| Spanish society is modern and culturally viral, and this has given Spain the feeling of a country with a spring in its step. At little more than two hours flying time from the UK, Spain literally transports you to another world. With its exhilarating culture, friendly people, remarkably varied cuisine, beautiful countryside and a wonderfully temperate climate that benefits from the almost permanent presence of the sun, Spain certainly deserves its reputation as one of the most exciting and cosmopolitan countries in Europe. Spain is a country where its people have a real passion for everything that they do. It also has one of the most influential cultures reaching people on every continent. In Spain, you will find that people still take part in age-old traditions such as flamenco-dancing, bull-fighting, winemaking and cooking traditional Spanish recipes. Spain also has a full diary of fiestas that take place throughout the year, with locals from villages, towns and cities dressing up in costumes and celebrating at huge parties. These fiestas really do demonstrate how proud and high-spirited Spanish people really are. |
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| Summers are generally hot, especially in the Guadalquivir valley of Northern Andalucia running out to Seville where some of the highest temperatures are recorded. Sunshine levels average 5 hours per day in winter and 12 hours per day in summer. Spaniards have the luxury of fantastically warm temperatures all year round. When combined with that wonderful custom, the Siesta in the afternoon, followed a by late dinner and socialising with friends until the early hours, it makes it possible for the people of Spain to enjoy almost every day in a way that most of us can only dream about. Across the majority of Spain, the sun shines all-year-round with an average annual temperature of approximately 20 degrees. The hottest months of the year are between April and October, with particularly high temperatures seen in July and August - slightly lower temperatures are found in the winter months. The climate in Spain is diverse, being affected by altitude (Spain is the second most mountainous county in Europe), the sea (Mediterranean or Atlantic Ocean) and continental effects (central Spain is in effect in a large land mass). |
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| There is also of course a significant difference between north and south Spain. Mediterranean Spain has high sunshine levels, from 6 hours per day in the winter to 12 hours per day in summer. Winters are mild - much warmer than central Spain. Rain is very rare from June to August though the northern Mediterranean coast may be liable to occasional heavy downpours. In the south, there can occasionally occur a very hot wind from North Africa (the Leveche) though sea breezes may stop temperatures from rising too high. Central Spain and the Southern Atlantic coast has a generally low rainfall though winter snow can be heavy on the sierras. Not surprisingly, the Spanish lifestyle has wide appeal to people of all ages and social groups which is no doubt why 300,000 Britons have decided to buy properties in Spain. In the past, Spain was seen as a country where people relocated to after they had retired, however, research now suggests that the age of people buying property in Spain is dropping, indicating that more and more younger people are now moving there. In fact, a lot of people have found great success in setting up their own businesses there. |
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When it comes to property, there are many options available to people choosing a property to buy in Spain, though there are inevitably, positive and negative points to consider as a buyer before making a final decision. Buying an apartment can provide peace of mind because with neighbors all around, security is not so much of a problem. Moreover, one would probably find that most of one’s neighbors would be Spanish. Apartments are generally cheap to purchase and easy to sell when necessary.
Spain remains the first choice of British investors looking for a second home in the sun, in fact nearly one third of homes in Spain are holiday or second homes. This demand has led to a huge rise in construction, with approximately 800,000 new homes started in 2004 and 900,000 in 2005. Tourism is of particular importance with over 50 million visitors a year injecting some $25 billion into the economy. Much of this demand is as a result of the superb climate that Spain has to offer as well as the many amenities that the country has to offer with many of the finest beaches being located in close proximity to some of the best kept golf courses in the world. Golf is increasing played a larger part in the type of investment that people are looking for, be it for a retirement home for those seeking winter sun for a round of golf rather than the cold, wet and windy winters that are experienced in the United Kingdom, or as an investment for the future, as Spain continues to experience growth of 15% in some areas of the property market.
Golf is now at the heart of the multi-billion dollar tourist industry which dominates the Spanish costas and nowhere more so than on the Costa del Sol which is king of the crop in terms of golfing heaven. This “sunshine coast” has more than 30 courses and Andalucia as a whole is home to nearly 60 courses, many of which host regular world championships. The Costa del Sol’s many world class clubs include Valderrama - Spain’s most famous golf course which hosted the Ryder Cup in 1997 and the World Golf American Express Championships in 1999 and 2000. The club has become the spiritual home of the prestigious Volvo Masters tournament (the European Tour’s flagship championship).
- Spain has nearly 45 million people, making it the 28th most populated country in the world and the sixth most populated country in Europe (after Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy and the Ukraine). It has the lowest population density in Western Europe (excluding Scandinavia).
- Spain measures 505,992 square kilometers, making it the 51st biggest country in the world and the third biggest in Europe (after France and the Ukraine).
- Spain is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe. Three quarters of the country is over 500m above sea level, and a quarter of it is over a kilometer above sea level.
- The most famous mountain ranges in Spain are the Pyrenees and the Sierra Nevada.
- Spain has one of the most diverse landscapes in Europe. The region of Almeria in the south-east resembles a desert in places, while the north-west in winter can expect rain 20 days out of every month.
- Spain has over 8,000km of beaches.
- Spain has more land covered by vineyards than any other country in the world. However, due to the arid soil, the actual yield is lower than in other countries.
