Costa Brava 3
& Catalunya Magazine
Wine tourism A great way to discover Catalonia
Girona
Scenic getaway
Sant Joan
Summer is here!
Top 10
Beaches and Coves
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Cala Bona, Tossa de Mar. Photo: Francesc Tur. Costa Brava Tourism Board Archive of Images.
I EDITORIAL
It was a bit premature to speak of the beginning of spring, at the end of February, considering the snow storm that hit the Costa Brava in the second week of March. Luckily the weather changed back to normal and today we can once again enjoy the hot days and warm evenings. In this summer edition we get acquainted with the third of the four capitals of Catalonia, Girona. Sue Walker provides us with tips for vegetarians who want to eat out Catalonia, because most restaurants aren’t really geared up to vegetarians. Quite appropriate for a summer issue, this time we present a Top 10 Beaches and Bays. The listed sites come with coordinates so your Garmin, Tom Tom or other navigation system can point you to it, even if your blindfolded. We tell you the ins and outs of “La Revetlla de Sant Joan”, one of the best Catalan festivities. And lawyer J.W. de Haan will explain the changes in the tax legislation regarding the sale of real estate. All in all a very well-filled issue, full of useful information and beautiful, radiant summer pictures.
Marjolein Hooijmeijer
Photo’s page 7: Girona: Toni Verdú Carbó Vegetareans: Suzette Pauwels Wijntourism: Eric Pesik Favourite spot: MorBCN Sant Joan: Albert Simó Events calendar: Nowerx
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Casa Ellen Modern and luxurious home for large family or rental near Pals Playa. This modern and luxurious home is located near Pals Playa, minutes from the beach. The house was completed in 2008 and built under modern architecture. The finishing is modern and tasteful. The house can be used in two seperate parts. Upper and lower floor have private entrance, living room and kitchen. Classification: Upper floor: Entrance, Cloakroom, Spacious living room with fireplace and access to covered terrace with sea view, dining room, kitchen, two bedrooms, bathroom with shower, toilet and double washbasin. Ground floor: Hall, Bedroom, technical room with central heating, lounge with access to covered patio, open kitchen, two bedrooms, bathroom with shower, toilet and double washbasin, bedroom en suite with bathroom with bath and toilet Garden: Swimming pool, several terraces, manicured garden, Storage for bikes etc. Municipality water, electricity, sewerage and ADSL available. Urbanization infrastructure is completely renewed in 2010.
Price â‚Ź 650.000,Costa Brava Immo can provide financing on this property.
WWW.COSTA-BRAVA-IMMO.EU
Costa Brava Immo Paseo del Mar 3,1 17230 PalamĂłs 0034-972.319.527 0034-663.324.36 info@costa-brava-immo.eu
inhoud
zomer ‘10
08 Girona
Scenic getaway
15 Culinair
Recipe for Sangria de cava
16 Vegetarians
Vegetarians in Catalonia
20 Favourites
Typicly Catalan products
26 Winetourism
A great way to discover Catalonia
31 My favourite spot
Favourite spots in Catalonia
33 Top 10
Beaches and Coves
46 Sant Joan
june 23rd, the longest day
49 Legal advice
Column of Master J.W. de Haan
54 Events calendar
A selection from the regional agenda
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Photo: Bernat Casero
Girona
Scenic getaway For many, Girona is just a stopover on their way to Barcelona. Therefore they only see the airport, but miss out on the charming city that lies behind it. Of course, Barcelona is a great metropolis, but Girona is well worth a visit also.
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G
FRANCIA ANDORRE
irona is the capital of the province Girona, located northeast of Catalonia at 100 km north of Barcelona and 60 km south of the French border. Girona has its own university and a population of a small 100,000 inhabitants. Girona has a long and rich history. In the 9th century BC this area was already inhabited by Iberians. Over the centuries various peoples have inhabited Girona, like the Romans, the Visigoths and Moors. In the 11th century, Girona was declared to be a city officially.
GIRONA
ARAGĂ“N
LLEIDA
Girona BARCELONA
Lleida
Barcelona TARRAGONA Tarragona
COMMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
The 12th century saw a flourishing of the Jewish community of Girona. They left a significant mark on the city, which is still visible to this day. The Jewish Quarter of Girona is one of the finest and largest in Europe, and is visited by many tourists. Girona was besieged as many as 25 times and it was conquered seven times. Remains of the walls whom whitstood the many attacks, are still standing firm. Today you can stroll on the old town wall (Passeig de la Muralla) and enjoy the view over the city. One of the most beautiful squares in the city is the Plaza de la Independencia, a pleasant square with cafes and restaurants. A characteristic image of Girona, are the 'hanging' buildings along the river 'Onyar' and the bridges that cross this river. Another highlight of Girona are the original Moorish baths, which were built in 1194. One of the most visually defining buildings is the city's cathedral. It is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Spain. Besides all this cultural wealth, above all, Girona is a very attractive and friendly city.
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Photo: SebastiĂ Giralt
There is a huge variety of shops and fortunately not only the large commercial chains, but there are also masses of small boutiques. There are loads of terraces, bars and restaurants where you can refresh the inner man.
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R
estaurants
Restaurant La polenta Vegetariano - C. Corte Reial, 6. This small eatery becomes crowded over lunchtime, with hungry vegetarians packing in to fill up on the imaginative and delectable offerings of the innovative chef. Cafe Le Bistrot - Pujada Sant Domènec, 4. The smooth sophistication and elegance of this cafe attracts the well to do and discerning client, who enjoy the excellent food and atmosphere. Boira - Place de la Independencia 17. Authentic Catalan cuisine is served at reasonable prices at this popular restaurant. L'Arcada - This bar-restaurant is situated beneath the arcade. It has a nice old-fashioned interior, and serves excellent breakfast pastries in the mornings. There are also outdoor tables where in the summer you can relax and do some people watching. El Pou del Call - c / de la Força 14. Located in the Jewish Quarter, this restaurant serves good, tasty local cuisine in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
H
otels
Hotel Historic, C Bellmirall 6, Girona A small hotel with the charm of the old city. Besides hotel rooms are also apartments to be rented. www.hotelhistoric.com Equity Point Hostel Girona, Plaça Catalunya, 23 Low budget hostel located in the heart of the city. www.equity-point.com /nl/hostels-girona/equity-point-girona/equity-point-girona.html
Nord 1901, Nord 7-9, Girona Small modern hotel with rooms and apartments, located 100 meters from the old city center. Very friendly and customer-oriented staff. www.nord1901.com Ciutat de Girona, Nord 2, Girona Modern hotel with all conveniences. The restaurant "Blanc" is notable for the quality. Dishes are served with light oriental influences. www.hotel-ciutatdegirona.com Photo: Janny Schokker
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M
useums
Museum of the History of Girona: Museu de la Història de la Ciutat Archaeological Museum of Catalonia, department Girona: Museu Arqueològic de Girona. Art Museum: Museu d'Art www.museuart.com Cathedral Museum: Museu Capitular - Tresor de la Catedral Cinema Museum: Museu del Cinema www.museudelcinema.org Museum of Jewish history
O
ther information
Girona has its own train station with connections to Zaragoza, Barcelona and and the rest of Catalonia and Europe. Furthermore, it has its own international airport, Airport Girona-Costa Brava, with direct flights to almost all of Europe. www.aena.es Tourist information www.girona.cat Interactive guide and map of Gerona www.mapfactory.net /turisme/eng/activitats.php
/mapa_girona.php?i=3
Photo: Jose Maria Miñarro Vivancos
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Costa-Brava-Immo
Casa Palli, Calonge Spacious villa, in Mas Palli, zone Playa d´Aro. This house has sea view, a spacious garden and 3 garages. Private water pump and underground water deposit of 20,000 liters. Volledig gerenoveerd. CV op olie, 2003, perceel: 1.138m2
Casa Sol y Mar, Tamariu This spacious property is located at a dead end street in a wooded area with stunning sea view. At 5 minutes from the beach of Tamariu. Surface house: 281m2, plot size: 1.453m2
€ 490.000,-
€ 850.000,-
Casa Manxa, Calonge Beautiful, modern villa with breathtaking views of the sea and coastline. High quality materials and finishing. Garden, pool, garage, 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. In quiet urbanization. Surface house: 260m2, plot size: 500m2
Casa Pals Platja Living room with terrace, modern kitchen 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, office with balcony and sea view, garage for 2 cars, wine cellar, pool 4x8, surrounding garden. Close to supermarkets, woods and beaches, 5 minutes to golf course “Golf Platja de Pals” € 650.000,-
€ 595.000,-
Costa-Brava-Immo Paseo del Mar 3 Local 1 - 17230 Palamós, Girona, España, Tel: 0034-972.319.527 info@costa-brava-immo.eu - www.costa-brava-immo.eu
Recipe
Everybody knows Sangria. Much less common is Sangria de Cava, the Catalan version of sangria. This sangria is based on Cava, the famous sparkling wine from Catalonia.
Photo: Javier Lastras
By using Cava instead of red wine, this sangria is much fresher and more sparkling than the traditional kind. Therefore it’s very suitable to cool down when the temperatures are high and also for parties. But beware: You drink sangria de cava like it’s lemonade, but on a hot day it can make you feel tipsy in no time at all. Like many recipes this recipe also has countless variations, so feel free to vary. For a jug of Catalan sangria de cava you need: 0.5 bottle of Cava (preferably a Brut) 0.5 Bottle of Fanta orange a dash of Gin a dash Cointreau a dash of Cognac Fresh fruit cut into chunks (eg strawberries, nectarines, kiwi, etc) ice cubes Make sure all ingredients are ice-cold before you start.
Sangria deCava
Put the fruit and a handful of ice cubes at the bottom of the jug. Pour Gin, Cointreau and Cognac in the jug. Then pour the Cava simultaneously with Fanta orange in the jug until it is full. Attention! By pouring in the Cava and Fanta orange they will create a lot of fizz, so pour slowly otherwise the can will overflow. (And that would be a shame ;-). Stir the sangria with caution and serve immediately. Bon profit!
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Survival guide for vegetarians
What should you be aware of? Photo: Suzette Pauwels
Vegetarians need to take extra care when eating out in Spain, which I have to say isn’t really geared up to vegetarians, especially when you go further inland. Although the words “vegetariano” and “vegetariana” exist in the Spanish language or “vegetarià" and "vegetariana” in Catalan, that doesn’t necessarily mean that your waiter, or more importantly the chef, will have a full understanding of your culinary requirements. It is always worth telling your waiter: “Soy vegetariano/a” and seeing whether he gives you a baffled look or not. Remember that “vegetariano” is the word for a male vegetarian and “vegetariana” describes a female vegetarian – get it the wrong way round and you will definitely get a baffled look! Having said that, when I went to book a table at a local restaurant for our first family Christmas in Spain and when I told them that my daughter is a vegetarian, I was actually asked whether she was a vegetarian or a vegan. This is still an unusual occurrence in Spain, where vegetarian restaurants are relatively unknown, apart from in cities. One problem is that there are some British customers who describe themselves as vegetarians even though they eat fish, or even poultry. This doesn’t help Spanish staff in bars and restaurants understand exactly what true vegetarians can and cannot eat. The simplest option if your Spanish isn’t fluent is to eat out in one of the many tapas bars. Luckily most bars in Spain will have a selection of tapas on the counter so you can see exactly what you are eating, and if you are even luckier you will get one for free with your drink. Even if you have to pay though, they aren’t usually that expensive.
Photo: Suzette Pauwels
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If you are a vegetarian on a budget, look around for somewhere that is displaying a menú del día outside so that you can see whether the dishes are suitable for you, but be aware that some of the dishes may not be what they appear to be. A good example of this is a popular dish in one of our favourite local restaurants: “habas baby”. “Habas” means broad beans, so you would think you were safe choosing this dish, wouldn’t you? I thought so too, until I discovered that the beans had ham mixed in with them and were also topped with an egg. Many starters sound as if they are suitable but you may order a plate of beans or other vegetables, double check that it is “sin carne” and then discover when it arrives that it contains ham. Yes, that happened to me on one occasion, because I was used to saying “without meat” in English and translated it literally. “Carne” is taken to mean red meat only, so you need to be sure that your dish doesn‘t include “pollo” or “jamón” or other types of meat. “Lentejas” is another common starter which on first appearance looks safe, however be warned that the lentils will often contain meat too. A popular dish in Spain is “ensalada mixta”, which may be suitable in some restaurants but frequently includes tuna, so whenever you are ordering a mixed salad check first that it doesn’t include any meat or fish. Spanish menus cannot be taken literally: I don’t like tomatoes so I once ordered an “ensalada verde”. Much to my surprise it contained tomatoes, which to me are red not green. I have started buying a weekly Spanish magazine and enjoy trying out the recipes, which mainly use seasonal ingredients. I have noticed though that a dish may look at first glance as if it is vegetarian, but then I discover that it includes caldo de pescado rather than caldo de verduras. At home I can adjust the recipe to suit, but it is worth checking when you are dining out. If the menu doesn’t contain any vegetarian dishes, it is always worth asking if they can prepare something for you. Most Spanish restaurants are more than happy to accommodate you and prepare some grilled vegetables, tortilla or other vegetarian dish. Be aware too that there are regional variations. You may have eaten a Spanish dish in one part of Spain having discovered that it was suitable for you, but if you then order what you assume is the same dish in a different region you could be in for a nasty surprise. A friend of ours decided to have gazpacho as a starter, assuming it was the Gazpacho Andaluz she had enjoyed before in other restaurants. Janice does eat meat, however she chose what she thought was a vegetarian dish for her starter. Much to her horror the waiter brought her Gazpacho Manchego and she spotted a rabbit’s head staring up at her! She did admit that it was very tasty, but it wasn’t at all what she had expected. Photo: Suzette Pauwels
Photo: Suzette Pauwels
Fortunately for vegetarians, Spaniards seem to love Italian food as much as the British do, and Italian restaurants proliferate: we have four pizzerias in our town of only 25,000 residents. Whenever I have been on holiday in Spain and have had problems finding a restaurant that caters for vegetarians, and especially when I have started getting hungry, I just head for the nearest Italian. One advantage if you don’t know much Spanish is that you will usually find the familiar Italian names on the menu, so you will know what your pizza or pasta dish contains. Chinese restaurants are also popular and again you will recognise many dishes. It pays to do your research before you go to Spain. I recommend looking online for a Catalan dictionary if holidaying in Catalunya: www.webarcelona.net/restaurants /az.htm
Another good website to look at before you go on holiday is: www.happycow.net/europe/spain/ There are 31 vegetarian restaurants listed for Barcelona and 3 for Girona. My advice when viewing any restaurant online is to check the date of the reviews, as restaurants do change hands and sometimes they even close down, and remember to phone them beforehand to make a reservation but also to ensure that they will be open. ¡Bon profit! ¡Buen provecho! Enjoy your meal! John and Sue Walker have lived in the Murcia region since 2008 and visit other parts of their adopted country on a regular basis. "Retiring The Olé Way" ISBN 1-905430-64-7 by Sue Walker is available to buy from Amazon and all good bookshops now.
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Favourites Nice!
Summer
Chupa Chups 52 years ago, Catalan candy lover and businessman Enric Bernat invented the lollipop. The name of the brand Chupa Chup comes from the Spanish verb “chupar” which means to suck. The Chupa Chups logo was designed by the famous Spanish surrealist Salvador Dalí. The first slogan of the brand was "És molt dura i Rodo, Chupa Chups" which means, translated from Catalan, "it is round and long lasting". Besides children, adults also love Chupa Chups. For example, Johan Cruyff was regularly seen with a lollipop in his mouth, after he had stopped smoking. Critics who object to the lollipop because of tooth decay will be glad today there are sugar-free versions for sale.
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www.chupachups.com
Favourites Nice!
Summer
Bumpersticker with Catalan donkey The donkey is the symbol of the Catalan stubbornness and please note that this is seen as a very positive feature! For precisely this tenacity has ensured that despite years of repression, the identity of the Catalan people and the Catalan language are still very much alive today. Representatives of Catalan nationalism, adopted the Catalan donkey as a symbol against the Toro Osborne, typical of Castile. Bumper stickers bearing the "Burro CatalĂ " are very popular. There are also people who do not see the donkey as a symbol of Catalunya, but only as a way to ridicule the Castilian bull.
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Favourites Nice!
Summer
Mató de Montserrat Mató de Montserrat is a fresh cheese (formatge fresc) that is only a few days old. It’s made with cow or goat milk, and it’s also very popular to make this variety of cheese with a mixture of the two. It doesn’t contain any added salt, so it’s common to find it eaten as a dessert, topped with honey.
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Favourites Nice!
Summer
Rosita Beer Every beer has its own story, sometimes a little hidden, waiting to be discovered. The story about "Rosita", as you can imagine, is about a woman. It all starts with the love story of the founders, NĂşria and Jaume Comte. A story marked by the social and family pressure because of their different origins and social classes. But like all stories about true love this story also has a happy ending: the birth of their daughter, Rosita. Her birth inspired her parents to create this wonderful beer that can only bear one name: Rosita. Rosita is a craft beer from Tarragona and since 2009 Rosita also has an exclusive beer: Rosita Blue. This new white beer is an homage to the Catalan modernism and is provided only in special establishments. It was created in cooperation with the *****Hotel Arts in Barcelona, where Rosita blue obviously is being served. Some say that, restaurant El Bulli will also be serving Rosita Blue. www.rosita.cat
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Favourites Nice!
Summer
Vichy Catalan The most recognized mineral water from Spain. Vichy Catalan has a very high content of minerals and is naturally carbonated. Since 1889, Vichy Catalan is being bottled in the village of Caldes de Malavella. The water is rich in sodium and bicarbonates (advantages for digestion) and low in calcium and magnesium. But more importantly it is also very tasty! During the summer Olympics of 1992 Vichy Catalan and Font d'Or (still water from the same source) were selected as “Olympic waters�.
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www.vichycatalan.com
Favourites Nice!
Summer
Garnatxa This sweet, Port like wine, is made from very ripe Garnatxa Roja grapes. These are macerated at very low temperature to allow alcoholic fermentation to commence slowly. The wine matures in barrels made of oak, acacia, chestnut and cherry wood. The full sweet and fresh taste has hints of vanilla, cinnamon, caramel and dried fruits. Delicious as a dessert wine or when chilled as an aperitif.
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Photo: J.M. Rosell Bruna
Wine tourism
A great way to discover Catalonia! In Catalonia there are as many as 11 Denominations of Origin with a wine-making tradition which are dating back to centuries in certain cases. The D.O. Catalunya is the only one which has been created in more recent years, and its vineyards cover the whole Catalonia territory.
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Just like the rest of Spain, Catalonia has a system for monitoring the quality of wine, which the denomination of Origen (DO), marking not only indicates the region of origin, but largely also the quality. The DO system will not only wine, but also for other products such as olive oil. For wine, there are dozens DO's. DOs receive the best mark DOC, which stands for denomination of origin, their quality and good wine tradition extra emphasis. Further qualifications are used for Spanish wines vino de la tierra, vino comarcal and vino de mesa. The last name is less specific for the cheaper wines. The most outstanding DO is Cava, Spain’s most famous sparkling wine. Catalonia holds 90% of cava production, in an area comprised between Barcelona and Tarragona; The remaining 10% is shared among other regions. The Catalonian vineyards, which amount to 70.000 hectares, offer a great variety of red, white and rosé wines. Sant Sadurni d’Anoia is the home of cava, where 90% of Spanish cava is produced. To get there, we recommend you take the road B24 which goes through the Penedés vineyards, and you will go through Sant Pau d’Ordal and Subirats where you can see a great number of typical masías. Once in Sant Sadurni, you will be able to learn about the history of cava, dating back to 1872 when Josep Raventós produced the first bottles.
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Photo: Wiros Photo: Suzette Pauwels
Vilafranca del Penedés is the “town of wine”. Visitors can find out more about its interesting wine history and activities at the Museum of Wine. The tourist Office also organizes guided wine tours, which include a wander around the vineyards. The town of Vilanova is interesting for its monuments such as the basilica of Santa María, The Palace of Fraret, the church of Sant Joan, as well as a good display of modernist buildings. Wine tourism is getting more popular in Catalonia by the day. Bravo! Incentives has composed an attractive and informative 4 day route. During this route you will not only discover the Penedès but also the northerly Ampurdán which is very worthwhile as well. You will visit the famous Torres winery and the cellars of Codorniu which are declared a national historic monument, but smaller wineries are visited also, as well as the wine museum in Vilafranca del Penedès. You’ll stay in charming hotels and the transport is either fully provided or on your own by (rental) car. For a customized package please contact Bravo! Incentives at info@bravo-incentives.com
Photos: Joan Grífols
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www.empordaturisme.com
In every issue we will ask someone for their favourite spot in Catalonia. In this issue the favourite spot of Karin Verbeek
Cadaqués
My favourite spot ...
Photo: Judith Rongyos Foto: Guadalupe Cervilla
I don’t have to think hard about my favourite place in Catalonia. Since I first arrived in Cadaqués in 1975, I was sold. Despite the fact that Cadaqués has changed quite a bit over the years, I still love it. Because of the mix of tourists and village locals, the beautiful light and buildings, there is a unique atmosphere in the village. For me, that is what makes Cadaqués so special. In the morning, if you sit in front of Dalí's house and you overlook the bay of Port Lligat, you have those beautiful, tranquil moments, that I always long for when I’m back home in the Netherlands. Karin Verbeek still lives in the Netherlands, but in time she wants to make her house in Cadaqués her place of residence. Karin passes the stick to the Bakker family
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WWW.BRAVO-INCENTIVES.COM
Top 10
Beaches & Coves
1 Platja del Golfet Palafrugell
41째52'44.08"N - 3째10'41.54"O
Photo: Turisme Palafrugell
2 Cala Estreta Palam贸s
Photo: Ajuntament de Palam贸s
41掳51'57.05"N - 3掳10'24.28"O
3 Cala Santa Cristina Blanes
41째41'17.80"N - 2째49'5.30"O
Photo: Santi
4 Platges de Llorell Tossa de Mar
Photo: B. Schut
41째42'38.22"N - 2째54'14.09"O
www.begur.org
5 Platja d’illa roja Begur
Photo: Jordi Caselles
41°58'37.86"N - 3°12'38.36"O
6 Cala Cap Roig Castell-Platja d’Aro
41°49'35.58"N - 3° 4'59.62"O
Photo: M. Hooijmeijer
7 Cala Montjoi
Roses
Photo: Francesc Guillamet
42째15'4.44"N - 3째13'40.69"O
www.palamos.cat
8 Cala s’Alguer Palamós
Photo: M. Hooijmeijer
41°51'43.83"N - 3° 9'6.80"O
9 Cala Montgó l’Escala
42° 6'27.95"N - 3°10'7.57"O
Photo: Clarke Thomas
10 Platja de la Tamariua
Port de la Selva
Photo: Dora e Isa Bergoglio
42째20'36.94"N - 3째12'35.32"O
La Revetlla de Sant Joan, ook bekend als “la nit del foc�, de nacht van het vuur, is de viering van de zomerzonnewende in de nacht van 23 op 24 juni.
Sant Joan La Revetlla la de Sant Joan, also known as "la nit del foc", the night of the fire, is the celebration of the summer solstice on the night of the 23rd of June. Coca i Cava Traditionally, different types of coca (cake) are eaten. Coca de Sant Joan, with different types of candied fruit is the most popular, but cocas with bacon and pine nuts are regularly eaten also. Often these are served with a glass of cava.
Fire and fireworks There is a reason that the night of Sant Joan is also known as "la nit de foc", the night of the fire. Historically, the function of the fire was to eliminate evil spirits, but nowadays it is mainly a bonfire. In the Franco era, the government tried in vain to break this tradition because it was a pagan tradition, which did not fit within the Christian culture. It is not clear how old the tradition of bonfires is. We do know that the city council of Barcelona decided in 1780 it was no longer permitted to create bonfires within the city walls. Therefore, we may conclude that by then, it was already a deeply rooted tradition.
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Photo: Ramon Llorensi
Photo: Jofre Ferrer
Foc does not only mean fire, but also fireworks. In the days before Sant Joan there are small wooden huts along the roads where fireworks are sold. Children, adults and elderly will set off the fireworks on the evening of the 23rd, often on the beach. Some restaurants buy their own fireworks in large quantities and treat their guests on a spectacular show that evening. In some municipalities the municipality itself organizes a large fireworks display.
Correfocs One of the most striking of all Catalan traditions is the "Correfoc, the “fire-run”. A group of people dressed as devils dance to the rhythm of the music and set off the fireworks between the spectators. The Correfoc comes in many forms. For example, in Sitges it’s customary for the spectators on both sides in long queues, while the participants walk through a tunnel of fireworks.Barcelona and Tarragona become the Correfoc traditionally held on September 23, during the festival of La Mercè.
Superstition Some believe that during the shortest night of the year, some herbs have a greater therapeutic effect than at other times of year. Others claim that when you dive into the sea during this night, your skin will look fabulous throughout the year. The list of rituals is endless, but for most people la Revetlla de Sant Joan is just a super fun party to celebrate the beginning of summer and of the tourist season. Moreover, often the June 23 is the last day of school, and the beginning of the 12-week summer holiday that young and old has worked for all year. As you can imagine, everybody is in a great mood, and it shows! As mentioned before, every town has its own habits during this fun festival. Check www.turismeacatalunya.com for links to the websites of the various municipalities in Catalonia, and discover what's happening in your area. /visita_virtual/index.php
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Foto: Hugo Pardo Kuklinsky
Villa Elena Unique: villa on public garden like plot ( 7.000m² ) with sea view. • Ground floor: - Living-/ dining room - Kitchen - 2 double bedrooms - Bathroom • First floor: - single bedroom - Bathroom - 1 suite with bathroom • Other information: • Garage + storage • Swimming pool, shower and toilet • Covered terrace with BBQ in the garden • It’s no longer possible to build in this area (nature preserve) • Surroundings: - Beach 10 min - Golf (2x) 5 min - Horse-riding centre 10 min - Shops 5 min - Forrests 0 min - Airport 20 min - Skiing 90 min - Girona 20 min - Barcelona 55 min Costa Brava Immo can provide a financing on this property.
€ 690.000,-
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Costa Brava Immo Paseo del Mar 3,1 17230 Palamós 0034-972.319.527 0034-663.324.36 info@costa-brava-immo.eu
Legal column The Spanish taxman has awakened, and how!!! In this article I want to talk to you about the Spanish taxes and the taxman, if only to remind you that they exist. Let it be clear that I do not wish frighten you. Spain is still a country with relatively low taxation in comparison with many other EUcountries, which in these other EU-countries there is a similar trend to increase taxes. To begin I will review for a moment the economic and financial crisis situation in Spain, and the fact that the Spanish government is summoned by the European Commission, European countries, the USA and even China, to get its household booklet in order due to the tension in financial markets. That means less spending and more revenues. The latter means increased taxes and more control on collection. Some taxes have been increased with effect as of July 1, 2010 like the VAT that goes up from 16% to 18% and the capital gains tax that goes up from 18% to 21% and there is more to come, but I am running ahead on my story. The trouble in the financial markets and in Spain has not diminished since my last article, written in February 2010. Meanwhile, everyone is aware of the fact that after Greece, Spain is the big problem. Although Spain is a more "serious" country than Greece, the amounts we are talking about are much larger. We now agree that Spain has seen a big "housing bubble" that has burst into pieces. The great engine of the economy that provided the necessary tax revenues has more or less disappeared. Moreover, apart from the "housing bubble", there is the “alternative energy bubble".
The Spanish government of Zapatero, decided in the past to pay a price, five times the price for conventional energy. As a result, solar parks were built everywhere , financed by the banks because the Spanish state stood as guarantor. The Spanish Government now wants to revoke retroactively this guarantee and pay much lower tariffs. The banks, however, financed these projects based on the "high" price and now have a claim of billions of euros on the Spanish government, that may not be paid. That is the way it goes in Spain. Finally , at the beginning of the crisis, the Spanish government started spending a lot of money on useless projects such as building new sidewalks, just to keep the economy going. This has almost doubled the national debt in two years time. In short, the lack of tax revenue because of the end of the housing "bubble", the economic crisis with the doubling of the national debt and the international pressure put on the Spanish Government to make spending cuts and get their finances in order, make that the Spanish Government wants to increase tax revenues. Therefore it seemed appropriate to touch upon the subject of “taxes in Spain " and in this case taxation related to buying and selling real estate. There are basically three taxes related to the transfer of real property in Spain (please note, I do not refer to the holding of real property nor do I refer to transfer by inheritance):
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a) The transfer tax: in Spanish officially known as the "Impuesto de Transacciones de Patrimonio”. The buyer pays the transfer tax which amounts to 6% or 7% depending on the autonomous region, such as Catalonia, Valencia, Andalusia, etc. The Catalonian government wants to increase it to 8%. In some cases not transfer tax but VAT is due, but I will not enter into that. b) The capital gains tax: in the Spanish tax practice known as the "ganancia patrimonial" but it is part of the income tax in Spanish officially known as "Impuesto de Renta the Persona Física" abbreviated IRPF and the chapter "ganancias patrimoniales” ( translated as capital gains). The seller pays the capital gains tax which is calculated over the difference between purchase price and the selling price after applying certain adjustments, exemptions and deductions for improvements made, etc. In the past, the capital gains tax discriminated between residents and non-residents. At a certain point, the tax rate of capital gains was 35% if the real property was sold by non-residents and 15% for residents. This discrimination was clearly contrary to European regulations. The European Court of Justice, has obliged the Spanish government to correct this and since then there is a single tariff of 18%. This tariff is now increased to 21% from July 1st (19% over the first € 6,000 ,--). c) The tax over increase of cadastral value: in Spanish tax practice known as "plusvalía" while the official name is "impuesto sobre el incremento del valor de los terrenos the naturaleza urbana. The "plusvalía" is calculated on the increase in the cadastral value of the real property between the date of purchase and date of sale by the seller. Since this is a relatively small amount, it has less importance. In particular, the capital gains tax in Spain was widely avoided. I have read somewhere that it was estimated that up to 50% of all real estate transactions, was done with a part “under the counter”.
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Let it be clear that as a buyer you should never cooperate with this. If you do, you are an accomplice to tax evasion but also, you run the risk of suffering a big disadvantage for the following two reasons. For the valuation of real estate, the Spanish Treasury is free to apply the highest of the following values: the cadastral value, the market value or the value determined through an appraisal of the Spanish Treasurr. Therefore, if the price is too low, the Spanish taxman have the power to impose an after-tax because of paying too little transfer tax or capital gains tax. You can, by the way, request the Spanish taxman to ask for a valuation upfront. These after-taxes can be substantial sums to which interest and penalties are added. For example, a real property worth € 500,000 – that is registered for only € 250,000.00. The Catalan taxman may then impose an after-tax of 7% with interest and fine. That would be at least € 17,500.00. In addition, you must realize that the real property will remain liable for non-paid transfer tax, for five years. If you buy a Spanish home and you will see that within the period of the previous five years, another transfer has taken place, then you have to check if the price was a market price at that time. Otherwise you have a potential problem.
I am aware that at least in Catalonia, the regional tax collectors office is taking a closer look to all transfers, retroactively. In the case of capital gains taxes the real property also remains liable, but for the unpaid withholding tax. As you may know, at the sale of Spanish real estate by a non-resident seller, the buyer is obliged to withhold 3% of the purchase price to pay to the Spanish tax authorities as an advance on the capital gains tax that has to be paid by the seller. If not, the real property remains liable for the payment of this 3%. The buyer should always ensure that this payment of withholding tax was done in previous transfers, in order to prevent having to pay the price for an inattention to a previous transfer. Please be also aware of the fact that the seller will sometimes lie about his status as a resident. After all, if the seller is a non-resident, such seller will consider the chances to be small that the Spanish taxman will pursue him abroad. You may assume that the Spanish tax authorities will search more thoroughly in the future. I must confess I believe that until now the Spanish tax authorities have never been extremely active. In that aspect Spain is a bit like the other Mediterranean countries where tax collection is taken less serious. Therefore it is not surprising that Spain has far fewer tax inspectors per capita, than for example, France.
The other problem with capital gains tax is that if you would agree with a lower price than the actual price in the notarial deed, for example because the seller forces you to, you create a disadvantage for yourself, when selling your real property in the future. I conclude with a glimpse into the future. Early 2009 the current Spanish government, has abolished the wealth tax. Now they speak about reintroducing it. Please, bear that in mind. The income tax in Catalonia will increase for income over â‚Ź 120,000.00 with 2% and for income above â‚Ź 175,000.00 4%. It does not hurt everybody, but the trend has been set. It is not good news that I bring you, because the taxes go up in Spain. On the other hand I am convinced that the prices of real estate and the cost of living will go down further because otherwise this cannot go on. We shall see how things develop. Jan Willem de Haan, Barcelona, Februari 2010 Jan Willem de Haan is a lawyer in the Netherlands and Spain and lives and works in Barcelona since 1992. Together with his active business partner Boris Mulder he runs the two establishments (located in Barcelona and Valencia) of their firm De Haan & Mulder. www.dehaanmulder.com
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Events calendar *JazzPera '10 On the 18th, 19th & 26th , 27th of June the third JazzPera festival organized in La Pera. The schedule, starting times and other information you’ll find on www.jazzpera.net * Fiesta de la Pela del Corcho Cork Festival, June 19, 2010 Throughout the day various activities are organized in the village of Llorfriu. www.palafrugell.net * Artesano '10 On June 5th and 6th 2010, the first edition of Artesano is opened to public. A professional fair where artisans from around the world show and sell their products. Location: Feria de Montjuïc. Pavellón número 5. Palacio de Congresos de Barcelona Av. Reina M ª Cristina, s / n 08004 Barcelona opened to public on Saturday the 5th and Sunday, the 6th of June from 10:00 to 21:00h www.artesanoexpo.es * World Windsurfing Championships PWA World Tour Since 1999, the Bay of Roses is home to the professional circuit Windsurfing contest - PWA World Tour. There are trials held in different elements: Freestyle, Supercross and Slalom for Women and Men. From June 13th till 18th, Camping “La Ballena Alegre" in Sant Pere Pescador hosts this event. hp?c=48&area=A
www.ballena-alegre.com
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Short messages Results readers poll
The Costa Brava on Wii
A clear winner has emerged from the poll held on our website. By far the favourite restaurant of our readers is “Vila Mas” in s'Agaro. For the people who haven’t been there yet... it is very worthwhile!
Help John Sanders on this adventure and find the Secret of Medes Islands!
Nudist village in Catalonia For those interested: On the Costa Daurada near Santa Coloma de Queralt lies the nudist village of El Fonoll. In a park of almost 400 acres you can camp, rent apartments, have yoga classes, mud baths, do archery etc.
"Dive: The Medes Islands Secret recreates underwater scenes from 10 different real locations from around the world, with large levels filled with enemies, mazes, dangers and treasures. It contains an economic system that will enable players to exchange or upgrade their diving equipment, which is required to reach the deepest mysteries… www.nintendo.com
/games/detail/NaQVZ30B0naZbMSfyMI1ZQ_SiOXDxR1R
www.kadex.com/fonoll
In the next issue:
Barcelona Barcelona Top 10: Barça
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