Bonus days! Public holidays in Spain.

7/11/2015

Spain is famous for its extended calendar of public holidays. There are two types of public holiday in Spain: national holidays and regional holidays. The national holidays are fixed by the government whereas local or regional holidays will be determined by a regional government in accordance with century-long traditions. There are eight official national public holidays in Spain, although this can increase to a maximum of nine days, should the government wish to implement them. The standard official public holidays are: January 1st: New Year’s Day January 6th: Epiphany Good Friday May 1st: Labour Day/May Bank Holiday August 15th: Assumption of Mary October 12th: Día de la Hispanidad: Spanish National Day December 8th: Immaculate Conception December 25th: Christmas Day If a public holiday falls on a Thursday or Tuesday, the Spanish often do what is known in Spanish as ´hacer puente´ which means ´make a bridge’. The day in between the public holiday, whether it is a Friday or Monday, will also normally be offered by an employer, for example, and the Spanish will take advantage of this to have a long weekend, often staying with friends and family in another part of Spain. Public holidays in Spain tend to be a time for celebration and for families to get together. The list above shows that the key days are generally based on religious events, so in Andalucía, for example, anyone visiting Seville will enjoy the Good Friday parades as part of the Semana Santa celebrations (Easter). If you own an apartment or house in Málaga or on the Costa del Sol, you are in the ideal location to enjoy the spectacular processions that take place in Seville and the Fiesta de las Cruces de Mayo which takes place in Córdoba in May of every year. Regional holidays are also celebrated on a large scale in cities such as Valencia which is home to Las Fallas in March and Pamplona which sees the running of the bulls as part of the San Fermín festival in July. There’s also the Tomatina, a tomato throwing festival which takes place on the last Wednesday of August in Valencia, located near many of our properties in Alicante and the Costa Blanca. Why not join in with the locals at one of the fiestas then escape back to your own home for dinner with your own family and friends? Click at this link to see our offer: property for sale in Spain Sources: Thelocal.es Expatica.com

12th October - a cause for celebration

8/10/2015

The 12th of October 1492 was a monumental day for the history of the world. Until that day... and probably for a good few years after it, the people of Europe, India, China and Africa believed that the world was flat. When Columbus went in search of a new trade route to India and in fact found the Americas maps were re-written, trade routes changes and the wealth of Spain, England, France, Portugal and Holland changed completely. In Spain and many Spanish-speaking countries this day is celebrated every year. It draws attention to the Spanish language, history, culture and the races that combine to make the Spanish-speaking world. Officially a public holiday by royal decree since 1981, it is known as the Fiesta Nacional de España in Spain. In many countries in Latin America it is known as el Dia de la Raza - or the Day of the Race, reinforcing the link between Spain and the countries it once conquered in Spain's Golden Era. Of course, these countries are ruled as individual entities now, but many of their traditions are from the times when the Spanish were in power. If you already own a home in Spain, or are looking for instance for houses for sale on the Costa del Sol, near Barcelona or for property for sale on the Costa Blanca, a must-see is the national parade that takes place in Madrid on the 12th October. The easiest way to get to Madrid to enjoy the parade is by Ave, the fast train service which runs from major railway stations near many of our holiday homes and apartments. The 12th October also celebrates the Spanish Armed Forces and as such the military parade is a must-see. Of course, the thrill of the parade lies in the atmosphere in Madrid on that day, but if you can't make it just tune in your TV from your ImmoVario holiday home to see how the Spanish militar celebrate with true pomp and circumstance. Remember that as this is a public holiday local restaurants, bars and shops might be closed so if you are staying at home, stock up in advance so you can celebrate with your Spanish neighbours without being worried about having to replenish stocks! Sources: Tripadvisor.com

Malaga: a wealth of activities

28/9/2015

With an enviable position on Spain’s Costa del Sol, the Andalucian city of Málaga is more than just an arrival airport for the Costa del Sol. The city of Málaga has its fair share of fantastic bars, shopping and restaurants to make it worth a trip from your holiday apartment on the Costa del Sol when a change of scenery is required. And best of all, most holidaymakers don’t know think to head there once they’re firmly in sunbed situ, so take advantage and head there now! With a promenade that’s easily walkable for anyone ages from 2 to 82 just one of the charms of this once run-down port, Málaga has risen from the proverbial ashes and is now a must-see city with a thousand and one amenities for those who wisely choose to buy a home here. Culture vultures can find a wealth of activities in and around Málaga itself. The city’s 10th century fortress, or Alcazaba is a good place to start. With a castle watching over the coast, a maze and gardens, it’s the ideal place to take a walk and enjoy the views from on high. Come rain or shine, a museum is always a fantastic place to check out local and international artwork and the Pompidou Centre, the first of its kind outside of Paris, is the perfect place to go to appreciate both temporary and permanent art exhibitions. It rivals the museum of the city’s most famous son, Picasso, and the much appreciated Picasso Museum, as well as the Carmen Thyssen, a museum housing 19th century Spanish art. An old tobacco factory, a once prolific business from the region that inspired Bizet’s Carmen is now home to the Collection of the Russian Museum with over five centuries of Russian art on show. If it’s a faster pace of life that you’re after, the Automobile Museum has vintage and modern cars and fashions from the same eras. Spain is, of course, famous for its wine and food and Málaga is making plenty of noise about its new-found contribution to this fame. The gastronomy scene in Málaga is certainly giving Spain’s northern cities a run for their money. For hams, cheeses, tinned food and tapas head to Mercado Atarazanas. Test out the best of Spanish beers in the centre of town with locally-grown tomatoes, olive oil, bread and anchovies (boquerones) before heading home with a bottle of D.O. Málaga wine, the perfect accompaniment for any meal. Please have a further look on our website for our fantastic offer of properties for sale in the Costa del Sol. With a house or apartment in this nice region you will be able to explore Málaga and other nice places in this Costa with its superb climate! Sources: Lonelyplanet.com/spain/andalucia/malaga Malagaturismo.com/es/recursos-turisticos/detalle/alcazaba/6 Vinomalaga.com/denominacion-malaga.html Theguardian.com/travel/2014/may/24/malaga-andalucia-spain-food-restaurants-tapas Theguardian.com/travel/2015/jul/25/malaga-holiday-guide-spain-best-hotels-bars-restaurants

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