Spain Property Guide Spring 2021

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SPRING > 2021 > COMPLIMENTARY EDITION 

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ONTENTS 

Miguelete, the 

beautifule bell 

tower in Valencia 

RETIRING IN MARBELLA 06 

INLAND ANDALUCIA 08 

CURRENCY OUTLOOK 10 

LOOKING BACK AT 2020 AND 

FORWARD TO 2021 12 

A FEELING FOR SPAIN 14 

COSTA DEL SOL 16 

MARBELLA’S LAKESIDE COUNTRY CLUB 18 

FRONT ROW SEAT AT THE EDGE 22 

WHY ENGEL VÜLKERS 24 

GOLDEN VISA - YOUR FIRST 

CLASS TICKET TO SPAIN 27 

SPENDING TIME IN SPAIN 28 

COSTA ALMERIA 30 

FIREPITS AND BARBECUES 32 

COSTA CALIDA 34 

LEGAL ADVICE 36 

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH 40 

LA FINCA GOLF 42 

COSTA BLANCA NORTH 48 

DISCOVERING JAVEA 50 

DAVID FERRER 54 

JAVEA GOLF 55 

BALEARIC ISLANDS 56 

IBIZA COOL 58 

CONTACT 

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COVER IMAGE: View to the Peñon Ifach in Calpe from Moraira. 

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• South orientation with all-day sun 

• Good access to the town of 

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• Large poolside veranda terrace 

• Independent guest 

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• Floor heating with individual room 

thermostats 

• Wood burning stoves in both living 

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• Quality external PVC carpentry 

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IN BENISSA 

Located 5 minutes from Benissa town, this prestigious fourbedroom 

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fixtures. The coastal areas and beaches of Calpe and 

Moraira are an approx 15-minute drive. 

This luxury Benissa property has 10,000 square meters of land 

all with a flat landscape, there are around 2,700 square 

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with pool area and large parking bay. The remaining land is 

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• Large garage for 4-5 vehicles 

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799,000€ 

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493m 2 

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05

Why do people love to 

RETIRE IN MARBELLA? 

The most obvious answer that comes to mind is 

the benevolent climate, which makes outdoor 

living and exercise possible for most of the year, 

but to this you can also add the uplifting effect of 

wonderful natural scenery and inspiring views. The 

latter are usually a combination of mountain, golf, 

coastal and sea views, There is always a golf course 

of tennis club nearby, as popular as a social spot 

as for sport, and for those who enjoy exercise of a 

different kind, the Marbella area also offers a great 

many cycling, hiking, mountain biking and coastal 

pathways – always accompanied by grand views. 

drink, meeting for dinner with friends or planning an 

excursion into the surrounding countryside. 

A HEALTHY PLACE TO LIVE 

The easy-going way of life and sunny climate are 

accompanied by a healthy Mediterranean diet 

made up of fresh fish, vegetables and lots of local 

fruit. Often prepared with olive oil, known to be one 

of the healthiest options, it is light, delicious and suited 

QUALITY OF LIFE 

An active life, combined with a stress-free 

environment, is the ideal mix, and Marbella makes 

both possible, with a lively, cosmopolitan social 

scene, lots of leisure and entertainment options and 

also cultural diversions in the surrounding cities and 

country areas. All of this, combined with a gentle 

pace of life, adds up to a stress-free environment 

where life really is what you make it. Marbella is the 

ultimate place for romantic walks by the beach, 

watching the sun set behind Gibraltar as you enjoy a 


to the season. Marbella has a fantastic choice of 

dining options and international cuisines, but local 

food is still a great choice, especially for the healthconscious, 

and there is a growing trend towards 

organic, natural and vegetarian or vegan venues 

too, as well as farmer’s markets. 

FIRST-CLASS FACILITIES 

Medical care is also well taken care of in Marbella, 

from the more than adequate free state health 

system to a broad range of private clinics and 

retreats. Many also join yoga or Pilatus classes, and 

since this is a friendly, safe area with good security 

facilities, peace of mind in a beautiful setting is the 

ultimate way of life that Marbella has to offer – at 

little more than two hours from most European 

capitals. 


07

Inland Andalucia – an alternative 

lifestyle near the Costa del Sol 

The beautiful 

views from 

Ronda. 

By Michel Cruz 

To many foreign residents and visitors southern 

Spain is about the beaches, resort hotels, golf clubs 

and luxury residential areas that extend along the 

coastal plain of the Costa del Sol, yet there is a different, 

largely undiscovered side to this region and it begins 

little more than half an hour from Marbella. 

For those who might occasionally wonder what lies 

behind the mountain ranges that run parallel with the 

Mediterranean coastline the answer is simple: go out 

and find out for yourself, but prepare to be amazed 

for this is a world of deep green valleys bounded by 

Traditional crafted 

stone work 

in Alhambra. 

pine-covered hillsides and soaring peaks where the 

sun catches the whitewashed walls of pretty mountain 

villages. 

It’s a landscape dominated by national parks, 

agricultural land and pastures, dotted amongst 

which you will find country villages and towns where 

time seems to move at a different pace. It is a region 

of charm and beauty that retains an authentic 

Spanish ambience and rightly calls itself the real 

Andalucía. No longer as isolated as it once was – good 

communications have brought modern comforts and 

amenities to these parts – it is a rustic world at little more 

than half an hour’s drive from the coast. 

COTTAGES AND FINCAS 

This hinterland of the Costa del Sol has long cast a 

spell on foreign visitors and residents in search of the real 

thing. Though perhaps not as glamorous as the coastal 

region it is also devoid of its traffic, crowds and built-up 

areas, and this appeals to many. A significant number 

of people have chosen to have their holiday homes 

here rather than by the sea, while others have settled 

permanently. They include amongst them Marbella 

residents with a weekend getaway, and though village 

properties are popular the majority prefer to be in open 

country near a village or town. 


The idyllic 

village of 

Genalguacil. 

From Ronda in the east to Cortes de la Frontera, 

Gaucín and beyond Jimena de la Frontera in the 

west, you’ll find stylish country homes to suit a wide 

range of tastes, preferences and budgets. Ranging 

from pretty little cottages through to fincas and grand 

estates, there are rustic properties in a variety of styles 

and sizes, including restored historic buildings such as 

mills. 

FINDING A BIT OF RURAL IDYLL 

People who search for the true Andalucía close to 

the coast come from many different backgrounds, 

and have varied greatly in their needs and 

requirements, but they all share a love of this region, 

its beauty and the lifestyle it makes possible. Most 

want elegant homes in which classic Andalusian 

country styles are matched to modern comforts and 

amenities, though the actual architectural styling can 

vary. 

It’s all available in a great variety of settings, 

views and designs in countless valleys and hillsides 

spreading northwards from Marbella towards the 

country town of Ronda and beyond. This extensive 

area extends inland from near Sotogrande in the west 

to Málaga in the east, creating an exciting range of 

alternatives to the classic Costa lifestyle. 

Alcazar baths of 

rain water. 


09

CURRENCY OUTLOOK: 

Euro tumbles on renewed 

coronavirus concerns 

EURO 

EUR/GBP: Down from £0.86 to £0.85 

EUR/USD: Down from $1.20 to $1.17 

POUND 

GBP/EUR: Up from €1.15 to €1.17 

GBP/USD: Down from $1.39 to $1.37 

The euro struggled to attract support 

through March with the EU’s sluggish 

vaccine rollout remaining a key source of 

pressure for the single currency. 

Further diminishing the appeal of the euro was the 

startling resurgence of coronavirus cases across the 

continent, with Europe’s third wave forcing countries 

to tighten restrictions once more. 

Meanwhile, data coming from the Eurozone 

has been mixed over the past month, with some 

positive releases offering temporary respite for the 

single currency, but proving unable to reverse the 

prevailing selling bias. 

Looking ahead, barring a dramatic improvement 

in Europe’s vaccine rollout or a sharp drop in local 

coronavirus cases, it’s likely we could see the euro 

remain on the back foot through much of April. 

March has seen the pound struggle to maintain the 

highs hit back in February as a key pillar of support 

for Sterling (its successful vaccination programme) 

appeared to be under threat due to shortages and 

potential export bans from the EU. 

This stoked concerns that the UK government 

will need to alter its roadmap for easing lockdown, 

something which Boris Johnson also warned about 

when schools reopened at the start of the month. 

However, Sterling has still been able to find some 

support through the past month, with Chancellor Rishi 

Sunak’s budget providing a lift after he announced a 

more-generous-than-expected stimulus package. 

The pound was also able to advance on a broadly 

weakened euro. 

Turning to April, the focus for GBP investors will be on 

whether the government moves forward with its plans 

to reopen more of the economy on 12 April, with any 

delays likely to negatively impact GBP exchange rates. 

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11

Looking back at 2020 

and forward during 2021 

It’s fair to say that most of us are ready to look back 

at a year that will go down in history as one of the 

strangest ever. 2020 will not be remembered fondly 

by most people around the world, having brought us 

a virus and accompanying restrictions that have had 

a profound impact on the economy and society, on 

the Costa del Sol as elsewhere, but it was also a year 

that allowed us to slow down, take stock and perhaps 

appreciate the more important things in life. 

This includes side-stepping our increasingly frenetic 

lifestyles, analysing what is really important to us and 

spending time with our families. While we missed 

our social lives, our freedom of movement and saw 

businesses and careers impacted, we also had a rare 

chance to reconnect with home and family, and 

this again led to a renewed appreciation for home 

and hearth – with a surge in home improvements, 

redecoration and renovations as a result. Travel suffered 

in favour of staying put in your own backyard, much like 

a temporary return to the not so distant past. 

This break from our constant rushing about, flying 

around and consuming at full speed had social and 

economic repercussions within the human realm, but 

nature also showed us just how much we impact upon 

the environment by staging a humbling comeback 

in record time, with weather patterns showing signs 

of restoration, and all manner of animals returning to 

placing they had not been seen for long years. Most 

people have seen the images of dolphins in the Venice 

lagoon, but they also visited the shoreline of the Costa 

del Sol in a marvellous display! 

A RESILIENT PROPERTY MARKET 

While the Spanish economy, like most others, showed 

a sharp decline in H1 following the near-closing of all 

economic activity during the first and most intense 

lockdown of March-May, the third quarter registered 

a similarly significant rebound upon the relaxing of 

restrictions, and the final quarter of 2020 is expected to 

have produced a smaller return to contraction, resulting 

in overall negative growth of the Spanish economy for 

the whole year. No major improvement is expected 

for Q1 of 2021, but from then onwards rapid recovery 

growth should follow a gradual return to normality. 

Within all of this, the Spanish property market proved 

remarkably resilient. This is especially true of ‘top areas’ 

such as the Balearic Islands and the Costa del Sol, where 

demand for properties for sale rebounded strongly in 

Q2 and then again levelled off to a lower yet sustained 

level for the remainder of the year. There was no major 

dramatic drop in transactions, and prices of new-build 

homes and the most attractive real estate remained 

12 l SPAINPROPERTYGUIDE.COM 

solid, with only older and less appealing properties losing 

a little ground, though of course the travel restrictions 

imposed on most potential buyers have had a negative 

effect on the sector. 

PROSPECTS FOR 2021 

Experts predict the present status quo to be 

maintained into the beginning of next year, when the 

‘weaker’ properties, i.e. older homes or those in less 

attractive areas, are expected to drop in value by up 

to 10-20%, which of course creates fresh opportunities 

for investors and savvy buyers. In the most in-demand 

areas, however, such opportunities also exist but will be 

fewer, so you have to work with your agent to find them 

in homes, building land and commercial real estate. The 

resurgence of the property market will broadly mirror

that of the economy as a whole, and this is expected 

to begin by the end of Q1, as vaccines take effect and 

restrictions of movement are gradually lifted. 

If all goes to plan, we will be well on the road back to 

normality by the summer, and though 2021 will essentially 

become known as the year of recovery, the simple 

rebound should produce strong growth in most sectors, 

including real estate, with prices returning to upward 

motion by mid-year latest. In all, 2021 looks to offer us 

more than 2020 did, though as we revel in our newfound 

freedom and business activity, we should look back at 

the lessons this past year taught us about evaluating 

what is important and finding a balance between work, 

consuming and the simpler pleasures in life – and your 

home is central in all of this! 


013

A feeling 

for SPAIN 

As the author of the highly acclaimed 

Duende, Andalus, Guerra and Sacred 

Sierra, it is fair to say that Jason Webster 

has a feeling for Spain. Where so many have 

tried to come to grips with this fascinating 

country Webster seems to have a secret formula 

– he simply immerses himself and gets under 

the skin of one of Europe’s most multi-layered 

cultures. 

“Spain is a country that repays your interest 

in it,” says Jason Webster as we sit in his country 

cottage on the outskirts of Valencia. All around 

are fields, though the city rises up no more 

than a few kilometres distant. It shows just how 

assimilated he has become, for where most 

foreigners seek the Spanish seaside or at least 

the elegant avenues of downtown Valencia, 

Jason has chosen a spot amid everyday 

Spanish people. “It always surprises me when 

people move here saying they love Spain, only 

to settle down in a Disney-style caricature of 

it.” As always, his comment contains no hint of 

judgement; instead, it is the kind of observation 

that has formed the basis of his writing on Spain. 

Though they delve headlong into Spain’s past 

and present, Webster’s books have a knack 

of tacking you on a journey that describes the 

country without ever passing moral judgement 

or attempting to persuade the reader in 

direction or another. “I have my views, but when 

I write I don’t like to be didactic.” What’s more, 

the information contained within his novels are 

not merely researched and re-interpreted, but 

primarily sourced through first-hand personal 

experience. “When I describe gypsies and 

the flamenco scene in Duende, or Moroccan 

migrants in Andalus, I draw on my own body 

of encounters,” says the young author whose 

willingness to plunge headlong into adventures 

has formed part of his immersion in Spain’s multifaceted 

society. 

“Maybe it would have been wiser to think 

before I acted. Some of the situations I got 

myself in were actually quite scary and 

potentially dangerous, but what it has done is 

shown me sides of Spain that I would otherwise 

never have seen.” Perhaps this accounts for the 

success of his books, for unlike many he doesn’t 


merely dip his toe in the water but dives right 

in. I get the impression Jason likes it this way, 

and that he is secretly attracted to the shadier 

sides of society. Let others describe the pretty 

buildings, the mighty sierras and the picturesque 

mountain villages that still retain much of 

Spain’s famed old charm. For Jason Webster it 

is the underlying clash of classes, cultures and 

generations that are worth writing about. 

The interaction between these layers of society 

holds his fascination, in all its dysfunctional 

cohesion. “We think of societies as homogenous, 

but they’re not, least of all in a country like 

Spain. A society is often a pact between many 

different groups of people and it is the degree of 

cohesion that allows it to function. I’m interested 

in the invisible glue that holds it all together – or 

doesn’t.” Such themes rise to the fore in all his 

books, whether you’re following his exploration 

of the flamenco world, his travels with migrant 

workers or his journey into Spain’s divisive 

past. “The Civil War is over, but its divisions and 

tensions still simmer, and need confronting 

before they can finally be laid to rest.” 

As a student of Spanish, Arabic and Islamic 

culture, he is also drawn to the stuff that binds 

Catholic Spain to the Islamic world. “Though it 

blocked it out for many centuries Spain has a 

partly Muslim past. This means that part of its 

identity derives from this period. To shut it out 

doesn’t make it go away, it is merely a denial. 

After centuries of such denial, the current era 

seems to be one in which Spain, one way or 

another, is exploring its Muslim past. It will be 

interesting to what conclusions will be reached, 

but for me it is exactly this West-meets-East blend 

that makes Spain so fascinating and multilayered. 

You need only look at the Alhambra to 

confirm its role in the making of this fascinating 

country.” 

The Bulls Kills You is Jason Webster’s fifth and 

most recent novel. It the first in a new detective 

novel set featuring Chief Inspector Max Cámara 

of the Spanish Policía Nacional and is set in 

Valencia, Webster’s adopted home. 

www.jasonwebster.net 


015

COSTAEL SOL 

Without doubt the Costa del Sol is one of the most 

popular tourist destinations in the world. Stretching 

from Almeria to Tarifa, it caters for all tastes, ages 

and nationalities; with such a wide range of facilities and 

attractions, there is something for everyone to enjoy. 

Miles of sandy beaches, fantastic all year round warm 

climate and modern facilities keep tourists flocking back 

year after year to resorts such as Torremolinos, Benalmadena, 

Fuengirola, Marbella and Estepona. 

East of Malaga is less popular than west, but no less appealing, 

from Rincon de la Victoria, Torre del Mar and Velez Malaga, 


Malaga 

Nerja 

Marbella Mijas 

Torrox 

Torremolinos 

Benalmadena 

San Pedro Fuengirola 

de Alcantara 

Estepona 

Gibraltar 

to Nerja; the area combines beautiful coastline, with whitewashed 

villages and some of the most spectacular inland 

scenery of the Axarquía. 

History & Culture 

The area’s history dates back to the Phoenicians and has 

since been inhabited by Greeks, Romans and Moors, all of 

whom have left their mark on the architecture and culture 

of the region. The Costa del Sol is as much steeped in 

culture as any other region of Andalucia; from Picasso, to 

bullfighting, flamenco to the colourful ferias, the region has 

an immense cultural offering. 

Jetty in Marbella Club, 

Malaga. 

Image by Angela Ruiz 

Moreno 


17

REAL DE LA QUINTA – 

Marbella’s lakeside country club 

Compared to the larger, master-planned resorts, 

development in Marbella has always been 

somewhat ‘bitsy’ – made up of a mosaic of 

independent projects which, urbanisation by urbanisation, 

have built a town. Though the overall effect is attractive, 

it reflects a form of development that is often modelled 

around groups of investors acquiring relatively small 

parcels of land to develop alongside similar new or 

existing urbanisations. The potential level of involvement is 

limited by the scope of the project, which mostly involves 

simply building and selling residential and resort real 

estate. For the funds and professional developers involved 

it is therefore in essence a purely commercial exercise with 

limited opportunity for deeper personal involvement and 

long-term presence. 

THE LUXURY OF A MASTER-PLANNED PROJECT 

“Compared to this we’re in a very privileged position,” 

says Borja Pascual, CEO of La Quinta Grupo Inmobiliario, 

which has long owned significant tracts of land in the hills 

above San Pedro Alcántara. “It means that not only do 

we have the scale to create a true resort and residential 

community, rather than just individual urbanisations, but 

can do it with a true sense of commitment, following a 

clear vision and concept that translates into a master plan 

into which all the different elements are harmonised and 

coordinated. What’s more, we don’t just build and leave, 

but have on-going relationship with our projects in the 

form of continued service provision.” 

This is what the company has been doing for 30 

years now in La Quinta, where its presence and daily 

involvement has continued long after the last phases were 

developed and sold. “It’s a different kind of development 

altogether, with a level of commitment that prescribes 

not only a high level of dedication to your clients, but 

also the desire to ensure that what you offer is truly 

satisfactory.” Indeed, it would be hard for Borja and his 

team to hide if things went wrong, so they are particularly 

focused on producing quality in both product and 

subsequent service. “We have a longer-term approach 

that is business-oriented but less out-and-out commercial 

than many developers exactly because we create 

communities, not just single projects.” 

CREATING SOMETHING SPECIAL 

This is one of the reasons why the La Quinta group 

develops its projects autonomously. Borja points out that 

it would have been easier, in the short-term also more 

profitable, to have simply parcelled up the land and sold it 

as individual plots to private buyers and larger sections to 

developers. “But then we’d miss the opportunity to create 

something truly special here, and that is what we want 

to do at Real de La Quinta – produce a fantastic living 

environment that we can all be truly proud of and which 

adds value to Marbella as a whole.” 

The setting of Real de La Quinta in a broad, green 

valley with flowing sea and mountain views is truly 


Situated within a green valley just ten minutes from 

Marbella, Real de La Quinta builds upon a very solid concept 

of development as it ‘takes the beach to the hills’ to create a 

very new kind of residential community. 

Images courtesy of 

La Quinta Grupo Inmobiliario 

imposing, providing an ideal country club environment at 

a short distance from Marbella. “The site offers fantastic 

opportunities to produce something of rare quality, so 

we wanted to do it justice and have therefore not rushed 

ahead and built a batch of apartments or villas but have 

really studied the possibilities in detail.” In the process it has 

evolved and grown, not in scale as much as in concept, 

and become a project with highly distinctive features. 

“The starting point and indeed focal point of many a 

Costa del Sol property development has traditionally 

been a golf course, and indeed, we felt Real de La Quinta 

needed its own course, but the main focus has become 

something quite different yet entirely complementary to 

it.” 

BRINGING THE SEA TO THE HILLS 

The focal point of life at Real de La Quinta will be a 

large manmade lake that will act as a true lifestyle feature 

surrounded by the golf course that in itself frames views 

down to the sea. “In a way we’re ‘bringing the sea to 

the hills’ because the lake will have its own beach area 

and offer non-motorised water sports such as rowing, 

kayaking and windsurfing.” Also bordering the lake, whose 

perimeter is traced by a scenic pathway that also crosses 

an island, are a lakeside country club with an infinity edge 

pool and poolside waiter service, and a racquet club 

offering tennis and padel. Holding all of this in its embrace, 

the golf course will feature a clubhouse, driving range, 

academy and two six-hole sections that make flexible 

rounds of six, twelve and eighteen holes possible. 

The above forms part of the initial phase of Real de 

La Quinta, which also sees the construction of the Los 

Olivos apartments and penthouses in two locations close 

to the course and lake, and numbering 120 and 60 units 

respectively. The development phases have consciously 

been designed to flow uphill to reduce any visual impact 

on existing owners, and the second stage will see villas 

built on the eastside of the lake and course, with a 50- 

room boutique hotel and wellness centre surrounded by 

a Mediterranean style ‘village’ of apartments, shops and 

cafes forming a social hub and nucleus of services for the 

resort. 

s 


19

The commitment to the detail is certainly there, as well 

as the willingness to invest in know-how and quality, as the 

La Quinta group searched for noted specialists in the field 

and found it in DTJ, an American firm that is a world leader 

in creating resort master plans, with particular expertise 

in developing lakes of this kind. “It is a company with a 

worldwide pedigree, so in bringing this level of international 

substance to Marbella we’ve created truly professional 

foundations for the project that also incorporates a far 

greater dedication to sustainable development than is 

currently required by regulations.” This commitment to 

‘green development’ is pretty advanced by Marbella 

standards and is regarded as one of Real de La Quinta’s 

greatest assets. 

BREEAM-CERTIFIED PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT 

BREEAM, which stands for the ‘Building Research 

Establishment Environmental Assessment Method’ – the 

leading international benchmark for the assessment 

and regulation of sustainability in construction – provides 

certification levels that are increasingly sought after around 

the world. Many, however, fail to meet the requirements that 

range through five qualitative levels from strict to extremely 

demanding. To qualify for Level 5, for example, a building 

has to effectively be energy and resource neutral, which 

means being capable of meeting its own water needs 

without external supply and providing full electricity-free 

lighting throughout the structure – including stairwells and 

underground areas. 

“In a drier area like this it is a tall order, but we’re extremely 

proud that Real de La Quinta’s design has achieved 

BREAAM certification at level 3, making it the first resort of 

its kind in Europe to do so,” says Borja. “The process will be 

monitored and finally adjudicated once everything is up and 

running, and it is fair to say that we have gone far beyond 


legal requirements to shape the design and configuration 

of Real de La Quinta around the desire of making this a 

sustainable project – from the natural materials used and 

the natural energy and light created to architectural design 

that blends into the environment, landscaped gardens 

using beautiful but also water-efficient indigenous flora, the 

maintenance of ecological corridors and far more.” 

MODERN HOMES BUILT TO LIVE IN 

The master planners and architects have had to assimilate 

all of this in their designs, and for this La Quinta brought 

together the best of international technical know-how 

and local creative design, selecting Gonzalez & Jacobsen 

to produce the architectural styling of the Los Olivos 

apartments. The latter will consist of two and three-bedroom 

apartments and penthouses, with also a select number of 

four-bedroom deluxe apartments. “We’ve avoided cold, 

linear geometry in favour of an architecture style that is 

modern and refined yet also human and complementary to 

the surrounding scenery,” says Borja. “Modern materials and 

tones are in this way softened with natural elements and a 

more varied design that also adds character and privacy to 

the homes.” 

Around 20 per cent larger than the norm for apartments in 

this price bracket, the two-bedroom apartments will feature 

upwards of 116m2 of interior space with generous terraces 

while the three-bedroom properties will start at 140m2 and 

large terraces, with the penthouses naturally bigger still. “The 

qualities and amenities are top-end, and early buyers will be 

able to personalise and upgrade their spec, but above all, 

the real luxury that Real de La Quinta offers is a concept built 

around a very special living environment. One that combines 

fantastic views and close proximity to Marbella in a beautiful 

natural setting bordered by protected natural reserves. This, 

we believe, is the true source of wellbeing.” 


21


Front row seat at 

The Edge 

Some locations are so amazing you wonder how someone got hold 

of it. The Edge is situated in just such a spot; a perfect frontline 

beach location surrounded by greenery and sandy beaches on 

the west side of Estepona. Close by are a marina, two golf courses, 

shops, schools, restaurants and even a horse riding centre, but your 

gaze will mostly be fixed out to sea from the modern apartments, 

penthouses and also beach villas being created here. 

Designed by renowned Spanish architect Rafael de la-Hoz, who 

has been responsible for prestigious projects within Spain and 

internationally, The Edge is a luxurious frontline beach project situated 

footsteps away from the Mediterranean Sea and the scenic coastal 

pathway that leads towards Sabinillas in one direction, and the marina 

and broad beachfront of Estepona in the other – with Marbella just 20 

minutes away. 

A BEACHSIDE OASIS 

The views from this private, gated development are beyond 

comparison, offering panoramic 180-degree vistas across the sea and 

along the shoreline to Gibraltar and North Africa. The complex is set 

within elegantly landscaped greenery, complete with large swimming 

pool, sunbathing decks and cooling water features, as well as a wellappointed 

gym and indoor heated swimming pool with spa facilities. 

The 2, 3 and 4 bedroom apartments and penthouses sport sleek 

contemporary architectural styling with sensual rounded forms that 

also create a nautical feel on the panoramic decks, which extend the 

open-plan living room and modern kitchen outwards. In addition, The 

Edge also features four beach villas that offer a unique opportunity 

to own a luxurious sea-fronting property set right on the beach while 

enjoying the amenities and services of an exclusive gated community. 

Set in an upcoming beachside residential area on the Costa del 

Sol’s New Golden Mile, The Edge is one of the most exclusive new 

developments in the region – boasting a setting that few can equal, let 

alone better. 

Kronos Homes 

www.kronoshomes.com 


23

WHY ENGEL & VÖLKERS 


Why should you choose Engel & Völkers out 

of the many real estate agents in Marbella? 

It’s a good question, because it is important 

which agent or agents you engage – be it in selling 

your property or in helping you find the ideal home or 

real estate investment. 

WHY ENGEL & VÖLKERS 

The first reason why you should engage Engel & 

Völkers to work for you is reputation. The best, most 

reputable agents with the finest properties for sale on 

the Costa del Sol are associated with a prestigious 

international real estate brand that adds global 

reach and instant recognition to the local knowledge, 

expertise and good name they have themselves built 

up over many years working in this market. 

Bearing the name of such an organisation is not 

easy, as only the best candidates are selected, so 

you can be assured of quality, service, know-how, 

integrity and, importantly, results. One of the most 

prestigious international brands of all, Engel & Völkers 

has been a success story since it was founded in 1977. 

Modern, dynamic and well-versed in today’s business 

and marketing practice, the company has enjoyed 

sustained, qualitative expansion. 

A BRAND THAT STANDS FOR QUALITY 

Engel & Völkers is highly demanding of the 

more than 400 agents that represent it in 32 

countries around the world, but also offers them an 

unrivalledlevel of support. Only the best agents are 

selected, and they in turn select only the best, most 

highly skilled and experienced staff, who receive the 

highest levels of training and support in the industry. 

The agents likewise are expected to provide a 

consistently high standard of service and conduct, 

something that is monitored on a regular basis, 

but equally have access to a global network of 


connected real estate agents. Combined, they bring 

together many thousands of the best properties across 

the world, not to mention buyers and vendors on a 

global scale. In the increasingly international luxury 

market this level of reach and impact is of great value. 

IT ALL STARTS WITH THE PROPERTY 

The process of proper real estate agency starts with 

the property – or better, with the homeowner, for it is 

they who instruct the agent to market the property on 

their behalf.This is when real professionals distinguish 

themselves, providing not only a courteous and 

efficient service, but also expert valuations that are a 

true, reliable indication of the property’s market value. 

Moreover, Engel & Völkers provides homeowners 

with a detailed valuation report that is technically 

underwritten – including detailed mention of the 

factors that influence the home’s value. It is this kind 

of know-how and transparent methodology that has 

made Engel & Völkers such a trusted and respected 

name in global luxury real estate. Having analysed the 

property and its setting in this way, they sit down with 

the homeowner and propose a marketing plan for a 

sales strategy designed specifically for your property. 

COMMITTED TO RESULTS 

E&V therefore do not simply list a home but commit 

themselves to produce results for vendor and buyer 

alike. With powerful marketing at their disposal, 

its agents feel confident to make such a serious 

commitment because they only take on those 

properties for which theyare convinced such results 

can be achieved. A marketing plan will typically 

include a full online marketing strategy, including wellwritten 

property and location-specific content, top 

quality imagery, video material and specifications that 

are optimised to attract the right kind of buyer. 

These quality inputs are also used in other marketing 


25

applications, such as (digital) brochures, window 

cards and property dossiers that can be sent to 

interested parties and used in material such as digital 

presentations and advertisements in the leading 

local and international publications, including 

Engel & Völkers’ own GG Magazine – a prestigious 

luxury property and lifestyle magazine that reaches 

hundreds of thousands of potential buyers across the 

world. 

A PROVEN TRACK RECORD 

The fact that this formula works is reflected in a 

track record that shows exactly why Engel & Völkers 

has become a global leader in luxury real estate. Its 

Costa del Sol agents offer a first-class professional 

service characterised by know-how and the ability to 

offer authoritative, independent advice – with the full 

support and resources of a renowned luxury residential 

real estate brand whose growing international 

network is the perfect platform to guarantee the 

highest level of results for property sellers and buyers 

alike. It is this kind of structure, along with the hard 

work and dedication of its teams, which has enabled 

Engel & Völkers to become the leading marketer of 

quality homes in the Costa del Sol region. 

ENGEL & VÖLKERS · Marbella Golden Mile · Málaga 

Mazal Realty, S.L. 

Titular de Licencia de Engel & Völkers Residential 

GmbH 

Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso de Hohenlohe 

CN 340 KM 178,2 - CC La Póveda, Local 5 

29602 Marbella, Málaga 

Phone: +34-952-86 84 06 

Facsimile: +34-952-86 23 85 

Internet: www.engelvoelkers.com/Marbella 

Mailto: nathalie.dorpinghaus@engelvoelkers.com 


YOUR FIRST 

CLASS 

TICKET TO 

SPAIN 

This is the popular name for what is officially called 

the Residency Visa for Investors, and to qualify one 

must: 

• Purchase one or more properties in Spain for a combined 

value of at least €500.000 

• Or buy shares in Spain to the value of €1 million or more 

• Or invest €2 million or more in Spanish government bonds 

If you apply for it from your home country, it is valid for one 

year and provides full residency rights during that period, 

and can also be renewed, ultimately leading to permanent 

residency if successful. If you apply for it within Spain, it is 

valid for two years and then can be renewed, so it is well 

worth visiting the country and exploring the options in person. 

Enquires direct to Alex Radford Legal Abogado; 

aradford@legalservicesinspain.com 

Sponsored by 

https://www.getspanishresidency.com/ 

spain: (+34) 951 820 099 uk: +44(0) 203 807 4044 


27

Spending Time 

In Spain 

It’s happened – Brexit is now well and truly a fait 

accompli, so a whole new range of rules apply 

to British homebuyers, residents and property 

owners in EU member countries such as Spain. 

The reciprocal rights and freedom of movement 

enjoyed between the continent and the UK 

stopped when the latter ended its membership of 

Europe, but this doesn’t mean that no meaningful 

relationship can be had between the two or that 

Britons looking to own a property, live and work 

and/or invest in a place like Spain have no options 

open to them. 

Since January 1 2021, British people can come to 

Spain for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day 

period. If you wish to stay for longer, or indeed live 

here permanently, then you will have to apply for 

Spanish residency from the Spanish Consulate in 

your home country 

NON-LUCRATIVE VISA 

The main applicant will need to have a minimum 

of €27.115,20 in a Spanish bank account, plus 

€6.778,80 for every dependent within their 

household to be able to apply for this kind of visa. 

One must present the application in person to the 

Spanish consul in their country in a process that 

normally takes three months to conclude. When 

issued, it has to be collected in person too; it is 

then valid for three months, within which time the 

applicant has to travel to Spain to apply for the 

biometric TIE Card (foreigner’s ID document). 


Who needs 

a NIE and 

why? 

Once obtained, the non-lucrative visa enables 

you to reside in Spain and move freely inside and 

out of it, though it does not entitle you to work in 

the country. 

SPANISH RESIDENCY 

The easiest way to apply for residency is if you 

can show that you were resident in Spain before 

31 December 2020, and to do this you’ll need to 

provide supporting documentation, in the form 

of Spanish bank statements, medical insurance, 

being registered on the census and utility bills. 

Another fast-tracked way is if you happen to 

be married to a Spanish or at least EU citizen. The 

former enjoys automatic Spanish residency and 

the latter can quite easily apply for it, as well as be 

entitled to work here, enjoy local healthcare and 

have their pension paid out in Spain. 

A British spouse of an EU citizen with Spanish 

residency can then also apply for the same, but 

even if you haven’t lived in Spain before or can 

have the way paved by a European partner, there 

are still ways of achieving residency in Spain. 

Enquires direct to Alex Radford Legal Abogado; 

aradford@legalservicesinspain.com 

WHAT IS AN NIE NUMBER? 

An NIE number (a numero de 

identificacion de extranjeros) is an 

identity number for foreigners in Spain. 

It is a document that provides a number which 

you are required by the various authorities in 

Spain to have when dealing with them. 

WHY DO I NEED AN NIE? 

The Spanish authorities will need your NIE 

number to enable you to pay taxes in Spain 

upon the purchase or inheritance of a 

property, to buy a car, gain a mobile phone, 

open a utilities or bank account or incorporate 

a company. Basically, without an NIE number 

in Spain you will struggle to deal with any 

official organisation. 

HOW DO I GET AN NIE IN SPAIN? 

You can complete the necessary paperwork 

and apply in person for an NIE number at a 

local police station in Spain. They provide 

appointments for you to attend in person, but 

these are often at inconvenient times and will 

be conducted in Spanish and you may not 

obtain your nie on the same day. 

Alternatively, you can use a third party to 

apply for your NIE number on your behalf, by 

using a power of attorney. We have teams up 

with www.yournienumber.com who have an 

experienced multilingual team here to help 

you apply for your nie. Visit their website for 

more information. 

Sponsored by 

spain: (+34) 951 820 099 

uk: +44(0) 203 807 4044 


29

COSTA 

ALMERIA 

Almeria 

Aguadulce Retamar 

Belerma Cabo de 

Adra 

Gata 

Almerimar 

Villaricos 

Vera 

Garrucha 

Mojacar 

Agua Amarga 

Las Negras 

San Jose 


It seems most Spanish costas are around 200 kilometres 

long, and the Costa de Almería is exception, measuring 

217 kilometres in length. In essence, it is a continuation 

of the dry, warm, rugged terrain of the Costa Cálida, 

but as you head south towards the Cabo de Gata 

nature reserve the landscape becomes increasingly 

‘Martian’. 

The sleepy little resort community of San Juan de los 

Terreros marks the northern edge. At Pozo del Esparto 

there is a delicious sense beachside seclusion in the 

midst of a perhaps more lunar landscape, sure to delight 

nature lovers. This part of the coast is made for people 

yearning to get away from the madding crowd, and 

even at the little marina and resort of Villaricos there 

is no sense of a major high-rise town. It was in nearby 

Palomares that locals discovered missing bombs that 

the US Navy had waylaid but had not been able to 

relocate, despite large-scale searches. 

Enjoy the palms 

on Mojacar’s 

sea front 

A NATURAL AND NUDIST PARADISE 

This open-spaced, thinly populated coastline has 

attracted such a concentration of nudists that a resort 

dedicated to this kind of tourism sprang up in Vera, 

where the Playas de Vera is now one of the largest 

nudist resort areas in the world. Residents of the nearby 

inland town of Vera are not always pleased with the 

epithet, but it has put this part of the coast on the map 

and creates many jobs in the area. 

Just south of here are the resorts of Puerto Rey and Las 

Marinas, which are marked by low-rise development, 

Further along, at the marina resort town of Garrucha, 

this culminates in a bit more of a town feeling, complete 

with larger buildings and a historic centre. One of the 

highlights of the Costa de Almería is Mojácar, which 

is curiously divided into the original hillside town – a 

pretty collection of white-plastered houses – and the 

charming beachside resort of Mojácar Playa. 

Here too, the quaint Mediterranean ambience has been 

remarkably well maintained. Some more small resorts 

follow, before one enters a vast space of protected 

open coastal scenery en route to Carboneras, another 

pretty Andalusian style beachside resort village. At 

Aqura de Emedio, midway between Carboneras and 

Mojácar, the dramatic white cliffs and grey-white 

beaches stand out against a world of blue skies and 

water. 

It continues this way almost all the way to Almería 

city, marking this as one of the most rugged, secluded 

and natural of costas in all of Spain. For those who 

lament the authenticity of earlier years, before tourism 

became so large-scaled, the Costa de Almería is the 

perfect answer. Dazzling the eye and the senses with 

its roughhewn beauty, this is a place of small, intimate 

coastal resort and fishing towns, where you can sip 

a cold beer at a bohemian beach car or enjoy fresh 

fish to the uninterrupted sound of the waves. Not for 

everyone, but paradise who those who enjoy peace 

and natural pleasures. 


31

FIRE PITS and BARBECUES: 

add spice to your garden 

Thinking of gardens we naturally picture lawns, 

shrubs, trees and flowerbeds. Next come 

images of terraces, pergolas, stone pavements, 

planters, lights, irrigation systems, outdoor furniture 

and entertainment facilities such as swimming pools. 

In Marbella, many luxurious villas and apartment 

complexes also feature tennis and paddle courts within 

their grounds, as well as poolside cabana bars with 

showers, toilets, changing rooms and also covered 

dining areas featuring bars and even outdoor kitchens. 

The sky is the limit really for an area that has gained 

greatly in attention and stature over the past decade 

or two, as terraces and gardens have become the 

outdoor lifestyle areas of note – especially in areas 

such as the Costa del Sol, where the climate makes 

it possible to spend so much of the year outdoors 

relaxing, entertaining and also dining in the open air. 

Seating and dining arrangements have therefore 

blossomed into comfortable, stylish chill-out zones with 

their own bars, barbecue areas and that great new 

addition, the fire pit. 

FIRE PITS 

Like barbecues, fire pits come in many different shapes, 

forms and sizes, but the general idea is to provide 

a warm, cosy space around which to gather in the 

evenings and extend the use of your outdoor areas 

further around the year. Even in summer the evenings 

can sometimes be a bit cool, especially if you live near 

the sea. But fire pits are not only warm and practical; 

they’re also an attractive focal point around which to 

gather, socialise, dine or simply roast marshmallows in 

time-honoured tradition. 

There are many different options when it comes to 

materials, sizes, functionality and budget, using more 

traditional stone or cast iron, or indeed very modern 


oil drum designs or sleek gas-fired versions 

not unlike modern fireplaces. The colour tone 

can range from black or earthy shades to light 

or green marble; the shapes from round or square to 

angular, and they can be raised or even sunk, working 

on wood, gas, kerosene, chippings or any of a variety 

of other options. Key thing is that a fire pit adds to the 

elegance and cosiness of your garden. 

OUTDOOR COOKING 

The barbecue is perhaps more familiar to most, but it 

too varies greatly in size, form and cost. They can come 

in the form of steel, aluminium – in which case they’re 

often mobile or fitted into modern outdoor kitchens – 

or are built out of bricks, complete with a functional 

chimney. The latter kind is usually wood-burning, though 

coal briquettes are sometimes also used in these and 

the more high-tech versions. The latter, however, tend 

to be attached to a gas bottle, and today the range of 

functionalities available makes these amazing machines 

outdoor gastronomic marvels. 

Indeed, get a good barbecue along with a cosy fire 

pit and al fresco lounge and dining area, and you 

may not see much of your kitchen throughout the long 

Marbella summer. Contact us for lots of expert advice 

and creative ideas on how to incorporate these and 

many more fantastic ideas into making your garden the 

ultimate lifestyle space. 


33

COSTA 

CALIDA 

Less famous by name than some of Spain’s other costas, 

the Costa Cálida extends from the Costa Blanca 

southwards to the border of Almería province, covering 

a 250-kilometre stretch of shoreline within the province of 

Murcia. 

It’s a classic Mediterranean region of blue seas, rocky cliffs, 

secluded bays and coves, and golden beaches dotted 

with holiday resorts and traditional fishing towns. As its name 

indicates, this is a warm coast, with warm summers and very 

comfortable winters, and as rainfall is low the region also 

offers a healthy climate to visitors and residents, making it 

much-loved with families and especially retired tourists and 

homebuyers from northern countries. 

Formerly – and still – a rural area sprinkled with little country 

towns, this is now a major holiday and retirement destination 

that is marked by two distinct areas: 

MAR MENOR 

At its northernmost point, in El Mojón, the Costa Cálida 

touches the Costa Blanca. South from here is the Parque 

Regional de Las Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar, a 

coastal marshland protectorate named for the nearby town 

of San Pedro del Pinatar. The centre of town is surrounded by 

extensive residential and holiday resorts in suburbs such as 

Las Esperanzas, Los Imbernones, El Salero, Las Pachecas, Los 

Antolinos, Las Beatas, Los Sáez, Lo Pagán, Molino del Chirrete 

and Los Cuarteros, which front the main feature of this part of 

the Costa Cálida: the Mar Menor. 

Where the more inland resorts offer residential golf living 

complete with extensive on-site amenities and leisure facilities, 

the beachside area that extends southwards towards 

Santiago de la Ribera and fronts the western shoreline of the 

Mar Menor up to a military airbase provides a more classic 

beachside ambience. Though this is not the Mediterranean 

but a saltwater lagoon – at 170km2 Europe’s largest – known 

for its warm, shallow waters and delicious sweet fish. The lower 

section is dotted with smaller resorts and towns such as La 

Roda, Playa de Los Narejos, Los Alcázares, Bahía Bella, Punta 

Brava, Los Urrutias, Estrella De Mar, Los Nietos and Mar de 

Cristal. 

LA MANGA 

The saltwater lagoon conditions of the wonderful Mar Menor 

are created by a dry climate and the 22-kilometere long 

sand bar that extends from the protected Playas de La Llana 

down to the La Manga resort at its southern end, where the 

land spit joins the mainland at Cabo Palos and Playa Honda. 


Among the famous golf courses in this area are the Hacienda 

Riquelme Golf Resort, Hacienda del Alamo, El Valle and of 

course La Manga itself. 

COASTLINE 

If the northern areas surrounding the Mar Menor are where 

most of the tourist and residential resorts are located, then the 

coastline of rocky cliffs and bays extending from La Manga 

down to Aguilas is rather more natural and authentic. Here 

you will find a succession of fishing towns such as 

Puerto de Mazarrón and natural coastal reserves – as well as 

the historic port of Cartagena, a cultural gem first founded by 

Carthaginian traders more than 2000 years ago. 

In the later years of Franco’s rule, a US aeroplane accidently 

dropped bombs during naval exercises not far from the coast. 

It sparked a massive ‘search and rescue’ operation on the part 

of the American forces, who much to their embarrassment 

could not locate the errant devices. Fortunately, some 

locals managed to do just that several weeks later, and the 

potentially dangerous of equipment was returned to its redfaced 

owners. Ever since, the Costa Cálida has become not 

only one of the favourite tourist destinations in Europe, but 

thanks to its climate, scenery and good value for money, also 

a popular focus for year-round residence and retirement. 

San Javier 

Murcia 

Santiago de 

la Ribera 

La Manga 

La Azohia 

Cartegena 

Mazarron Isla Plana 

Aguilas 

The bay of Aguilas 

in Murcia. 


35

Spanish Conveyancing 

PROCESS SIMPLIFIED 

Life is about to get not just easier, but more 

secure when it comes to completing the sale or 

purchase of a home in Spain. It was generally 

recognised that the dual system used in Spain to 

record land and property details – the Land Registry 

plus the Cadastre – was unwieldy and, worse than 

that, sometimes produced conflicting data on the 

same property. To put it simply, the Land Registry 

normally included a written description of a property 

while the Cadastre had graphic representation in 

the form of a map or plan. The problem was that, 

on occasions; the two did not match, leading to 

legal confusion. On top of that, as the Cadastre 

was not routinely cross-referenced with the Land 

Registry, details on any alterations and extensions 

built on a property would not necessarily appear 

on the Cadastre, again possibly leading to legal 

complications. But now the Spanish government has 

taken action to smooth the conveyancing process 

and ensure the two registries are consistent when 

describing a property. 

Chief amongst the changes is the requirement 

that Land Registry descriptions must now include a 

‘graphic representation’ of the property in the form 

of a copy of the map or plan held by the Cadastre. 

LAND REGISTRY DESCRIPTION SUPERSEDED 

This will supersede the old Land Registry description 

and ensure buyers know exactly what they are 

purchasing. On top of that, the Cadastre will have to 

make note of any alterations to a building marked 

on the Land Registry records, and the two institutions 

will also have to use the same reference code for 

each property in order to avoid confusion and make 

the comparison of data between the bodies easier. 

Government officials estimate it will save the need 

for some 22,000 personal declarations a year, saving 

€1.8million. More importantly, it will provide greater 

security, clarity and transparency for people when 

36 l SPAINPROPERTYGUIDE.COM Continued on page 38 >> 

Supplied by 

Email/tel direct Alex Radford - Spanish Abogado 

a.radford@mylawyerinspain.com 

Calling from the UK: 0845 508 2395 

Calling from Spain: +34 671 48 00 01


37

Continued from page 36 >> 

buying a property, and should speed up the 

process greatly. 

Our team of lawyers specialised in 

conveyancing and property law carry out the 

following checks: 

• Whether the property is legal and fully registered 

• Arranging surveys and valuations 

• The information on title deeds including debts 

and mortgages 

• Does it have the correct planning in place 

• Are community fees payable, (if applicable) 

• The electricity and water services 

• Make sure the annual tax was paid 

• After completion setting up direct debits for the 

supplies 

HOW TO BEGIN THE PROCESS 

1. In order for a smooth purchase from start to 

finish our recommendation is to sign a power of 

attorney so we can apply for your NIE number, 

open a bank account and complete the 

property purchase 

2. If you haven’t obtained it yet, for an NIE 

number (Número de Indentificación de 

Extranjero, Identification Number for Foreigners, 

in English) this is compulsory for purchasing 

property in Spain. But before we begin working 

together, we would love to speak with you as 

this can be done via a digital meeting or via 

telephone or in person as our offices across 

the country. We will explain the conveyancing 

process, timescales and the costs of the 

transaction. 

38 

l SPAINPROPERTYGUIDE.COM

Power of 

Attorney 

in Spain 

Enquires direct to: 

Alex Radford Legal Abogado; 

a.radford@mylawyerinspain.com 

Supplied by 

spain: (+34) 951 820 099 

uk: +44(0) 203 807 4044 

- Our Team 

of lawyers 

Are you ready to purchase a property in Spain? 

If yes, the Power of Attorney is the kind of document to start 

with. 

Let us explain about protecting our clients in Spain, when it 

comes to purchasing a property in Spain there is nothing like 

doing everything from a legal perspective to have peace 

of mind and to avoid unwanted surprises and expensive 

comebacks. 

You may have heard of some stories where people were 

scammed when they bought or sold property in Spain, a 

common pattern is using the wrong professionals, trying to 

DIY, and/or trusting somebody other than a qualified Spanish 

Abogado. 

You can rely on Alex Radford and his team My Lawyer In 

Spain to complete the whole process from start to finish We 

are an experienced and specialist acting for clients buying, 

selling, inheriting property across Spain and its islands. 

We know how to protect our clients and not only because 

we are licensed and registered as a law firm in Spain 

but also because we are multilingual and we have the 

professional knowledge. 

When you appoint a lawyer to act on your behalf this 

procedure is called “Power of Attorney” by way of an official 

document signed at a notary in your country or in Spain 

through which the client gives us specific legal power to 

act on behalf of a client. Once we have Power of Attorney, 

we will be able to start the purchasing procedure on your 

behalf. 

Here are some of the actions we will carry out when we 

assist you with the legal process of purchasing a property in 

Spain: 

• Draft a pre-contract agreement or purchase offer and set 

out the conditions 

• Obtain a NIE number application 

• We will carry out checks to establish if the property is 

legal? 

• Investigate any outstanding Utility bills 

• Confirm if the property is still classified as “in construction”? 

• Confirm if there is a mortgage on the property? 

• Confirm and explain the position of the Tax liability 

• Day of the signing (whether you are buying or selling we 

will represent you at the notary and we will make sure 

everything is in order) 

• Land registry (the title deeds of the property must be 

registered at the Land Registry office) 

Power of Attorney is the process to start with. In addition, 

through a Power of Attorney we would be able to act 

on your behalf on certain tax matters, or even solve 

unexpected problems in the future that could not have 

anything to do with your property. 


39

Named ‘the White Coast’ for its cliffs and beaches, the Costa 

Blanca is a world of sand-toned hues contrasting with the 

azure-blue of the Mediterranean and the generally deep 

blue of its skies. This is essential Mediterranea, a region imbued by 

this ancient sea and its cultures. 

Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Moors and Franks, they were 

all here, moulding today with the indigenous population with 

a culture that is Spanish, but also has its own distinct identity. 

Spanish is the main language, with English, German, Dutch and 

French also frequently heard, but the other official language 

is Valenciano, which can be considered to be a derivative of 

Catalan and also closely related to the local vernaculars of the 

Balearic Islands. 

As a tourist and residential region, the 200 kilometres of the Costa 

Blanca can be divided into a northern and a southern section, 

which border Valencia’s Costa del Azahar and the Costa Cálida 

respectively. Though the regional capital of Valencia – a jewel of 

a city, and second only to Madrid and Barcelona within Spain – is 

about an hour’s drive away, the nearest point of reference is the 

Mediterranean port of Alicante, itself a popular tourist destination. 

COSTALANCA 


SOUTH 

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH 

Moving up along the coast from the Costa Cálida, the 

Southern Costa Blanca is characterised by beachside 

resorts such as the chilled atmosphere of La Zenia, the 

amenities of Torrevieja – one of the icons of this coastline 

– and the smaller but equally popular Guardamar del 

Segura. This is a mostly sandy shoreline perfect for 

tourism but it offers a diversity of resorts, including 

the small-scale innocence of El Pinet la Marina, at 

the entrance to a large area of marshes. 

At its north end, in Bras del Port, high quality salt is 

produced close to the famous resort town of Santa 

Pola. Rounding the coast, one reaches the final 

part of the southern Costa Blanca, as it approaches 

the city of Alicante, which marks the dividing line. 

Here Monte Faro is a pretty coastal town set amid 

spectacular cliffs, and though Arenals del Sol and 

Urbanova are a little bigger, they too invoke a sense of 

endless beaches and classic summer holidays. 

Elche 

Rojales 

Orihuela 

Villa Martin 

Alicante 

Santa Pola 

Guardamar 

de Segura 

Torrevieja 

Denia 

Ja 

Benissa Mo 

Altea Calpe 

Albir 

Benidorm 

Villa Joyosa 

Photo of the beach 

in Guardamar de 

Segura. 


41

LA FINCA GOLF RESORT 

La Finca golf course was established in 2002 with a top 

quality golf course and hotel resort. The golf course was 

designed by the famous Spanish designer Pepe Gancedo 

who was also a keen golf amateur player in Spain. The course 

is laid out with wide generous fairways that offer amazing and 

somewhat spectacular greens that add to the experience 

every golfer desires. The greens are completely different from 

each other, a variety of shapes, some of them being famous 

such as the seventh hole, it is a square shape with large 

dimensions that resembles an English bowls green. Also at 

the fourteenth hole, which is deep and round, well known to 

players as the Chinese wok. The picturesque views all around 

this course are added together making a host of delightful 

characteristics at La Finca golf course and are why it has 

become so popular over the last nine years and is regarded 

as one of the best golf courses in Spain. 

La Finca golf course has also been the chosen venue 

of a number of prestigious tournaments since its opening, 

the Junior European Championship and the Spanish Junior 

Championship as well as the finals of the Audi Class and Audi 

Quattro circuits, for amateur golfers. At a professional level, La 

Finca golf course has hosted the qualifying for the EPD Tour as 

well as the Valencian Community professional circuit. 

As one would expect the course other amenities making an 

all round easy choice as the perfect place for your round of 

golf, the resort offers buggies and club hire, the golf academy 

at La Finca Resort is the ideal place to improve your game 

and discover the best golfing techniques. 

The professional teaching staff will help you learn and 

improve your overall standard whilst gaining new golfing 

skills. The golf pros are Víctor Andreu who is a recognised 


professional golfer. He has served on the national golf team 

for over ten years, has a pro license granted by the Royal 

Spanish Federation and is member of the Spanish PGA with 

title of Master. Victor also runs the children academy in La 

Finca golf club, teaching students and golf lovers as well as 

some other professionals. 

The prestigious international award The World Travel Awards 

was given to La Finca Golf Resort for the second year running 

an amazing achievement to win two consecutive years as 

the accolade of Spain’s best Golf Hotel in the World Gold 

Awards. 

The development at La Finca Resort was renovated in 

2019 together with its group that offers three courses Las 

Ramblas and Villamartin. Undertaking extensive building 

works that included greens being re-built as well as bunker 

enhancements. The extremely popular restaurants also were 

refurbished providing high quality dining for both golfers and 

visitors’ to the area. The Club House Terraza is the perfect 

place to have a rest and build up the energy required after 

having had a round of golf is at La Finca golf resort. The 

restaurant offers a snack menu allowing you to enjoy a quick 

bite as well as to enjoy the stunning views of the golf course. 

The property developments around the resort have also 

seen significant investment making the area of La Finca 

one of the top property destinations in Costa Blanca. Golf 

enthusiasts as well as those who want to live In Spain. The 

village of Algorfa has many property developments with 

a range of modern Spanish villa styles as well as compact 

apartments that lend themselves to ideal holiday homes. 

For anyone who are looking for a property in Spain and that 

wants to live in a modern style development ideally situated

close to the beach, a shopping centre that 

has amazing country side appeal with the 

mountain ranges of Costa Blanca then La 

Finca resort in Algorfa Alicante is certainly 

worth looking at. 

120 modern rooms where luxury, 

comfort, style and design are the common 

denominators — to make your stay simply 

perfect. 

Everything you need for a luxury stay - 

FACILITIES: 

• Free outdoor car park 

• Covered car park with cctv security (check rates) 

• Outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi 

• Balinese beds and sun beds in the pool area 

• Several lounges and meeting rooms for all types of 

functions and events 

• Tennis courts and paddle-tennis courts, with free loan 

of sports equipment (subject to availability) 

• Gymnasium 

SERVICES: 

• 24-hour Reception 

• Room service (check schedule) 

• Guest Service Centre 

• Free Wi-Fi 

• Free shuttle service (check terms and conditions, 

timetables and availability with Reception). 

• Free loan of bicycles (subject to availability) 

• Laundry service 

• Airport transport service at special prices (booking in 

advance with the Guest Service Centre required). 

FIND YOUR PERFECT HOME WITH US - 

multilingual property experts for 25 years on the Costa 

Email: info@welcome-estates.com 

Web: www.welcome-estates.com 


43

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH 

Benijofar 

Av. Federico Garcia 

Lorca, 15, Benijofar, 

03178, Alicante 

+34 966 714 719 

La Zenia 

C. Maestro Torralba, 2 

La Zenia, 

03189 

+34 966 714 719 

FORMENTERA DEL SEGURA 265.000€ 

LOS ALTOS 139,750€ 

110m 2 

m 2 

603m 2 

m 2 Pool 

m 2 

m 2 

m 2 

3 2 Pool 66m 2 Parking 2 2 

m 2 m 2 m 2 m 2 

m 2 

Ref: CM7747 

Ref: CM7872 

EL CHAPARRAL 49,950€ VILLAMARTIN 145,000€ 

m 2 

41m 2 Parking Pool 

m 2 

1 1 

m 2 m 2 

Ref: CM7851 

DAYA VIEJA 124,999€ 

m 2 

m 2 

105m 2 140m 2 3 2 Pool 

Ref: CM7479 

m 2 

m 2 m 2 

m 2 

CABO ROIG 88,000€ 

m 2 

90m 2 133m 2 Pool 

@ 

m 2 

3 2 

m 2 m 2 

info@casasmanuel.com 


Ref: CM7868 

@ 

m 2 

m 2 

71m 2 Parking 2 1 Pool 

Ref: CM7422 

m 2 

m 2 m 2 

m 2 

www.casasmanuel.com

THE CASAS 

MANUEL 

FAMILY 

Benefiting from two strategically 

placed sales offices in Benijófar (Sales 

office, and a dedicated aftersales 

office) and La Zenia, Casas Manuel is a 

professional, family-run company which 

has been selling property throughout the 

Costa Blanca since 2001 offering both 

buyer and seller an exceptional strength 

of service. 

Since 2001, our reliable and professional 

approach to business has created for 

us many strong relationships throughout 

Spain, UK, Belgium, France, Iceland, 

Sweden, Russia, Norway, Czech Republic 

and Holland. We pride ourselves on our 

very personal and professional service that 

we deliver to ALL clients. 

As shown by our Testimonials page 

– Trust is earned though our collective 

Honesty, Hard Work, Transparency, 

Knowledge and Ethics. 

Our reputation for Values such as 

these has enabled us to provide serious 

property buyers the benefit of always 

Whether you are buying 

or selling, our approach to 

business is simple - To provide 

the best service possible to 

every client we meet. 

having a wide variety of well-priced 

properties to offer for sale on the Costa 

Blanca South. So, whatever budget range 

stipulated… whether from small beachside 

apartments, semi-coastal townhouses, 

traditional Fincas, right through to luxury 

villas – we will help you! 

When you consult our specialist advisors 

you will find we take your requirements 

very seriously indeed and because we 

listen to you we apply our extensive 

knowledge and capacity within Casas 

Manuel to diligently find you the perfect 

property in your ideal location. 

In simple: Our team is here to make your 

Spanish buying process as easy as possible 

and will be assisting you through every 

step of the buying process... 

If you are looking for something that we 

do not have in our portfolio then not to 

worry, you simply tell us what it is you want, 

and our team of dedicated agents will 

find it for you. 

In 2016 Casas Manuel were honoured 

to take part in a new Channel 4 property 

series “Sun, Sea and Selling Houses”. The 

success of the 1st show resulted in the 

series being re-commissioned by channel 

4 and was followed up by a further three 

series! 

FEATURED PROPERTY 


Benijófar 

Stunning new build villas on the 

outskirts of the popular village of 

Benijofar. These villas are built over 

two floors boasting a open plan 

living/dining area on the ground 

floor along with a shower room. 

The first floor holds the two double 

bedrooms along with a family 

bathroom along with a roof top 

solarium. 

€224,900 Cabo Roig 

KEY FEATURES 

• Beds: 2 

• Baths: 2 

• Plot size: 134m2 

• Build size: 90m2 

• Pool: Private 

• Parking: Off-road 

• Full furnished 

Ref CM6810 

New Build Villas located in Lomas de 

Cabo Roig, within walking distance 

to all the local amenities that Lomas 

de Cabo Roig has to offer. The 

properties offer 3 double bedrooms, 

3 bathrooms, spacious living and 

dining area with an American style 

kitchen. The property is sat on a 

spacious plot which has a private 

swimming pool, plus a roof solarium. 

€349,900 

KEY FEATURES 

• Beds: 3 

• Baths: 3 

• Plot size: 199m2 

• Build size: 131m2 

• Pool: Private 

• Parking: Off-road 

Ref CM7870 


45

ONE WAY SELF DRIVE 

VAN HIRE 

CHAUFFEUR SERVICE 

PACKING MATERIALS & BOXES 

LEGAL AND FULLY INSURED 

Pets welcome 


SPAIN 965 794 682 UK 0208 090 4292

Office: +34 965 020 204 

UK: 01273 900966 

Email: info@welcome-estates.com 

Web: www.welcome-estates.com 

We speak: 


STUNNING APARTMENTS 

ONLY 70 METRES FROM 

GUARDAMAR BEACH 

SEA VIEWS 

3 BEDROOMS AND 

2 BATHROOMS 

• Build Size 108m2 

• Ground floor with garden 

• Middle floors with terrace 

• Penthouses with solarium 

• Lift 

• Underground parking 

• Pre-installed air-con 

• Close to amenities 

• White Goods 

PREMIUM LISTING - CAMPOAMOR 

PLAYA FLAMENCA 

ROJALES 

• 2 Bedrooms 

• 2 Bathrooms 


• Pre-installed 

air-con 

• Close to 

amenities 


Prices from 

169,000€ 

TERRIFIC TERRACED VILLAS 




• Basement 

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amenities 

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Prices from 

228,900€ 

Ref 658126 

363,000€ 

STUNNING VILLA CLOSE TO THE BEACH 

BEAUTIFUL APARTMENTS 

Ref 658180 

Ref 366353 

3 BEDROOMS & 

3 BATHROOMS 


• Short walk to beach 

• Pre-installed air-con 

• Sea Views 

• Close to amenities 


799,000€ 

Ref 658101 

PILAR DE LA HORADADA 

FABULOUS APARTMENTS 




• Close to 

amenities 

• Short walk to 

beach 


Prices from 

182,900€ 

SAN MIGUEL DE SALINAS 

TERRIFIC TOWNHOUSE 

Ref 658155 



• Build Size 

100m2 

• Pre-installed 

air-con 

• Communal 

pool 

Prices from 

269,000€ 

Ref 656701 

25 years 

experience 

Welcome Estates brings more 

than 25 years of experience in 

the Spanish Property Market. Our 

team of experts offer an unparalleled 

level of knowledge of the Costa 

Blanca region and the current 

market and are always on hand to 

support you every step of the way in 

the buying and selling process. 

With our office at the beautiful La 

Finca Golf and Spa Resort, we offer a 

range of New and Re-sale properties 

on the best golf resorts, coastal areas 

as well as town/village properties. 

Whatever your goals, we are able to 

help you achieve them. 

Welcome Estates is built on a simple 

ethos, helping you to build a better 

life. We recognise that all clients have 

their own unique requirements and 

we work with you to make them a 

reality. 

Let us help you find the perfect 

property in Spain. 

Get instant CASH! 

REFER A FRIEND 

Welcome Estates Southern 

Spain S.L will pay you 1% 

on any introduction that 

leads to a sale on a new 

build property and 0.25% on 

a resale property. 

Do you have a friend, relative, 

client or colleague looking to 

buy property in Spain? 

For more details go to: 

www.welcome-estates.com/referral 


47

West Beach 

Promenade, 

Benidorm 


An ancient coast of beaches, crystalline waters and 

rocky cliffs that lead down to secluded little coves and 

bays, the northern part of the Costa Blanca is often 

described as the most beautiful section of all – and one of 

the finest examples of Mediterranean lifestyle to be found 

anywhere. 

COSTA BLANCA NORTH 

Alicante provides the big city feel as well as a large international 

airport for the region, and as you head north from here the 

first significant resort town is El Campello, popular above all 

with Spanish tourists. From here to the pretty coastal town of 

Villajoyosa, with its multi-coloured houses, there are only tiny 

beachside spots dotted, and more of the same until you come 

to the most famous Costa Blanca resort of all: Benidorm. 

Famous for its package tourism, as humorously depicted in 

a British comedy series, this large resort town is redeveloping 

its look and offering to appeal to a more modern kind of 

tourism, complete with stylish resort hotels and a series of large 

theme park attractions such as Terra Mítica, Terra Natura and 

Aqualandia. From here, the coast becomes more rugged, 

with imposing capes and rocky cliffs and bays that together 

create breath-taking scenery against a backdrop of blue 

skies and green pine groves. 

Altea is a stylish resort town with a beautiful historic centre that 

ranks as one of the region’s highlights, while Platja L’Olla is a 

wonderfully secluded stretch of coast between distant cliffs. 

Just before you reach another iconic resort town, Calpe, 

Altea Hills is the first of a series of luxurious villas suburbs with 

stunning coastal views – one of several residential resort areas 

that offer an excellent choice of modern homes with all the 

latest styles, amenities and high-tech comforts. The views from 

here are truly stunning. 

COSTALANCA 

EXQUISITE SHORES 

Calpe is gifted with a stunning setting – a wide bay overlooking 

an iconic rock cape not unlike that of Gibraltar, as well as an 

inland lagoon known as Les Salines. This picture perfect spot 

first named by the Phoenicians provides the ideal setting for 

a resort town, and Calpe is the last large town before you 

come to the end of the Costa Blanca at Jávea and Denia, 

passing the pretty little coastal resort of Moraira. Beyond it lays 

gorgeous coastal scenery with idyllic bays such as Plata de la 

Granadella, with its turquoise water. 

Jávea and Denia are two pretty towns fronting sandy beaches 

and surrounded by attractive residential areas set within pine 

groves, with many following the undulations of golf courses 

such as the excellent La Sella Golf. The iconic Parc Natural 

Montgó crowns the natural beauty of this region, which is also 

less than an hour from Valencia, close to many more beauty 

spots and always just a short drive from country villages full of 

authentic regional charm.

NORTH 

Elche 

Rojales 

Orihuela 

Villa Martin 

Alicante 

Santa Pola 

Guardamar 

de Segura 

Torrevieja 

Denia 

Javea 

Benissa Moraira 

Altea Calpe 

Albir 

Benidorm 

Villa Joyosa 


49

DISCOVERING 

JÁVEA 

Perhaps better known as a stylishly relaxed 

Mediterranean resort destination on Spain’s eastern 

seaboard, the little town of Jávea is at heart a classic 

Spanish country town overlooking a landscape of cliffs wealthy merchant class whose elegant Baroque style 

enveloping a bright blue bay and mountains surrounding country estates and town houses add lustre to the rural 

a deep green valley. 

cottages and tightly packed homes of the area. 

In reality the municipal area of Jávea is divided into 

three distinct parts. Most familiar to outside visitors is the 

coastal resort, tucked into a corner of a large bay. Here, 

luxurious apartments surround a coastal village that looks 

out at a fishing harbour and marina that eventually gives 

way to the resort hotels that dot the long sandy beaches 

of El Arenal. At the far end of this the coast rises to the 

spectacular cliffs that mark the Cap de la Nao area. It 

is here, within the pine-covered slopes overlooking the 

bays and coves, that a collection of luxurious residential 

area provides a privileged setting for a lifestyle that has 

been drawing people for many decades now. 

At the heart of it all, though, is the historic town of 

Jávea – the original country village that grew into a 

prosperous town thanks to its position dominating a large 

and fertile valley. Largely level, this agricultural area 

stretches for kilometres inland, and has long formed the 

basis for wealth in the area, producing a range of export 

products that has included olive oil, raisins and oranges. 

Famous throughout Europe for these products, the region 

also benefitted from the bounty of the sea, creating a 

The epicentre of the old town is the Church of Sant 

Bartomeu, an imposing structure that originally dates 

back to early medieval times. Like most of the historic 

quarter it is built mainly from local Tosca stone hewn 

for centuries from the coastal cliffs, and still bears the 

pockmarks of warfare sustained during the civil war. 

Today, however, the only invaders are the small groups of 

tourists drinking in the sights or relaxing in a quaint square 

as village life goes on around them. This is a town of 

cobbled streets, picturesque archways, historic buildings 

that reveal bewildering layers of successive cultures, and 

above all a mesmerising ambience. 

Get a glimpse of what life was like here not so very 

long ago at the Museo Soler Blasco, set within the 

Palace of Antoni Banyuls, experience the lively and 

quintessentially Mediterranean atmosphere of the 

municipal market – or simply wander through peaceful 

cobbled backstreets and lively squares, eventually 

finding your way to one of the many quaint cafés and 

restaurants – and you will get an idea of what a true 

Spanish country town is all about. 


DISCOVER JAVEA 


51

COSTA BLANCA NORTH 

BUYING IN SPAIN? 

from our Extensive Northern Costa Blanca North Portfolio 

we’ll get you moving... 

Moraira 275,000 € 

Villa 

Ref: HO473758 

Altea 175,000 € 

Apartment Ref: HO354096 

Javea 1,095,000 € 

Modern Villa Ref: HO232889 

168m2 

Build 

828m 2 

Plot 

3 2 

Bedrooms Bathrooms 

Private 

Pool 

85m2 

Build 

NA 

Plot 

2 2 Community 

Bedrooms Bathrooms Pool 

374m2 

Build 

1000m 2 

Plot 

3 3 


Private 

Pool 

Denia 179,999 € 

Apartment Ref: HO593564 

Jalon 159,000 € 

Townhouse Ref: HO121316 

Calpe 575,000 € 

Villa 

Ref: HO350095 

105m2 

Build 

NA 

Plot 

3 2 Community 

Bedrooms Bathrooms Pool 

165m2 

Build 

NA 

Plot 

3 2 


350m2 

Build 

1600m 2 

Plot 

6 5 


Private 

Pool 

Moraira • Javea • Jalon • Calpe • Denia 

With 5 office located strategically throughout the 

Northern Costa Blanca, our portfolio of properties is 

second to none. Whether you’re looking for a lock-up and 

leave weekend escape, rental investment, or something 

larger and more permanent, contact us. 

Hamiltons Central Office 

(+34) 96 649 1883 

moraira@moraira-hamiltons.net 

www.moraira-hamiltons.net 


@ 

@ 

@ 

+34 96 5744179 Avenida Madrid, 03724 Moraira 

info@tabairarealestate.com 

www.tabairarealestate.com 

CUMBRE DEL SOL 109.500€ 

MORAIRA 699.000€ 

3 

m 2 m 2 

m 2 

m 2 

2 1 

320m 2 845m 2 4 2 Pool 

m 2 m 2 

m 2 

m 2 m 2 

86m 2 Terrace Pool 

Ref: 30.332E 

m 2 

Ref: 20.3314E 

BENISSA 235.000€ 

BENISSA COSTA 550.000€ 

m 2 

137m 2 Terrace Pool 

m 2 

3 2 

m 2 m 2 

Ref: 10.268E 

MORAIRA 600.000€ 

m 2 

m 2 Ref: 20.3177E 

203m 2 704m 2 3 3 Pool 

m 2 

m 2 m 2 

m 2 

JAVEA 1.250.000€ 

m 2 

178m 2 897m 2 Pool 

m 2 

3 2 

m 2 m 2 

Ref: 20.3277E 

m 2 

m 2 Ref: 70.427 

393m 2 1.000m 2 3 2 Pool 

m 2 

m 2 m 2 

m 2 


53

DAVID FERRER 

Think of Spanish tennis and the name Nadal 

immediately comes to mind. Of course, Rafa 

Nadal is a great champion and probably the best 

representative the country has had in the sport, but 

extend your horizon beyond this modern sporting icon 

and you will see that Spain has produced a very good 

proportion of the world’s top players, both past and 

present. 

Among them, and very much in the present, is David 

Ferrer. Currently ranked 6th in the world – the highest 

ranked Spaniard after Nadal – Ferrer hails from the 

pretty coastal town of Jávea, which also gave birth 

to Rimontgó. “We share a hometown,” says Antonio 

Ribes Bas of Rimontgó, “so naturally everybody here 

is enormously proud of young David.” An icon in 

this, his home ground, David Ferrer has become an 

international sporting figure and very much a source of 

national pride in Spain. 

He showed great talent and a passion for the game at 

a young age, moving to up along the coast to Gandia 

age 13 and on to Barcelona at 15 to attend Juan Carlos 

Ferrero’s academy. His coach, Javier Piles, was tough 

on the young prospect, yet when Ferrer felt he’d had 

enough of the sportsman’s regime in 1999 and left to 

a Jávea 

champion 

work on a construction site, he was back and asking for 

more ‘tennis punishment’ before the week was out. 

The following year, aged 18, he turned pro and has 

never looked back since. Amassed over $10 million 

dollars in prize money and a total of 11 career titles so 

far, David Ferrer peaked in 2008 when he reached 4th 

in the ATP rankings. Who knows if he can better that; at 

29 the Spaniard still has a lot of good years in him and 

the possibility of progressing beyond the semi-finals of 

a grand slam tournament and claiming first grand slam 

title is still very much alive. 

NINJA RETURNS 

Known as a clay court specialist, David Ferrer is a classic 

style player lacking some of the hard-serve, hard-shot 

characteristics of some of his contemporaries. Instead 

he depends upon his mobility and ability to return almost 

everything thrown at him, and do it accurately. It is this 

drive to not be beaten that has earned him accolades 

from some of the best players in the game, and indeed, 

according to Roger Federer it is not new Wimbledon 

champion Novak Djokovic but David Ferrer that is the 

best returner of the ball in modern tennis. Not bad for a 

boy from Jávea. 


JÁVEA GOLF 

Jávea is perhaps better known for its 

beaches, its marina and its water sports, 

not to mention some of the best hiking 

trails in eastern Spain, but it is also the home 

of the Club de Golf Jávea, a fine 18-hole 

course with a longstanding tradition in the 

gentleman’s game. 

Founded in 1981 and designed by 

Francisco Moreno the par 72 course extends 

across a parkland landscape set between 

private villas and wooded groves, with 

views of Jávea’s iconic mountain ranges all 

around. Elegantly styled and ever so gently 

undulating, this course offers well-designed 

bunkers and water features for a game that is 

challenging but also suitable to beginners. 

Like the golf course itself, the club’s other 

facilities are well maintained and kept 

fully up to date. Most important of these is 

the attractive clubhouse, refurbished and 

overlooking the course, countryside and the 

Montgó Mountain. Inside, it houses the club’s 

offices, as well as changing rooms, a pro 

shop, club meeting room, restaurant, bar and 

a cafeteria with scenic terrace. 

Popular with local residents and visiting 

players, Jávea Golf Club is a real golfer’s 

club with a friendly and informal atmosphere. 

The restaurant offers traditional Spanish fare 

throughout the day and evening, while 

the club’s cafeteria provides light snack 

alternatives and an opportunity to drink in the 

sun on its large terrace. 

Like the real sports club it is, Club de Golf 

Jávea also has a practice range and putting 

green as well as featuring tennis courts and 

a swimming pool to ensure that this is very 

much a venue for the entire family. Golfers 

and tennis players alike can join coaching 

sessions or book individual classes with the 

resident pros, who also shine during the 

annual tournaments and charity drives that 

further underline the club’s contribution to 

local community life. 


55

BALEARIC 


SLANDS 

For those who haven’t travelled there yet, the Balearic Islands are an 

archipelago in the Mediterranean off the Spanish east coast. The 

four main islands are Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera – 

and though they share a common history, culture and local dialect of 

Catalan that is also closely related to Valenciano, Provencal, Ligurian, 

Corsican and Sardo (Sardinian) – each has a character and ambience 

of its town. 

PALMA DE MALLORCA 

By far the largest and dominant island is Mallorca, where the capital 

Palma de Mallorca is the main cultural, economic and metropolitan 

centre of the Balearics. This historic city is a treasure trove of imposing 

architecture, with cultural layers that date back to pre-Roman, 

Byzantine, Moorish and later periods, influencing the local cuisine, 

traditions, art and people. In addition to the many cathedrals, 

fortresses and elegant streets and plazas to enjoy are the picturesque 

old city, the harbour area with its old towers and of course the white 

sandy beaches within a stroll of town. 

MALLORCA 

If you avoid the built-up tourist town of Magaluf, which not long ago 

catered mostly to British package tourism but is now being upgraded, 

skirting the southwest cape will take you through a series of rather 

stylish beach resorts such as Santa Ponça overlooking idyllic bays. 

Head inland to the pastel-coloured charm of Andratx or Valdemossa, 

a quaint mountain village reminiscent of the prettiest ones in Provence 

or Tuscany. The whole western mountain range and rocky coastline 

is a spectacle of pretty little towns overlooking spectacular cliff-side 

scenery. 

Round this region and you reach the Bay of Alcudia, where mountains 

give way to plains and expansive, white sandy beaches. This too is 

a visitor’s paradise complete with stylish coastal resorts, and as you 

trace the eastern shoreline you’ll be rewarded with elegant little 

towns and in places gorgeous beaches that have a very natural 

and untouched fell. Round yet another spectacular cape and you 

approach some of the most spectacularly beautiful Mallorca coastal 

scenery in places such as Cala Pi, whose iconic aquamarine water 

pretty much sums up the island. 

IBIZA 

If Mallorca has captured the hearts of tourists and jet-set visitors such 

as Claudia Schiffer and Michael Douglas, then Ibiza will forever be 

associated with heady summer holidays and the birth of the beachside 

club scene. Many of the most famous DJs, such as David Guetta, cut 

their teeth here and the likes of Calvin Harris, continue to feature on 

a regular basis at landmark venues like Pasha, which turn partying 

into a resort occupation. There is, of course, also another side to this 

famous party island, as seen in the historic charm of its towns and 

country villages, as well as the natural beauty of much of its coastline, 

where areas such as Es Cubells are popular with high-end visitors and 

celebrities seeking privacy, luxury and seclusion. 

MENORCA AND FORMENTERA 

For more of that iconic beachside beauty in the form of green 

Mediterranean pine groves that grow right up to white sand beaches 

washed by azure waters, Menorca is the place to visit. More intimate 

and natural than the larger islands, it is a scenic paradise where the 

land feels like it spills into the ever-present Mediterranean Sea. Even 

smaller and more sauvage, Formentera is where lovers of nature, sea, 

sky and sandy dunes will feel at home – on land as well as snorkelling 

in its clear blue waters.

A view of the 

old town castle 

in Ibiza. 

Ciutadella 

Andratx 

Pollenca 

Palma 

Inca 

Alcudia 

Cala Ratjada 

Maó 

MENORCA 

IBIZA 

San 

Antonio 

Santa Eulária 

des Ríu 

Ibiza 

City 

Cala d’Or 

MALLORCA 

FORMENTERA 

POPULAR RESIDENTIAL AREAS 

MALLORCA 

When it comes to quality real estate, Mallorca is not a place of large 

concentrations, but rather of many little treasures dotted around 

the island. That said, you’ll see names such as Pollensa, Alcúdia, Port 

Adriano and Puerto Andratx appear frequently as they are among the 

finest, most popular residential areas overlooking gorgeous coastal 

scenery near all amenities. 

IBIZA 

The same is true of Ibiza, but those in the know look for homes in Sant 

Josep De Sa Talaia, Santa Eulalia Des Ríu and also Sant Antoni De 

Portmany – all perfect examples of privileged living on this golden isle. 

MENORCA AND FORMENTERA 

In Menorca, it will be hard to resists the atmosphere and scenic charm 

of the Ciudadela de Menorca, though others head to the coastal 

pleasures of Maó and Es Mercadal, while in Formentera Cala Envaster 

is a perfect spot on a bay in an island otherwise made up of small 

communities and country properties. 


57

IBIZA COOL 

If you think Ibiza is only about clubbing and scores of 

youngsters on summer holiday packages, think again. 

This island is cool, trendy and appealing in so many 

more ways, and its popularity with A-list visitors is proof 

of it. 

To many, Ibiza has always been about summer, 

beaches, open-air parties and late night clubbing. The 

capital of Europe’s summer clubbing scene has spawned 

its own genres of music, as well as numerous famous 

clubs, but aside from techno, trance and chillout music 

there is another, more cultural side to this tourist isle. Those 

in the know, like Richard Branson and other well-heeled 

latter day flower power children, have long since been 

enjoying its pleasures. Together with the creative types 

who helped develop the iconic Ibiza style, they have 

turned this super cool spot in the sun into one of the most 

must-experience places of the Mediterranean. 

Ibiza has long been associated with a brand of 

shabby chic style that is considered by many to be 

the ultimate in trendiness. It is a place where hip types 

like to congregate – surfers, models, pop stars, trendy 

millionaires and those successful in the world of design. 

Coming from similar hippy roots perhaps, the fashionistas 

and those who in spite of their wealth want to remain 

‘with it’ and somehow spiritually grounded flock to the 

private villas, secluded low-rise boutique hotels and other 

hotspots overlooking paradisiacal coves or white yachts 

bobbing quietly on the turquoise water. 

THE COLOUR OF IBIZA 

More rustic destinations just inland are also very 

popular, as are sports where you can enjoy freshly 

caught fish or organically grown vegetables at quaint 

– but stylish – seaside venues. Shabby chic is therefore 

a word that has come to characterise Ibiza and in turn 

the style has drawn much inspiration from it. If there were 

a colour to represent the island and encapsulate its 

ambience it would be azure; the deep aquamarine blue 

of its coastal waters, the intense blue of its skies and the 

liquid freshness of sea air. 

Or perhaps the pure, stark white of its plastered walls, 

the sails that play against the horizon or the white linen 

that seems to become an inadvertent uniform for 

sophisticated urban types seeking summer epiphanies in 

the Med. Modern and trendy yet ancient and mysterious, 

the real Ibiza is a world removed from the shallow 

hedonism of its squalid club scene, where revellers feed 

on a cocktail of sun, drum beats and chemicals to 

achieve a trance-like state of oblivion. The physical Ibiza 

has an ephemeral quality, but one where it is the play 

of visual beauty, tactile senses and an altered pace of 

being that creates a mesmerising effect. 

Besides crystal clear waters inviting the visitor to swim, 

sail and scuba dive, it offers a surprising amount of 

beautiful nature for so small an island. From the cliffs and 

coves rise the pines the island is famous for, converting 

into maquis heather in the hardiest of spots before 

opening up into idyllic valleys covered in green fields, 

blankets of wild flowers and almond trees. This is rustic 

Ibiza, a place of goats, donkeys, quaint villages and old 

rural traditions. It is also home to an amazingly stylish form 

of rural tourism in which easy elegance and comfort 

have been raised to an art form. 

A popular natural area is the Ses Feixes wetlands, 

a swampy lowland area bordering Ibiza Bay that is 

a wintering ground for countless species of bird. You 

will also find bats and reptiles where the Moors once 

cultivated land using a complex irrigation system 

of canals and water deposits. Here, where intense 

agriculture flourished for centuries in a man-made 

environment, nature began to reclaim its marshes and 

return them to their wild inhabitants from the 1960s 

onwards. 

ANCIENT ROOTS THAT LINGER 

Much of what makes this island so haunting can 

be traced to its ancient roots, which though planted 

in a very distant and hazy past continue to produce 

fresh shoots. While it shares much of its story and 

characteristics with mainland Spain – Ibiza is just 

79 kilometres east of Valencia – this is above all a 

Mediterranean world. As a result, the Pine Islands – the 



name for Ibiza and its smaller neighbour, Formentera – 

have always been a little removed from their mother 

nation. Claimed by the Catalan as their own, the 

people speak a local dialect of that tongue, yet could 

also communicate with the Corsicans and Sardinians 

with whom they share an almost invisible yet ancient 

bond. 

Beaten by the salty sea winds and the voyagers 

they carried here, these tiny islands have been 

invaded, sacked and pillaged more times than you’d 

care to know, but the many stones have produced 

an interesting mosaic. A popular attraction are the 

remains of a Phoenician settlement at Sa Caleta, one 

of the finest examples of its kind, while the islands of Es 

Vedra and Es Vedranell are famous as the spot with the 

third most powerful magnetic energy in the world. Es 

Vedra is also the birthplace of the Carthaginian general 

Hannibal. 

It is said that sacrifices were performed here by 

ancient cults, whilst others say it is the tip of the sunken 

civilisation of Atlantis, thus explaining why it is such a 

popular landing spot for intergalactic travellers. The 

hippies who tell you this will also say they’ve seen UFOs 

shooting over here, but maybe that’s down to the kind 

of ‘tobacco’ they smoke. Either way, it’s a wonderfully 

mysterious spot in which to indulge in wild theories and 

feel the otherworldly atmosphere as you – per tradition 

– make a wish the moment the island comes into view. 

Though it now houses almost half the island’s 

125,000 people, Ibiza town was for long little more 

than a small port protected by the Almudaina Castle. 

This large walled fortress, which stands at the top of 

the picturesque Dalt Vila (Old Town), provided the 

protection that made life here possible, but from the 

mid-19th century onwards Ibiza’s capital developed 

quickly, a process that was further boosted by the rise 

of the tourist industry from the 1950s on. 

A SENSORY EXPERIENCE 

The old walled town is so pretty that the entire area 

has been declared a world heritage site by Unesco, 

complete with castle, churches and the quaint houses 

and little plazas. Here you will almost stumble over the 

history of the island, or simply drink in the atmosphere, 

while on the other side of the bay luxury yachts lie in 

the trendy marina fronted by luxury boutiques, eateries 

and lounge bars. Much of the nightlife continues to be 

concentrated around calle Barcelona, while the town 

is also home to some of the most popular clubs, among 

them the famous Café del Mar, where revellers come 

to chillout and watch the sun set. 

They are just some of the more than 40 clubs and 

trendy bars that dominate the summer clubbing scene, 

though in recent years Ibiza has tapped into the cool 

chic scene so strongly associated with it, catering in the 

process not only to young revellers and cultural tourists 

but also the well-heeled visitor wishing to remain young 

at heart. 

What Ibiza offers visitors is therefore becoming 

increasingly diverse in nature, but always based around 

a strong sensory experience – from the release offered 

by the clubs to the relaxing, almost spiritual atmosphere 

to be found along the pretty little coves and secluded 

beaches. Where the package vacationers follow the 

well-beaten path to the 18 kilometres of large sandy 

beaches such as those at Calls Bassa and La Salinas, 

those occupying the private villas and low-slung 

boutique hotels will seek out secluded spots far away 

from the madding crowds. Lying ensconced within 

small pine-covered estates, the private lodges they 

stay at offer peace and anonymity in what is a typical 

Ibiza mix of laid-back hippy style complete with Thai or 

Indian influences, yet suffused with comfort, luxury and 

first-class service. 

Ibiza chic is earthy, designed in a way that appears 

to be random and informal yet is actually demanding 

of creative energies, and provides five-star services 

in an ambience that seems to want to decry earthly 

luxury and opulence in favour of a more ethereal way 

of being. The result is an Ibiza-branded experience that 

makes this the coolest of all Mediterranean islands. 


59

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Spain Property Guide Spring 2021

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