telecoms company is called Télefonica.

More Useful Information

TIME ZONE
Local time is one hour ahead of GMT in the winter and two in the summer (from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in September).



WORKING HOURS
The Spanish working day is very different from the English one, and usually runs from 10am until 2pm, then from 4 or 5pm until 8 or 9pm. Spanish meals are arranged differently too, with the main meal at lunchtime, which is slightly later than in the UK, and a lighter meal in the evening at 9 or 10pm, much later than the evening meal in the UK.


COST OF LIVING
It is difficult to give anything more than a rough guide to living costs in Spain, but they are significantly cheaper than the UK, with some estimates at around 40% cheaper.
This obviously is a very rough estimate and will vary considerably from region to region, and between town and country and coast and inland, and will also depend on the individual goods and services. Generally, fresh fruit and veg are much cheaper than in the UK, as are cigarettes, alcohol and eating out.


BUREAUCRACY
Spain has a not-undeserved reputation for bureaucracy. To the newcomer, this can be by turns time-consuming, confusing and infuriating, involving trips from one government office to another fetching and carrying different pieces of official paperwork.

The best advice in dealing with this is to have patience and, particularly if your Spanish is not good, to hire a gestor, an official trained to help with legal and financial paperwork.


POLITICS
Since the death of Franco in 1975, Spain has become a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy. King Juan Carlos I has reigned since Franco’s death and he, along with his wife Sofia, is a popular and down-to-earth figure in Spanish life.

The country is divided into 17 autonomous regions to which varying degrees of political power are devolved. They all have their own elected parliament, supreme court and president. Galicia, the Basque Country and Catalonia all have their own languages which are officially the first language ahead of Castillian Spanish.

Sport

There’s no end of options on offer for those of a sporty disposition, from watersports on the coast itself including wind-surfing, waterskiing, jetskiing and surfing, to horseriding, literally acres of high quality golf courses, cycling, football, bullfighting, bird-watching, hang-gliding, kite-surfing, rock-climbing and diving.


GOLF
Golf in Spain is booming, driven by tourism and the climate. The world-wide success of Ballesteros, Olazabal, Jimenez and Garcia has contributed to this success. The Costa Del Sol is often referred to as Costa Del Golf, such is the profusion of new courses. They are carved out of barren landscapes, and pampered and watered to produce lush green fairways.


TENNIS
Tennis is a low capital cost, highly popular activity. The courts, many of which are attached to hotels or sports centres, are utilised all year round. Many urbanisations, in addition to a swimming pool, have a tennis court maintained through their community charge. It can be a social activity too. This choice is dependent on the membership or the availability of a teaching professional.


WATER SPORTS
Costal Spain is a mecca for watersports. The most popular sports include sailing, windsurfing, water-skiing, jet-skiing, surfing and of course, scuba diving. There are a wide variety of sites for all ability levels, and all tastes. A wide variety of marine animals, flora and fauna, surrounded by exciting and mesmerising environments create some truley memorable diving experiences.


BOWLING
The capital cost to establish a bowling green is low, with demand high. It is one of the few competitive sports for those of mature years, and combines well with social activities.


SAILING
Spain's mediterranean is ideal for easy sailing, and the Costa Del Sol offers a wide range of sailing experiences from sail boards and small dinghies through to cruising yachts.


HIKING
There are numerous walking and hiking clubs. For the adventurous, the best places to go are the Picos De Europe in northern Spain, the Pyrenees near the French border, the Costa Blanca inland from Benidorm and around the Sierra Nevada. Many holiday companies now offer Spanish walking tours, which ahs resulted in some excellent English publications, describing

Entertainment

BULL FIGHTING
The mountain village of Ronda is home to the oldest bullring in Spain and there are about 70 others around Andalucia. The season runs from April to October and fights start in the late afternoon or early evening.


FLAMENCO
One of the most important defining characteristics of the region comes from the influence of flamenco. The world-famous style of music and dance was developed by the gypsies at the end of the 18th century and like all good folk music laments their troubles as outsiders from mainstream society. The guitar was invented in Andalucia.

Festivals, like the Potaje Gitano in Utrera, take place throughout the year, but it is just as well enjoyed in the intimacy of one of the many bars with flamenco music.

Costa Del Sol

The Costa del Sol is probably the best known and most developed part of the Spanish Mediterranean coastline. It is protected from cool northerly winds by a mountain chain which helps to give the area its mild climate and low rainfall. This popular coast abounds in palm trees, cypresses, oleander and hibiscus.

Inland are the mountains with valleys full of orchards, while the coast comprises a series of large beaches, with hidden coves and fishing grounds. The Costa del Sol is famed for its magnificent golf courses, many with adjacent complexes of villas and apartments. Many of the golf courses have been designed by famous international golfers and course designers such as Peter Alliss, Robert Trent Jones, Gary Player and Severiano Ballesteros. There is golf here to suit all standards of players, in a pleasant climate with beautiful surroundings.

Frequent, reasonably priced flights to Malaga from all over Europe have helped to make the Costa del Sol very popular both as a holiday destination as well as a great area for relocation. Initially viewed as a package tour destination, more and more people are now travelling independently to the area or buying property to make the most of the year round attractions of the Costa del Sol.

The Andalucian people are friendly and hospitable. A little effort to learn some Spanish will be richly rewarded in being able to join in more local activities, and will be appreciated by local people, but many people live happily with only a smattering of Spanish and local government offices have made sure that English speakers are available when dealing with officialdom.

Foreign residents are also pleased to find that many favourite grocery items from Britain are now available in Spanish shops. Add to this the wonderful fresh Mediterranean food available everywhere in the area and a splendid and varied diet is assured.

The Costa del Sol can be divided into an eastern and western section with its centre at Malaga. The coast east of Malaga is less highly developed with cliffs up to 200 metres high terminating in the coastal plain around Mara. The principal town on this section of coast is Nerja where most of the tourist accommodation is found as well as the spectacular Nerja caves.

To the west of Malaga the is 100km stretch of coast ending at the border of Cadiz province. This is a highly developed area attracting a substantial percentage of Spain’s international tourism. Improvements to the local infrastructure with the N340 coastal highway and the road stretching inland to Ronda have helped to open up the entire area.

Although the coast is so well known just a few miles inland is another world of unspoiled countryside and the protected natural parks of the Sierras. The parks offer a range of facilities for anyone interested in exploring these beautiful areas. Footpaths and mountain bike tracks are clearly marked and there are visitor centres, camping sites and picnic areas with barbecue points and running water.

The Costa del Sol and its hinterland can offer a great deal to those who are prepared to look further than the beautiful coastline.

Costa De Almeria

The Costa de Almeria is in the south east of the Iberian Peninsula. It enjoys a warm and dry Mediterranean climate with over 3000 hours of sunshine every year. Average temperatures range between a winter low of 13°C and a summer high of 25°C, allowing year round enjoyment of the area. It is the warmest province in Andalucia and the most sunny which is why the most powerful telescope in Europe is to be found here.

The Costa de Almeria is in the south east of the Iberian Peninsula. It enjoys a warm and dry Mediterranean climate with over 3000 hours of sunshine every year. Average temperatures range between a winter low of 13°C and a summer high of 25°C, allowing year round enjoyment of the area.

It is the warmest province in Andalucia and the most sunny which is why the most powerful telescope in Europe is to be found here.

The coastline is very unspoilt. The main city is Almeria which is sited on the coast. It lies at the foot of a huge massif on which sits the Moorish fortress of Alcazaba, built by the Caliph of Cordoba, Abd-er Rahman III. It consists of three walled enclosures, the second of which houses a mosque, later converted to a church by the Catholic Kings of Spain. During wars the Alcazaba could hold more than 20,000 men. In the city is the magnificent “fortified” cathedral built in the Gothic style with a Renaissance façade during the sixteenth century.

East of Almeria is the Cabo del Gato-Nijar natural park with its rugged and desolate coast. The park has an arid desert landscape with an annual rainfall of less than 200mm. The population is sparse with few villages and visitors experience a sense of exploration as many of the secluded coves are only accessible on foot. Nature lovers and backpackers are particularly fond of the area.

To the west of Almeria are the more developed resort areas of Roquetas de Mar and Aqua Dulce. Roquetas de Mar is an international package tour destination with an abundance of facilities. Despite this popularity a half hour stroll along the beach from the resort will probably lead you to complete solitude.

Costa Colida

he Costa Calida is a stunningly beautiful place with craggy mountains, golden beaches and nature reserves. The coastline stretches from San Pedro de Pinatar at the northern end of the Mar Menor down to the south of Puerto de Mazarron. The northern section is made up of the La Manga peninsula and Mar Menor with the southern section running from Cabo de Palos promontory to the resort town of Aguilas.

The principal inland town is Murcia which is also the regional capital, while the largest coastal town is the ancient port of Cartagena. The area boasts three nature reserves. The salt flats that comprise the Regional Park of San Pedro are home to flamingos, herons, storks and many species of migratory birds. Specially constructed wooden walkways allow tourists to move through the park for spectacular views of the wildlife. The Calblanque Regional Park is a stretch of virgin coast with hills and empty beaches and the Marine Reserve of the Hormogas Isles is world famous.

One of the delights of the Costa Calida is the Mar Menor which translates as Little Sea. There are five islands within it and nowhere is it more than seven metres deep. The water is warmer than the Mediterranean by an average of two degrees due to the shallow depth and the only access to the Mediterranean being via a narrow channel.

The majority of the coastline of the Costa Calida is sandy and there are three marinas for keen sailors and boatwatchers alike. Golf lovers will be delighted with the 1400 acre La Manga Golf Complex. With three of the finest golf courses in Europe, La Manga has hosted the Spanish Open five times as well as a multitude of other high profile golfing events, and there are facilities for swimming, diving, tennis.

Costa Blanca and Costa De La Luz

Costa Blanca

Mention the Costa Blanca to most people and the picture they have in mind is beaches backed by a high rise maze of hotels, clubs, bars and restaurants. But in reality the Costa Blanca has far more to offer than the commercialism of Benidorm.

The Costa Blanca comprises 100 miles of coastline with the airport hub and medieval town of Alicante at its heart. On the southern part of the coast are beautiful golf courses and the wetlands rich in bird life. To the north of Alicante the mountain ranges drop down to miles of fine, sandy beaches and secluded coves.

Moving inland into the hills a line of fortifications marks out the ancient border between the kingdoms of Castile and Valencia. Every summer these are the venues for battle re-enactments by local residents reliving their local history.

Getting to the Costa Blanca is easy with scheduled and charter flights to Alicante from major European hubs as well as internal flights to principal Spanish destinations. Flying time from the UK is only 21/2 hours and good main roads link Alicante with the rest of the Costa and with Madrid. Daily ferries run to Ibiza, Mallorca and the other Balearic Islands. As a popular tourist destination the food available on the Costa Blanca reflects the varied tastes of locals and visitors alike, but the native cuisine of the area is based on the local, nutty flavoured rice. The abundant and varied seafood of the area combines with this to create delectable local specialities such as Arroz Negro, Arroz a la Marinera, Arroz con Chipirones and many others. Local desserts include grapes, delicious ice creams, traditional nougat and wonderful almond pastries. Spaniards regard lunch as their main meal and eat late in the evenings at about 9.00 pm.


Costa De La Luz

Named for the fabulous quality of its intense bright light, this wonderful coast in western Andalucia covers the area from the mouth of the River Guadiana to the Straits of Gibraltar.

The fine, sandy beaches are backed by the shelter of sand dunes and pine forests. The sand here on the Atlantic coast is finer and a more golden colour than on the neighbouring Costa del Sol. This is a less developed area of the Spanish coastline with fewer high-rise developments than in other areas. The Atlantic waves and winds make the area very popular with windsurfers, with Tarifa known as the windsurfing capital of Europe.

There are no private beaches in Spain and everyone has the right to walk the entire coastline. Recent legislation has prohibited construction too close to the coast. Signs reading “Acceso publico a la playa” mean that there is a right of way over private land to reach the beaches. As well as the beaches the coastline is dotted with small fishing villages.

Travel

Visas
There are no visa requirements for EU citizens and they may stay as long as they please as long as they have passports. If they stay for 183 days, they are treated as residents for tax purposes and have to pay tax on their worldwide income.