Spain: An Overview

Introduction

For a long time, Spain has been one of the property buyer’s favourites. The second largest country in the EU, it offers something for everyone, from apartments set in busy tourist developments to tranquil farmhouses (fincas) located some 40km (roughly an hour’s drive) from the beach, lunch and a lazy afternoon in the sun.

According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, around 600,000 Britons now live in Spain. They enjoy a comfortable lifestyle in one of the friendliest countries in Europe. While the cost of living has climbed recently, Spain is still cheaper than the UK.

Many Britons live around the coasts (costas), but a move inland has begun among those buying property and seeking tranquillity and life among the Spanish.

Geography

Spain occupies approximately 80 per cent of the Iberian Peninsula. It has borders with France and Andorra to the north and Portugal to the west. In the middle of the country is an enormous plateau known as the Meseta Central, which consists of Madrid, Extremadura and La Mancha. In the south, the Strait of Gibraltar separates Spain from North Africa by just 14km.

The Spanish Costas are: Costa Brava (from the French border to just north of Barcelona); Costa Dorada (from just south of Barcelona); Costa del Azahar (known as the Orange Blossom Coast); Costa Blanca (from Denia to La Manga); Costa Calida (from Aguilas, a few kilometres from the province of Almeria, to El Mojon on the boundary with Alicante); Costa del Sol (from Motril to Cadiz); and Costa de la Luz, which is divided into two sections: Costa de la Luz (Huelva Province) and Costa de la Luz (Cadiz Province).

Climate and weather

It’s perfectly possible to be skiing on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada in the morning and then enjoy a late lunch in the sun in Granada, just half an hour away, so varied is Spain’s climate. Many Britons choose to move to the Canary Islands because of their year-round sub-tropical springtime.

Mediterranean Spain’s summer runs from late April or early May until mid-September. The Costa Brava, at the north-eastern tip of Spain, is cooler than, for example, the Costa del Sol. However, it is the Costa Blanca that gets star billing from the World Health Organisation as one of the healthiest places in the world in which to live.

In Madrid, winter temperatures can easily drop below freezing, and in the summer, 40 degrees Centigrade is not unusual. The bonus is that humidity is low, making the extremes bearable.

History

One of the most significant events in Spanish history was the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus in 1492. In 1479, Portugal had recognised the rights of Spain over the Canary Islands, and this became a launch pad for the Spanish state to conquer and occupy much of South America by the middle of the 16th century.

The following two centuries were a time of turmoil and wars. It was during the Peninsular War (1808–14), when the Spanish rose up, with British help, against French occupation, that Spanish nationality crystallised. By 1898, Spain had lost the last of its overseas colonies, but took Morrocco as a protectorate.

Spain remained neutral throughout the First World War. From 1936 to 1939, the country was engulfed by a civil war, in which it became a battleground for fascists and socialists from all over the world. General Francisco Franco succeeded in overthrowing the republican government and established a dictatorship that lasted until his death in 1975.

Spanish culture

Spain’s lifestyles are as different as its geography. Barcelona is all energy, drive and business, while Madrid has the more restrained atmosphere of diplomacy and government. However, come the late evening, bars in cities and towns all over the country come alive with people enjoying tapas, a glass of wine, a sherry, perhaps, or a beer, and talking. For the Spanish enjoy discussing, dissecting, arguing – and laughing.

The creators of the foods and wines of Spain are just as much artists as painters, sculptors, architects and flamenco dancers. And who’s to say that a carajillo and an ensaimada (that delicious blend of the blackest coffee and a cognac combined with a lightly sugared pastry) for breakfast isn’t another form of Spanish artistry?

Politics and government

The death of General Franco in 1975 heralded a new era of democracy in Spanish politics. In 1977, King Juan Carlos I became head of state and Adolfo Suarez the democratically elected prime minister. The 1978 Constitution established Spain as a parliamentary monarchy, and to this day the monarchy is still immensely popular.

There are now 17 autonomous regions within Spain, including the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands, all of which have their own directly elected authorities. Problems with ETA, the armed separatist group, continue in the Basque country. ETA’s most recent announcement of a ceasefire (March 2006) has been greeted with cautious optimism.

Now a highly developed and stable democracy, Spain joined the EU in 1986. The current prime minister is Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

Healthcare

The E111 form was discontinued some time ago, and Britons travelling to Spain will need to apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. This can be done by phone (0845 606 2030), on the Internet (www.ehic.org.uk) or by picking up an application form from a post office.

An EHIC enables visitors to access emergency medical treatment. It is not a substitute for appropriate insurance.

Residents of Spain who are not pensioners, employed or officially resident do not have access to Spanish state health care.

Many Spanish doctors and nurses speak some English.

Sightseeing

There’s so much of Spain, and so much variety, that it’s important to know in advance where you want to go and what you want to see.

Many tourists choose to focus on one city or area per holiday. Another approach is to hire a car and tour, staying in different hotels, such as those of the Parador chain. Many of the Paradores provide luxurious accommodation in castles, palaces, fortresses, convents, monasteries and other historic buildings.

The Paradores stretch from Galicia in the northwest through Catalunya to Andalucia in the south of Spain, the Canary Islands and to the Spanish cities of North Africa. It is possible to wander from one to another enjoying a very pleasant fortnight of learning about Spain.

Natural beauty

Spain’s landscapes ranges from green and fertile to almost desert-like, and its enormous coastline extends from the Costa Brava to west of Gibraltar.

This is one of the most beautiful and varied countries in Europe. From the meadows of wildflowers in the foothills of the Pyrenees to the pine forests of Ibiza, where the trees are too numerous to count, it would be impossible to become bored with Spain’s natural beauty.

As well as numerous nature reserves and other protected areas, Spain has 10 national parks. Highlights include Ordesa in the Pyrenees, La Montaña de Covadonga in the Picos de Europa mountains of the north Atlantic coast, and Doñana, a bird sanctuary in the far south of the country.

Shopping

The kind of shopping facilities available depend on whereabouts in Spain you are. In Barcelona, the stalls in the market just off Las Ramblas are works of art, with the fruit and vegetables arranged to please the eye and tantalise the taste buds.

Supermarkets can be found in cities and towns throughout Spain, but even though many people use them for bulk shopping, they often prefer the friendliness and personal service to be found in smaller shops where they are known individually. When someone enters a small shop, it’s perfectly normal for staff and customers alike to turn round and greet the newcomer with a chorus of ‘buenos dias.’

Markets are equally popular, and generally sell fruit and vegetables of excellent quality.

Many general grocery stores stock an extensive range of alcoholic drinks, but it’s worthwhile exploring what is available in what would be called an off-licence in the UK (bodega).

Eating out and nightlife

Many employees go out for long lunches together. This is an excellent way of relaxing in the middle of the day and smoothes out the stresses and strains of working life.

There can be few countries where dinner starts as late as it does in Spain. It is perfectly normal to see diners arriving at restaurants at 9:30–10:00 pm in the bigger cities. And dinner need not necessarily be formal. There’s nothing Spaniards like more than grazing along a bar groaning under the weight of plate after plate of tapas. The Spanish omelette (tortilla española) is one of the plainer accompaniments to dishes of wonderful meatballs (albondigas), loin of pork (lomo de cerdo), anchovies (boquerones) or ham (jamon serrano).

Spanish wines have been famous worldwide for some years, and there are many sub-regions from which they come. These include La Mancha, Extremadur, Pla de Bages and Rias Baixas. Some well-known wines include Marqués de Caceres, Campo Viejo, Vega Sicilia and Marqués de Riscal.

Spain is equally famous for its brandies (Fundador, Carlos III and Ciento Tres Etiqueta Negra) and sherries (a few of the main producers being Domecq, Osborne and Gonzalez Byass), as well as local drinks such as the famous aperitif from the Balearic Islands called Hierbas. Made from country herbs, it is sweet and has an aniseed overtone.

Sport and leisure

Given the number of golf courses in Spain, it’s now possible to play from the Portuguese border almost all the way up to the French border. Pretty well every property development boasts a golf course, and where they don’t have one, the chances are that homeowners will find that special arrangements have been made for them to play on a neighbouring course.

An enormous range of sports and leisure activities are available, including tennis, skiing, riding, hunting, swimming, sailing, scuba diving, snorkelling, and fishing. The national passion, whether watching it or playing, is football.

National holidays

Except in the main cities, most businesses are closed on fiesta days. Many Spaniards take such days seriously and go to the beach or, as in Barcelona’s Las Ramblas, whole families will pasear or stroll through the main square, stopping for a drink or coffee. There are also many local fiestas.

In addition to New Year’s Day, Good Friday and Christmas Day, the main national holidays are:

• Epiphany (6 January)
• Feast of San José (19 March)
• Labour Day (1 May)
• Feast of Corpus Christi (variable – mid June)
• Feast of St John (24 June)
• Feast of St Peter and St Paul (29 June)
• Feast of Santiago (25 July)
• Feast of the Assumption (15 August)
• Columbus Day (12 October)
• All Saints’ Day (1 November
• Constitution Day (6 December)
• Feast of the Immaculate Conception (8 December)

Getting there

British Airways, Iberia, British Midland, Spanair, EasyJet and Ryanair all have regular daily scheduled flights to Spain. International airports include Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Seville, Palma de Mallorca and Valencia.

All the main Canary Islands have international airports and are served by regular international and regional flight connections. There are also excellent maritime connections, including ferry services between the islands.

Spain has a highly complex but efficient railway network, ranging from high-speed AVE, Euromed or Altaria to local or regional trains, which tend to be slow and slightly scruffy.

Spain also has an excellent network of roads and motorways. Apart from the secondary roads in rural areas, which are often in a poor condition, they are now among the best in Europe.

© Copyright Buy Associates Limited 2006

All circumstances vary. BuyAssociation provides general advice for guidance purposes only. It is strongly recommended that you seek professional advice before making any purchase.