European Division | SPAIN
Spotlight on Marbella
Marbella was catapulted onto the international luxury travel circuit in the 1950s, when Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe established the Marbella Club Hotel, one of the most exclusive luxury beach resorts in Europe. Today, the glitzy resort city boasts world-class hotels, restaurants, shops, spas and nightclubs and is the site of Spain's most famous marina, Puerto Banus. It is home to approximately 250,000 people, more than half of whom hail from other parts of the globe.
"This marvelous mixture of cultures, traditions, languages and professions creates the real magic of Marbella," says Christopher Clover, owner of Panorama Properties, a Marbella luxury real estate agency. "The friendliness and peacefulness of the people who live here has an incredibly positive influence on the property market."
Located on Europe's southernmost coastline, within sight of Gibraltar and the Moroccan Coast, Marbella enjoys a rare microclimate created by the Sierra Blanca Mountains that results in 320 sunny days a year. But sultry weather and spectacular beaches are far from Marbella's only draw, says Christopher. "We also have the mountains, and even Spain's most famous ski resort [Sol y Nieve], which is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains only a two-and-a-half hours' drive away," he says.
In addition, "The fabled cities of Sevilla, Granada and Cordoba are only a couple of hours away, with all of the beautiful mountain villages and incredible scenery in between." Of course, no description of Marbella would be complete without mentioning golf. Costa del Sol, the 90-mile-long coastal region where Marbella is located, is known as the Golf Capital of Europe with more than 50 courses.
According to Christopher, luxury real estate property and homes for sale in Marbella, Spain range from around $400,000 USD for a townhouse or apartment, up to several million dollars for a mansion on the beach, in the hills or on a golf course.
Spotlight on Costa Blanca
The Costa Blanca, or "White Coast", has long been a favourite spot among foreign holidaymakers. Corresponding roughly to the modern province of Alicante, this region is made up of two clearly differentiated scenic areas: to the north, a curtain of mountains runs parallel to the sea, descending at times to form cliffs; to the south a vast plain of sand patches, palm trees and salt deposits make up the back-drop for beaches that seem to stretch on forever. As a visitor, you will find cafés and restaurants to satisfy your every craving, but venture inland and you soon enter a world that is still quintessentially Spanish, where fields of almond trees, vineyards, fruit orchards and magnificent palm trees dominate the landscape.
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For most tourists, Spanish as well as foreign, Benidorm remains the largest attraction. Like a huge "holiday playground", it is a tourist magnet in the true sense of the word, offering sun- and fun seekers every amenity and diversion under the sun. Above all, however, it is the string of pretty little resort towns and ancient fishing settlements hugging bays and coves that give the northern Costa Blanca its charm and character.
Denia, capital of the Marina Alta district, is a charming, cosmopolitan town with a medieval castle at its heart. Its 20-kilometre coastline is made up of both fine sandy beaches, interspersed with beautiful little coves and craggy enclaves, and a series of beautiful white cliffs from which the region takes it name. The Montgó Natural Park, situated on the border between Denia and Javea, occupies the most spectacular part of the coast, where cliffs, sculpted by the winds of time, provide a landscape of endless variety of texture and form.
Rounding this part of the coastline, one comes to the broad, open bay of Javea, with the charming resort town itself sloping down the hillside to the sandy beach that extends far beyond it to the south.
With a pretty marina and a quaint old town, Javea offers an excellent mix of peace and liveliness. .jpg "Alicante - Comunidad Valenciana")
In the 1930s, writers such as Hemingway spent their summers in Calpe. In the wake of such illustrious visitors, the town's first hotel was established next to the famous Peñon rock: the Ifach Parador. The Peñon is the symbol of Calpe, the highest rock in the entire Mediterranean, and it divides Calpe's shoreline into two distinct parts. 332 metres high, it penetrates one kilometre into the sea, creating a visual spectacle that changes with each nuance of light and shade. Visiting the summit of the rock, which is possible only in organised groups, is certainly worthwhile, as the views it offers of a large section of the Costa Blanca are truly awe inspiring.
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The dome of Altea's church, blue with a white geometrical design, is another symbol of the Costa Blanca. The town, whose magnificently jumbled and cluttered old streets give it a special charm, is situated on a hill whose peak rises dramatically above the white-tiled parish church.
Its tranquillity draws artists and craftsmen, and their shops and stalls are scattered throughout the old town centre. Set within their landscape of craggy cliffs, sheltered coves and the azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea, these are the places that epitomise the unique charm of the Costa Blanca.
Spotlight on the Valencian Community
A privileged enclave
Bathed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, the Valencian Community is one of the most privileged areas along the Spanish coast, with hundreds of kilometres of beautiful beaches, a pleasant climate all year round (the temperatures in winter rarely drop below 10º) and delicious Mediterranean gastronomy.
Itself a gem on the Mediterranean, Spain’s third largest city is a hub of life, culture and excitement, where big city sophistication mixes with Mediterranean lust for life.
The resorts and urbanisations that dot the coves and bays of this region are the focus of attention for foreign residents and visitors alike, yet not far from here Valencia provides all the allure of a big city. Having this lively metropolis of 750,000 people nearby is particularly convenient for people on the Costa Blanca, as it brings the culture, vibrancy and services of a major centre within easy reach.
Steeped in history and rich in culture, Valencia personifies the charm of a Mediterranean city. Monuments and museums honour the past, while this vibrant city celebrates the future with ultramodern facilities such as state of the art shopping centres, commercial districts and fascinating recreational parks like the Ciutat de les Arts I les Ciències. Cinema, theatre, nightclubs and refined restaurants offer night time diversion, while by day it is a pleasure simply to explore the town on foot and stumble upon the many lively markets and fairs of this ancient trading city. Ideally situated and suited to a wonderful sojourn into big city atmosphere, Valencia is a worthy capital of the Costa Blanca.
