The Camino de Santiago pilgrimage

16/9/2015

The Camino de Santiago, or The Way of St James, dates back to the Middle Ages when it was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages along with the pilgrimages to Rome and Jerusalem which were often undertaken at the time. Saint Iago, or Saint James, is said to be buried at the site where the cathedral of one of Spain's most beautiful cities now stands. Santiago de Compostela, located in the stunning region of Galicia, is reputed to be the final resting place of St James' remains and is the final stop on a pilgrimage which can take ten, twenty or even thirty days along the Camino de Santiago. The Camino de Santiago pilgrimage covers a number of routes, generally starting in the south of France, parts of northern Spain and Oporto in Portugal. One of the main symbols of the Camino de Santiago is the scallop shell which can be found easily along the Galician coastline. If you choose one of our properties near there, check out the local beaches which are full of life in summer and perfect for walks in winter. Pilgrims are given a shell when they start their pilgrimage which they tend to hang on their backpacks. As they follow the route they are led by signposts and floor markings which have the shell attached or inserted into the paving There are a number of double meanings linked to the shell. Firstly, the grooves on the shell are said to represent the many different routes that lead to Santiago de Compostela. Secondly, in years gone by, the shells served as a cup for water and for washing during the pilgrimage. Today, pilgrims can be identified by the shell they carry and also by smaller shell pendants which can be purchased in Santiago de Compostela. The Camino de Santiago and the old town area of Santiago de Compostela are UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Camino de Santiago is increasingly more popular with pilgrims but if you are looking to enjoy the route and the city itself whilst on holiday in the area, you are guaranteed to find a delightful café, restaurant, beach or religious monument to visit in this incredibly humbling part of Spain. Would you like to enjoy more parts of Spain and have your own dream home in this magnificant country? Click at this link: property for sale in Spain Sources: whc.unesco.org/en/list/669 Santiago-compostela.net/

Barcelona: a feast for the eyes, ears and stomach

5/9/2015

Discover Catalunya's stunning architecture, delicious food and Mediterranean coastline. The capital of Catalunya, Barcelona is a feast for the eyes, ears and the stomach. There is always something going on, a new tapas bar to try or a beach nearby to enjoy an ice cold beer and a sea view on a warm day. A visit to Barcelona is not complete without seeing, even from the outside, one of it's most famous son's works. Antoni Gaudí's works include the yet to be completed Sagrada Familia cathedral, perhaps the most famous symbol of Barcelona. There's also the wonderful Casa Batlló and Park Guell, which affords great views of the city. Get there early to beat the crowds and see the city from a quiet point of view. Barcelona is also home to the Picasso museum, an adopted son of Barcelona, his museum houses over 3,800 pieces of work by the artist in its permanent collection as well as temporary exhibits. Given that Picasso himself established the museum with the help of a trusted friend, it is a true insight into his life, works and thinking. Food-wise there is something for everyone in Barcelona so whether you're staying in your holiday home there for a week, a month or even longer, you can enjoy local and international cuisine accompanied by fabulous local wines and beers. Freshly caught fish is in abundance on Barcelona's enviable 4.5 km coastline from the beach of San Sebastiá to Levante and a visit to La Boqueria market should be on everyone's list. Located on the famous La Rambla street, this is the biggest market in Catalunya, with beautifully displayed fruit, hams, cheese, bread and fish amongst the many products on display. The secret is not to go in there when hungry or you'll come out with more than you bargained for... not such a bad thing if you are heading to your holiday apartment to dine in style with family and friends! If you want to add a touch of magic to your stay in Barcelona or on the coast nearby, the Magic Fountain at Montjuic, built for the World Fair of 1929, is the perfect opportunity to sit back and relax to a wonderful light and music display as fountains dance before your eyes. Head up the steps towards the National Art Museum for the best view as dusk sets. Visit the website ImmoVario.com today and click on the link Property for sale Barcelona  to see the selection of property currently on offer on ImmoVario. Sources Lonelyplanet.com/spain/barcelona Timeout.com/barcelona

6 new agents added..

27/8/2015

Looking for a property at the Costa Blanca? We have added 2 agencies over there of the Engel & Völkers concern which always has a very nice offer! In the Costa Brava we have added the properties from  4 new agencies to our site, so we have over 10.000 properties for sale there. A good choise of nice holiday homes! Worthwhile to have an extra look on our website, click on the links here below to see the nice offer on our site. Costa Blanca: Engel & Völkers Benidorm Engel & Völkers Guardamar Del Segura and the Costa Brava: Mandarina Houses Brisasol A&G Immobiliaria Roca Diumenjó Super easy to contact these agents through ImmoVario, because if you select a property on our site you can ask for more information via the contactform. This message is being send directly to the corresponding estate agent. The agent can respond directly to you again and give you more information about the property and help you out with any further issue. In our main menu you can find an overview of all the Spanish real estate agents who are connected to ImmoVario by clicking at "Estate agents" and make further selections of for example estate agents in the Costa Brava, estate agents in the Costa Blanca, estate agents in Torrevieja, etcetera. It´s quite easy to have a look at the offer of the separate agents like this.

Learn the Spanish language!

17/8/2015

With over 400 million native speakers in 79 countries, Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, both as a first and second language. If you learn Spanish you will be in good company whether you are in Spain, the USA or Latin America. Spanish is a Latin language and shares many of its words, roots and sentence structures with other Romance languages, such as Portuguese, French and Italian. There are also similarities between English words, such as those ending in ‘tion’ in English; these end in ‘ción’ in Spanish, for example, station = la estación. Spanish has masculine and feminine words and the verbs change depending on the person/people or item(s) being referred to. If you wish to learn Spanish there are a number of ways to do so. One of the best ways is to attend classes at a language school, which can be found in towns and cities across Spain. In the areas where ImmoVario has houses and apartments for sale, there are plenty of schools which you can attend, with courses designed especially for non-native Spanish speakers. From night classes, intensive courses and one to one learning, if you learn the language in Spain, you’ll soon pick up the basics so you can enjoy life like a local in restaurants and cafés! Whether you are on holiday or living in Spain you will want to keep up to date with events happening around the world. If you are learning Spanish there are two principal newspapers which are published on a daily basis with the latest headlines, breaking news and comment. These are El País and El Mundo. These two newspapers also have websites in Spanish which are updated by the minute. The websites are Elpais.com and Elmundo.es. If you wish to read the news in English you can also find it at the El País English website which is elpais.com/elpais/inenglish There are a number of English only newspapers and websites, including Euro Weekly News which is a free weekly newspaper (the corresponding website is Euroweeklynews.com) and also The Local (Thelocal.es). At ImmoVario we speak your language! With happy customers from all over the world, we aim to facilitate communication with you in your own language and as such, the Immovario website is available in 12 languages. We also collaborate with agents who speak your language, so if you are looking to buy a home in Spain, have a further look on the website ImmoVario.com.

A new Costa: Costa de Valencia!

17/7/2015

This time we would like to introduce to you the offer of new estate agents in a whole new Costa: the Costa de Valencia.  We added lots of new offers for you on ImmoVario.com! These are our new partners. Click on the links here below to see their nice offer on our site. FoundValencia Girasol Homes (also Costa Blanca and Murcia) Super easy to contact these agents through ImmoVario, because if you select a property on our site you can ask for more information via the contactform. This message is being send directly to the corresponding estate agent. The agent can respond directly to you again and give you more information about the property and help you out with any further issue. As mentioned earlier, in our main menu you can find an overview of all the Spanish real estate agents who are connected to ImmoVario by clicking at "Estate agents" and make further selections of for example estate agents in the Costa Brava, estate agents in the Costa Blanca, estate agents in Torrevieja, etcetera. It´s quite easy to have a look at the offer of the separate agents like this.

4 new agents!

30/6/2015

Looking for a property at the Costa Blanca? We have loaded 200 properties from Bank Spanish property over there. Or are you looking for a property at the Costa de Almería? We added the properties of Agency Mola Mola there. In the Costa Brava (area of Palamós, Begur, Calonge etc ...) we have added the properties from Arx Estates & Services to our site and the properties of Construcentre (Empuriabrava and surroundings). So this month we like to introduce to you the offer of four new estate agents in varios Costa´s. Worthwhile to have an extra look on our website, click on the links here below to see their nice offer on our site. Mola Mola Bank Spanish property Arx Estates & Services Constucentre Super easy to contact these agents through ImmoVario, because if you select a property on our site you can ask for more information via the contactform. This message is being send directly to the corresponding estate agent. The agent can respond directly to you again and give you more information about the property and help you out with any further issue. In our main menu you can find an overview of all the Spanish real estate agents who are connected to ImmoVario by clicking at "Estate agents" and make further selections of for example estate agents in the Costa Brava, estate agents in the Costa Blanca, estate agents in Torrevieja, etcetera. It´s quite easy to have a look at the offer of the separate agents like this.

The beauty of the White Isle

19/6/2015

Known as the White Isle of the Mediterranean, Ibiza is renowned for its beautiful coastline of white sandy beaches and coves, world-famous nightclubs, Roman and Spanish architecture and stunning sunsets. Ibiza's outstanding beaches welcome sun lovers year after year and they are a great reason to buy a property on the island, where you are guaranteed to be able to enjoy wonderful sunshine by day and watch the sun go down with a glass of wine, tapas and your loved ones on an evening. Local gastronomy has come to the fore in recent years on the island and as a result more and more restaurants offer local dishes served in both the traditional style or with a modern twist. Typical dishes on the island include fish on the coast with bullit de peix, a fish hotpot and burrida de ratjada, the Ibizan version of paella, being extremely popular. Further inland, meat dishes dominate the menu; arrós de matances, a rice and meat dish and sofrit pages, a typical country dish being favourites amongst the locals. Head to the island's capital of Eivissa (Ibiza Town) for the widest choice of restaurants and menus. If beaches are your thing then a property located near the 18kms of beach along the coastline is an absolute must. Ibiza boasts a whopping 80 beaches and every single one has its own charm and activities. There's diving, snorkelling, dancing, rambling, hill walking as well as plenty of beaches with parasols, hammocks and sunbeds for complete relaxation to choose from. The quieter beaches around Cala Jondal contrast with the ever popular Formentera beach which has more activities and draws a larger crowd. With our selection of property for sale in Ibiza, potential buyers are spoilt for choice. For details of properties currently available, check out our website immoVario.com and click on the link Houses for sale Ibiza or Apartments for sale Ibiza. Roman, Moorish and Spanish history is interwoven on the island. The island's cathedral, Our Lady of the Snows is one of the highlights of the old town of Eivissa, towering over the city, in easy sight of the old port which under Moorish rule connected the island to the Spanish mainland. Of course, Ibiza wouldn't be Ibiza without the world-famous clubs which draw crowds from all over the globe from May to September, from opening parties to closing parties and every night in between, there is always a great time to be had at the famous Pacha, Eden, Amnesia and Space nightclubs with international DJs playing set after set. If clubbing isn't your scene, the island's bars and restaurants offer a more chilled out approach to life in the sunshine, many of them within walking distance of our properties on the island. Sources: Telegraph.co.uk Ibiza.travel

Dive into a natural paradise at the Islas Medas

9/6/2015

The Islas Medas, located just a mile from the beach at L'Estartit, is part of the Montgrí Natural Park. Covering 23 hectares and with seven small islands forming this little archipelago, there's a whole host of marine flor and fauna to discover for fans of diving. Several boat companies operate on the Islas Medas, offering sailing trips in glass-bottomed boats, as well as a wealth of diving activities. If you like to take things easy and have someone else at the helm then take a trip on one of the boat services offered. Just remember to pack your camera because the views are stunning! If you prefer to get a little more up close and personal with the local wildlife then don your wetsuit and goggles to take a dip in the Mediterranean and see the Islas Medas at close range. The diving activities around the Islas Medas cover diving for all abilities, from beginner to advanced. In the shallower waters there are algae, illuminated by the natural light from the sun. Dive a little deeper to find rocks, coral reefs, octopus and lobsters. This underwater world is made up of a plethora of colours where more than six hundred creatures live in absolute darkness and can be visited at several different depths, depending on your preference. If you're a diver who likes to explore further afield, there is an amazing natural tunnel and cave system which is over ten thousand years old. Also worth a visit are several shipwrecks. There's the Reggio Messina, a boat which was deliberately sunk in 1991 in addition to the Avenire, more familiarly known as Marmoler due to its marble cargo, which sank by accident in 1971 and still maintains its original features from that day. If you are looking for a home in L'Estartit and want a fantastic apartment with a seaview and or walking distance to the beautiful beach, then look at our offer of appartments for sale in L´Estartit today or houses for sale in L´Estartit, so you can enjoy a diving trip to the Islas Medas from the comfort of your own home on the Costa Brava. Picture: el Archivo fotográfico del Ayuntamiento de Torroella de Montgrí

New agents added in Rosas and Begur

21/5/2015

Again we would like to introduce to you the offer of three new estate agents in the Costa Brava we recently added to ImmoVario.com. Because of this we have new and interesting offers for you again. It is about property for sale in Rosas and property for sale and rent in Begur. These are our new partners. Click on the links here below to see their nice offer on our site. Ideal PromHabitat Cales Begur Finques Begur: property for sale and property for rent Super easy to contact these agents through ImmoVario, because if you select a property on our site you can ask for more information via the contactform. This message is being send directly to the corresponding estate agent. The agent can respond directly to you again and give you more information about the property and help you out with any further issue. As mentioned earlier, in our main menu you can find an overview of all the Spanish real estate agents who are connected to ImmoVario by clicking at "Estate agents" and make further selections of for example estate agents in the Costa Brava, estate agents in the Costa Blanca, estate agents in Torrevieja, etcetera. It´s quite easy to have a look at the offer of the separate agents like this.

Botanical gardens on the Costa Brava

12/5/2015

People flock to the Costa Brava for its beaches, warm seas and relaxed lifestyle every year but there's more to its natural offerings to be found in the botanical gardens dotted along the coast. A perfect day out from a holiday home on the Costa Brava, the botanical gardens of Santa Clotilde in Lloret de Mar, Pinya de Rosa in Blanes, Marimurtra, also in Blanes, and Cap Roig in Palafrugell offer the opportunity to see tropical plants, water features and of course, to relax on a hot day. The botanical gardens at Santa Clotilde were designed in the style of the gardens of the Italian Renaissance by Nicolau Rubió i Tuduri during the Noucentista period in Catalonia's art history. Rubió i Tuduri took advantage of the steep location and rocky landscape to create a garden which gives impressive views over the bay in Lloret de Mar. Marimutra was created in 1920 and is home to over 4,000 species of plants and fauna. With a focus on Mediterranean plants but also boasting plant species from sub-tropical countries in southern Africa and Central America, there is a vast collection of cacti, a lake and the Linnaeus temple which is the ideal place within the gardens to look out to sea. Pinya de Rosa was once the home of industrial engineer Fernando Riviere de Caralt who purchased the land in 1945 before developing its 50 hectare surface area to include the features they have today. Nowadays there are over 7,000 plant species at Pinya de Rosa and the collections of yucca, agave, opuntias and aloes are recognised as some of the best collections in the world of such species. Cap Roig occupies an area of 17 hectares and was originally constructed with a castle and park in 1927. Located with breathtaking views out to sea, it is home to both native Spanish plants and international species which run in a terraced format from the castle to the sea. Highlights include the Cactus Garden and Geranium Walk as well as sculptures by local and international artists. Cap Roig is also home to a fantastic music festival which takes place throughout July and August every year, with major international artists taking to the stage on a warm summer's evening. If you own a home or want to buy a property for sale on the Costa Brava, it is definitely worth visiting these beautiful gardens whether you want a change of scenery, or simply wish to learn more about indigenous or tropical plants. Sources: lloretdemar.org Spain.info  Marimurtra.cat Spain.info Pinya-de-rosa.es Spain.info Independent.co.uk Caproigfestival.com