Olive Press Andalucia Issue 442

Dawn of a new era

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O P LIVE RESS The ANDALUCÍA

HAD ENOUGH!

GIBRALTAR’s Chief Minister has announced he will step down after his current term.

Fabian Picardo told a popular podcast things had gotten ‘a little stickier’ and ‘I’ve had my fill of this job’. His words in The Rest is Politics come as an inquiry gathered steam over the early retirement of Gib’s former police boss.

Ex-Commissioner Ian McGrail told Gibraltar Court this week how Picardo had ‘questions to answer’ over his involvement in an alleged criminal conspiracy. He claims he stepped in to effectively quash an investigation, called Operation Delhi, that threatened Gibraltar’s national security.

It came after Caine Sanchez, John Perez and Tommy Cornelio were arrested in 2020 over a scheme to fraudulently transfer a €840,000-a-year border security contract to a company called 36 North Ltd. Picardo allegedly had full knowledge and ‘owned 3%’ of the company, which was set up specifically to take on the government contract, the court heard. His friend, James Levy - the boss of the Rock’s leading law firm Hassansinjected a ‘considerable sum’ into the company for a 33% stake.

“I would not classify [the Chief Minister] as a suspect,” McGrail told the hearing. “But he had questions to answer.”

In the end, Operation Delhi was discontinued in 2022 over ‘matters of national security.’

McGrail’s lawyers ‘allege corruption’ and that Picardo forced their client’s retirement after the Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) carried out a search warrant at Levy’s office and took his phone and tablet.

Lawyers for the government insist the police boss was forced to resign because of a series of poorly-handled incidents causing them to ‘lose confidence’ in him.

See The Rumbles on the Rock, page 6

El Toro comes to life!

HALF Picasso, half

American mystery

Was expat teacher killed by her husband intentionally or during sex game gone wrong?

EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore

CLOSE friends of a teacher whose husband claims she died during a drug-fuelled sex game have poured cold water over the claims.

They told the Olive Press they never saw expat Bi anca Pitman, 43, ever take drugs. The teacher and moth er-of-two, from Texas, was found dead inside a holiday apartment in Malaga on April 6. Her common law husband, Jose Betancourt, 50, ran into a square at 5.30am calling for help, saying his wife was unconscious. He is now being investigated over the death which he claims came af ter they engaged in ‘rape roleplay’ and after she took an un specified ‘substance’. Yet, Valerie Dullnig, a close friend, told Olive Press that drugs were ‘never’ a part of her life.

The Texan revealed: “She was an art teach er and a photographer. She was my best friend, she was happy and smart and encouraging,

everybody loved her, everyone who met her felt better for being part of her life.

“Her students loved her and kept in touch with her after they graduated, she was such a popular figure. “She was very close with her children.

Her daughter is best friends with my daughter. She had a great relationship with them… everybody is shocked by this.”

why Bianca, from San Antonio, had come south to Malaga to meet her ex-partner.

ARRESTED: No bail for Jose over sex game

She revealed how Bianca had been teaching English at a school in Xativa, in Valencia, and ‘seemed happy’ with her new life.

During various conversations on Snapchat, she sent videos of her new neighbourhood and friends. She added she didn’t understand how and

Valerie insisted she had ‘fled’ the States to start ‘a fresh new life’ in Spain - and more importantly, did ‘not want Jose to know where she was’.

When emergency services arrived at the flat in Plaza de Camas, they desperately tried to revive Bianca, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police sources said Jose told investigators he and Bianca had enjoyed a horse-drawn carriage ride through the city before having dinner, ‘lots of tequila’ and sex until dawn.

When police quizzed Jose, he also claimed that Bianca had ‘consumed a substance’, the details of which remain unknown.

Jose was first arrested for reckless homicide before an autopsy revealed signs of asphyxiation due to strangulation.

He is now being probed for domestic violence and will remain in prison without bail while the investigation continues.

Authorities now must determine whether the strangulation took place during a sexual ‘rape roleplay’, or whether it was intentional and planned.

to promote the world’s best olive oil.

FLED: Bianca (centre) with her two children had come for ‘new life in Spain’

SCENE: The square Jose ran to for help

Abduction horror

A SWEDISH tourist has been rescued by police after a terrifying kidnap that lasted for 23 days. His captors were demanding a €500k ransom from his family after abducting him from Malaga airport.

Taxi brawl

Four Irish tourists have been arrested in Barcelona after allegedly beating up a taxi driver who became enraged when they ditched him for an Uber.

Narco crackdown

THE Gibraltar Strait’s largest network of ‘narco transporters’, behind four tonnes of hashish and 627 kilos of cocaine seized in the area, has been dismantled.

Expat rapist

AN Italian expat and waiter, 20, has been arrested for allegedly raping a British tourist on a beach in Malaga.

NOLOTIL IN THE DOCK

SPAIN’S High Court will finally investigate Nolotil following dozens of deaths officially linked to the country’s most popular painkiller.

It comes after a judge rejected an appeal by a lawyer representing the Spanish Medicine Agency (AEMPs).

German drug firm Boehringer Ingelheim has also been summoned with the judge aiming to ‘find those responsible’.

Both parties will have to present evidence to evaluate

Killer drug will finally be investigated at the High

By Yzabelle Bostyn

if Nolotil poses ‘a risk of adverse effects for health’.

It comes after an Olive Press campaign was launched following numerous deaths of northern Europeans given the drug in Spain.

Advocacy group, the Asso-

Belgian gun runner

A BELGIAN man has been arrested after boarding a bus in Marbella with multiple guns and ammunition in his luggage. Police detained the man in Madrid before he continued on to his destination in Nantes, in France.

The 25-year-old man, believed to be part of the so-called ‘Mocro Maffia’, was carrying a G-3 assault rifle, a pistol and three bullet proof vests. Divided into 'clans', the gang is made up of Belgian and Dutch citizens, usually with Moroccan or Tunisian heritage. Belgium had an extradition order for the man for robbery, homicide and kidnapping. It comes after a spate of shootings in Marbella, with six so far this year.

Court

ciation of Drug Affected Patients (ADAF), filed a lawsuit against the Spanish Ministry of Health and AEMPS for ‘failing to properly regu-

late Nolotil’, last year. They believe the painkiller has led to over 40 deaths of British and Irish people alone in Spain. They also filed a criminal complaint with the Spanish public prosecution office. Spain’s Patient’s Defence Association also flagged up the issue to the High Court in February. Its report slammed the negative side effects of Nolotil, which has been banned in around 40 countries.

KILL THE DRUG

Initial proceedings will investigate if the drug ‘provokes harm’ and to ‘find those responsible’. ADAF campaigner Cristina del Campo told the Olive

lotil is the most sold medicine in the country so it’s a big step in the right direction.” In 2018, AEMPs issued an informative note stating the medicine should not be given to patients without a thorough background check and the possibility of follow ups. This effectively means foreigners and tourists should not be given the drug.

Last issue we reported how dozens of hospitals and clinics along the Costas had stopped using the drug. Over 750 people have so far signed our petition on Change.org.

New Marbella shooting

MARBELLA has had yet another shooting incident. The fifth incident in under two months saw an Albanian expat shot five times.

The 33-year-old was shot near the Soho Market, in Guadalmina, on Saturday evening. The victim was transferred to hospital by emergency services on the scene.

At least six shots were heard, according to police.

The area of shops and restaurants has seen two shootings in just six months with three hooded men opening fire on two men on October 28.

HELP PLEA

POLICE in Marbella are demanding help from the central Spanish government in the wake of a spate of shootings which have rocked the city. In a desperate appeal to the Interior Ministry, police unions said they needed ‘more resources’ in order to combat organised crime in the region.

Marilo Valencia, spokesperson for the Unified Police Union (SUP), said: “What we have seen recently is not something isolated, rather that violence is shamefully becoming more normalised”.

Shootings in the Marbella area have occurred in February, March and April as vicious gang rivalries spill out on to the streets.

PEAS TO MEET YOU

SIX-TIME Grammy winners, the Black Eyed Peas, will perform in Spain three times this year.

The hip-hop group featuring will.i.am are famous for songs like I Gotta Feeling and The Time, and have recorded a dozen albums.

The prolific Peas have sold 120 million singles and 35 million albums in the 25 years that they have been together.

They will be performing at the Malaga Forum as part of the Selvatic Malaga Fest summer programme on July 21.

Before that they will feature at the Gran Canaria stadium on July 5, and then the Benicassim Festival in Castellon on July 18.

The Peas have been regular visitors to Spain down the years and performed at Marbella’s Starlite festival Brilla Torrevieja festival.

Taking ownership

“Many years ago, I moved for love. I moved for a Spanish girl”, he tells the Olive Press. “My plan was to come to Spain, make her fall in love with me and then take her away forever, but it actually worked the opposite way around. I came here, I fell in love with Spain, and then when she was eventually ready to move on and head somewhere else, I actually wanted to stay. I’ve been here ever since and it’s changed my life”.

Swapping the melancholy of Birmingham for the bustling busyness of Madrid was, the former Leeds University student says, ‘the best decision’ of his life.

Almost a decade on, we speak as Tom is walking along the

Camino de Santiago, leading a group of 20 members of his own carefully nurtured community along one of the world’s great pilgrimage routes in one of three expeditions planned this year.

Tom, now 31, is the founder of Guiris de Mierda a success ful lifestyle brand based in Spain that organises real-life ex-

Meet the young British expat behind Guiris de - a lifestyle brand which reclaims the ‘offensive’ term for foreigners

By Ben Pawlowski

FRONT PAGE:

periences and events for peo-

Just a fortnight ago, the word guiri - used by Spaniards colloquially to describe foreigners, particularly of Northern

AMANCIO Ortega, the founder of fashion chain Zara and Spain’s richest person, has made his latest eye-watering purchase - a €182 million luxury yacht.

The 88-year old Galician businessman’s new

European descent - was used in anti-tourist graffiti plastered on walls in Malaga as tensions between local residents and visitors came to the boil. Some deem the word, which more often than not is a term of endearment, to be a derogatory slur.

Tom, who has proudly embraced the phrase, labelling himself a

‘professional guiri’, hopes ple, with the aim of uniting the widening divide between locals and foreigners.

that the work he does with his brand can help to heal divisions and show that mass integration is something valuable and precious.

“I think most of the time there is a good relationship between

vessel, called Project 2024, was built by Feadship, the industry-leader for constructing superyachts for the super-rich.

The 564-square-metre boat includes all manner of luxurious amenities, including a jacuzzi, super-fast wifi coverage, a helicopter pad, a swimming pool, a children’s playground and a stunning master bedroom.

Last edition the Olive Press reported how Ortega had sold his previous yacht Drizzle for €76 million - a loss of €19 million over the purchase price. Not that he will be bothered too much - Ortega has an estimated net worth of over €67 billion.

tourists and locals in Spain, or at least there can be. But obviously with waves of mass tourism, and even immigration from people outside of Spain, there are always going to be some people who are rubbed up the wrong way by it”, he explains. “We try to set a good example that not all guiris are the type that get smashed, get battered, and drink for five days straight. Some guiris want to give back to Spain, and so we are working with charities now, organising charity events and promoting the integration side of things”.

Message

He adds: “We organise events around the idea that everybody has been a guiri at some point in their lives. Especially in the modern world, people live in other countries and we feel that is something worth celebrating, so we try and bring people together”.

Recently, the company has made a successful venture into clothing, selling t-shirts and other accessories with the mot to: ‘Embrace your inner guiri and stop taking yourself so se riously’. “2024 has been a great year for us so far - we have launched the clothing brand and we are having so much demand for the events so we want to do more of them and create these real-life experiences and connections between Spanish people and foreigners, and keep spreading our message”, he says.

called me to do a movie. Pedro loves women’. Whether or not the recent Brit award winner’s celluloid dreams will come true is yet to be seen.

But she did at least get to enjoy the company of the Oscar winner when they dined together in one of Madrid’s most exclusive eateries: BiBo, one of the restaurants that renowned Marbella chef Dani Garcia has in the Spanish capital. Making up a foursome in BiBo were Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, both of whom are

cur rently working on Almodovar’s first full-length English-language feature.

Titled The Room Next Door, the movie is described by Almodovar’s production company as ‘the story of a very imperfect mother (Tilda Swinton) and a spiteful daughter separated by a huge misunderstanding. In between the two is another woman, Ingrid (Julianne Moore), the mother's friend, who is the repository of their pain and bitterness’.

RACIST SLURS

THE attitudes of Spanish football are once again in the spotlight after the decision to ban a black player who confronted racist fans in a third division game. Senegalese goalkeeper Cheikh Sarr jumped into the crowd to confront the spectators who had been abusing him during a match between his team Rayo Majadahonda and Sestao River Club in the Basque Country. The referee showed the keeper a straight red card with the score poised at 2-1 in the 84th minute. Sarr’s teammates refused to finish the game and walked off the pitch with him.

Among the insults hurled at him were ‘eres un puto mono’ (you're a f***ing monkey) and ‘corre, puto negro de mierda’ (run, you f***ing black s***).

The authorities banned Sarr for two matches and awarded his club a 3-0 defeat. Meanwhile, their opponents were fined €6,001.

But the decision was met with outrage by social media users, who labelled it ‘disgraceful, disgusting’ and ‘embarrassing’.

THE reasons behind Tom Hopcroft’s move to Spain would not appear out of place in the pages of a romantic novel.

TOP TABLE: Dua with Tilda, Julianne and Almodovar

Guiri demand

BANNED: Cheikh Sarr

A NEW far right group has come out of the shadows, just six weeks after Spain’s fascist party, the Falange, held its 90th anniversary celebrations at Madrid’s Goya Theatre. Nucleo Nacional (National Cell) held a rally on Sunday spouting anti-immigrant sentiments while targeting Spain’s youth.

The event, held at the Falange’s headquarters in Madrid, was attended by hundreds of men in black t-shirts with

GHOSTS OF THE PAST

shaved heads and bearing Nazi insignia. Terrifyingly, there were even a handful of attendees dressed like SS officers. The main speech was given by the group’s leader, who wore a balaclava concealing his face.

He slammed the ‘degenerate state’ of Spain and identified the ‘enemy’ as

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, billionaire George Soros and other left-wing figures. He said the country needed to ‘defend the white race from immigrants’. He later refused to give his name but told the Olive Press he was ‘between 25 and 30’, and worked in IT.

Back in the pocket thanks to Good Samaritan Mutant cockroaches

A GOOD Samaritan has sparked joy online after returning a little boy’s pocket money after it was found in Estepona. The six-year-old, who has just moved from America, was at the port market hoping to spend his ‘hard earned’ cash when it suddenly went missing. He was so ‘devastated’ his mum, Allasia Lynne, quickly took to social media to find the lost money, roughly €12 in coins. Her call was answered by British expat, Dave Gander, who had found the money and was trying to find the owner via the ‘Estepona Info & Chat’ group.

The boy was so grateful to get it back he drew Dave a picture with smiley faces, boats and coins to say thank you. The Costa Coatings boss, told the Olive Press: “I guessed it was a kid’s and could imagine the disappointment.

“I have enjoyed the feedback from everyone... not for my ego but the amount of money. “If it was a hundred grand I may have relocated.”

Experts say numbers of bugs - also including ticks and mosquitos - have soared by a third while their genetics are rapidly changing

EXPERTS are warning against ‘mutant’ cockroaches as numbers of the bugs soar due to genetic mutation.

Climate change has accelerated the metabolic cycles of certain species, leading to a huge expansion of the bugs across the globe.

They have also become ‘resistant’ to insecticides, making it ever more difficult to combat their rising numbers.

‘END

By Yzabelle Bostyn

As well as tiger mosquitos, more cockroaches are expected in coastal areas including Valencia and Malaga.

The Costa del Sol is the perfect breeding ground for the creatures as it has the necessary ‘shelter and food’ for reproduction.

According to Jorge Galvan, director of the Spanish Association of Envi -

ronmental Health, the conditions are ‘ideal for hatching’, meaning it will be ‘more difficult’ to control the pest.

“New strategies are needed,” he insisted. “Cleanliness is the first step to prevent this plague. It’s not a question of getting scared but letting people know.”

As spring gets underway, he warned that warm weather encourages insect reproduction.

He also confirmed that Spain was making a tick map for the first time, to avoid the spread of the bugs through pets.

ANIMAL activists have slammed the death of a horse during 28C heat at Sevilla’s iconic Feria de Abril. They are furious that the ‘perfectly healthy’ horse died of a heart attack due to the heat.

Onlookers tried to help the animal, whose body was quickly removed by council dustmen.

It is not the first time a horse has died at the popular feria, leading to protest group PACMA to demand action. It later reported the death to the Guardia Civil’s environmental arm Seprona. “An investigation must be put in place to put an end to animal cruelty!”

Manager of pest control company Anticimex, Carlos Pradera, added Spain has developed from a ‘subtropical climate to a tropical one’ over recent years. “Warm seasons are longer and the cold ones are getting warmer and warmer.” This means plagues of cockroaches are seen a couple of months earlier and last six weeks longer at the end of the summer.

COMMUNITY pools will be filled in Andalucia this summer but private pools are still banned.

Junta president, Juanma Moreno, confirmed daily water consumption had been lifted to 200 litres per person, which would ‘allow for the filling of community pools’.

However, the ‘miraculous’ Easter rain has not raised reservoir levels enough to grant the filling of private pools.

Although, Moreno announced the decision is down to the ‘calculations’ of each town hall.

It comes after outrage - and protests - from over 400 businesses affected by the restrictions.

They insist the current measures are ‘hypocritical’ and could badly affect tourism. Reservoirs stand at 27.4% capacity in Malaga, while in Almeria at only 8.9%. Across Andalucia they stand at 43%.

The rumbles on

WJustice for Bianca

WHAT happened to Bianca Pitman is nothing short of a tragedy (American mystery, p1).

Like most expats, the 43-year-old moved to Spain with hopes of embarking on a brand new life under the sun.

But just months after arriving, the American mum-of-two was found dead in a holiday apartment after, according to her husband, a sex game that ‘simulated rape’ went wrong, after she ingested a yet-unspecified drug. It has sparked a genuine mystery and from what her close friends have told us, this kind of behaviour is totally out of character for the much-loved art teacher.

The facts are she left her partner for a new life in Spain and did not want him to know where she was.

Then months later, he flew to Spain and by all appearances convinced her to meet with him, and now she is dead. There is clearly a lot to unpack in this case, and we hope the Spanish authorities leave no stone unturned in their investigation.

We want justice for Bianca and the truth to come out about what really happened on that fateful night on April 6. We send our condolences to her family and friends, most importantly her two devastated children, who now have to cope with losing their mother, while their father is locked up in jail as the prime suspect in her killing.

Truth is coming out

THE McGrail inquiry is throwing a light on one of the most opaque incidents in Gibraltar’s history.

It has taken a long four years to begin and involves some of the Rock’s most high profile figures.

It is to be welcomed that a public inquiry is being held, with the doors open to the press.

Indeed, compared with Spain - where transparency is not the first thing that comes to mind when delving into political dealings - it is a breath of fresh air.

We do not know what further evidence will be heard and what conclusions will be drawn by the inquiry. But what we have heard so far is pretty alarming.

Whether Ian McGrail deserved to lose his job due to incompetence is one thing. What he was investigating under Operation Delhi is another thing altogether.

It is perhaps understandable that the Chief Minister has announced he will not stand for a further term in office. For the whiff of corruption blowing around the Rock this month is as strong as the wind from Tarifa. We hope the truth will out.

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es

Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es

Simon Hunter simon@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Ben Pawlowski ben@theolivepress.es

ITH a population of just 32,649, Gibraltar is much smaller than near neighbours Estepona, with 77,000 people and even La Linea, with 64,000 souls. So small in fact that the usual ‘six degrees of separation’ is often reduced to just one. And if you don’t know someone, you will know their father or work with their nephew.

Yet the tiny British Overseas Territory has a thriving service economy, aided by an extraordinary complement of 32 law firms (one for every thousand Gibraltarians). The Rock, as it’s often known, has one of the highest GDP figures in the world and all the trappings of a modern liberal democracy; its own parliament, police force - and a UK-appointed Governor.

Yet, somehow, on one fateful Tuesday four years ago, these varying pillars of the Rock all managed to collide, triggering allegations of fraud, corruption, and an inquiry that began last week.

Suddenly the world is watching, with the Times, the FT and Guardian covering the case, while the celebrated podcast, The Rest is Politics, dedicated a section to the alleged corruption that revolves around the early retirement of its former police chief Ian McGrail.

It certainly makes for awkward lis tening (and reading) for Gibraltar’s dozen or so key power brokers as their activities come under a very public microscope. After all, this tiny little strip of land has long been accustomed to largely flying under the radar.

A very revealing public inquiry is shining a light on

the shock retirement of Gibraltar’s police chief, and an alleged conspiracy involving some of the enclave’s most powerful figures

HOW CHIEF

By Walter Finch at the McGrail inquiry

INVOLVED “‘CM, (Chief Minister) before you hear it from anyone else I want to inform you that detectives are executing a search warrant at Hassans for JL in relation to the case against [John Perez, Thomas Cornelio, and Caine Sanchez] ... Regards.” This, how ex-Commissioner of Police Ian McGrail broke the news to Chief Minister Fabian Picardo in a Whatsapp on May 12, 2020.

He was referring to a search of the office of his friend, James Levy, the most se nior partner at the most important law firm in Gibraltar, Hassans, with detec tives seizing his mo bile phone and tablet. Picardo’s ‘friend, colleague and mentor’, the pair both worked together for years at Hassans.

Both senior trial lawyers, or KCs (King’s Counsels), it was never going to end well for McGrail, who less than a month later on June 9 had handed in his notice half way through his four-year term.

THE MAIN PLAYERS

IAN MCGRAIL:

A RGP policeman for 35 years, he joined as a Constable in 1984 and rose through the ranks until he was appointed Commissioner in 2018 on a four-year term. He had an unblemished record and was garlanded many times with honours and awards for his service. They include the Overseas Territories Po lice medal handed him during the late Queen’s 2015 Birthday Honours List. He was also awarded the Gold and Diamond Jubilee medal.

Spain’s Na tional Police awarded Mc Grail for his service in combating organised crime and fostering cross-border law enforcement cooperation.

FABIAN PICARDO:

The four-time Chief Minister, who heads the Socialist Labour Party (GSLP), was first elected in 2011 and has vanquished all comers ever since. The Oxford educated barrister reached the heady heights of King’s Counsel in a 20-year legal career, mostly at Hassans, before moving into politics. During his tenure the Rock’s economy has thrived, moving away from a ‘tax haven’ model and towards becoming a hub for offshore finance and gaming. He has struck a very progressive agenda, legalising gay marriage ending legal discrimination against same-sex couples.

JAMES LEVY:

Nicknamed ‘the grey man’, Levy is the boss of Hassans, the largest law firm on the Rock.

He became a Queen’s Counsel (now a KC) in 2002 and was awarded a CBE for his services to the community of Gibraltar and for his work in helping to grow and develop its economy. He is credited with advising the Gi-

At the age of 54, it was a career-ending retirement and he claims Picardo

But as the inquiry heard last week, Picardo denies this insisting he had to step down due to incompetence, a claim backed up by then-interim Governor, Nick Pyle, as well as the Attorney General, Michael Llamas.

All three have accused McGrail of lying about the search, adding he had lost their confidence.

THE €840,000-A-YEAR SECURITY CONTRACT

The backstory began some 18 months earlier in 2018 when the Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) initiated Operation Delhi to investigate the alleged hacking and attempts to take control of the National Se

braltar government on its transformation into a finance centre and helping to set up much of the rules and legislation governing it. He is considered a first-class expert consistently ranked as a Leading Individual by the Legal 500, a publication that assesses global law firms and lawyers.

MINISTER FABIAN PICARDO GOT

FORCED OUT: Ian McGrail arriving at the inquiry

UNDER FIRE: Fabian Picardo (above), while (left) Ian McGrail and (right) James Levy

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE: The Times’ coverage of the McGrail inquiry

the Rock

curity Centralised Intelligence System (NSCIS) and transfer it to a company called 36 North Limited.

The NSCIS was a computer platform ‘designed to monitor

and control Gibraltar’s border with Spain.’ Critical to the territory’s national security, understandably it warranted a lucrative contract to run, worth some €840,000 a year.

Police soon uncovered an alarming roll call of key figures behind the hacking, including the secretary to the Deputy Chief Minister, the CEO of Gibraltar’s Borders and Coast Guard, and, finally, Levy himself. It was on this discovery that on May 7, 2020, McGrail decided to issue a search warrant of Levy’s home as a suspect of ‘conspiracy to defraud’.

Levy - who the inquiry has discovered knew

of the ‘plan to remove the NSCIS platform’ - owned 11% of 36 North Ltd - while his pal Picardo held a 3% share.

However, with his rapid resignation it was decided Operation Delhi should be shelved and all charges were dropped in January 2022 on the grounds it would ‘not be in the public interest.’

Levy was never charged and his mobile phone and tablet were returned to him without, allegedly, being opened.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

In Gibraltar, the same few names crop up time and again.

It may have only 32,000 or so residents, but a vastly smaller number of people ac tually run the jurisdiction.

McGrail’s lawyers are trying to prove that Picardo himself interfered in a live police investigation to protect his old boss and business partner.

While Picardo denies it, so far they have done a good job of showing how a tiny ca bal of elites control the Rock and avoiding conflicts of interest is almost impossible, even with the best of intentions.

It has even been suggested that Inquiry chairman Sir Peter Openshaw may con clude that Gibraltar is too small to govern itself, and recommend a return to ‘Direct Rule’ from the UK.

It is a possibility that has also been floated by the leader of the opposition, Keith Azo pardi, who himself is also a senior lawyer and KC.

Dawn of a new era

Olive Press website soars to new heights after major relaunch

THE Olive Press website has seen visitor numbers more than DOUBLE since launching a brand new look.

After months of arduous planning, www.theolivepress.es entered a new era at the weekend.

In just four days, our ambitious relaunch has had hundreds of new registrations, while subscribers are flooding in from around the world - including the US and Australia. More engaging and geared towards a younger audience, the new design was sorely needed after almost a decade without major changes.

We are sure the hundreds of thousands of new readers we are now bringing to the site each month are enjoying it.

“It was really important for us to have a website that reflects the high quality and exclusive content we produce on a daily basis - and we finally have it,” explains editor Jon Clarke.

“I’m very proud of the changes and I am confident this will usher in a new era for theolivepress.es.”

As well as overhauling our paywall, we have

By Laurence Dollimore Digital Editor

spectable competitor has followed suit. Unfortunately for them, they pale in compari son to the content we produce, thanks to our dozen-plus journalists and writers. Only exclusives every week, sending NCTJ-trained journalists out to investigate stories across the country.

This month that has includ ed two reports on anti-tour ism movements in Tenerife, the killing of an American expat in Malaga and live court coverage of the ex plosive McGrail inquiry in Gibraltar.

Worse than that, it is something more than likely to prick up the ears of the Spanish, who have long-demanded sovereignty over the territory.

Spain refers to Gibraltar as a British colo ny; something that can be refuted so long as it governs itself.

If the position of Governor, appointed by London, is transformed from a ceremo nial one to an executive one, suddenly Gibraltar becomes a British colony again. An anachronism, or relic of the past that should be decolonised and, as the Span ish will argue, returned to them.

Now all eyes are on Gibraltar and the inquiry, which has another three weeks to run.

Visit our website www.theolivepress.es for the regular daily reports as the inquiry unravels.

But you will now notice that every other re-

We have also been in Madrid, Benidorm, Sevil la and Murcia covering stories, as well as reg ular trips to Germany, covering the sensa tional trial of Made leine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner, given the many links to Spain and Portugal. As well as incisive up-to-date news on health and the property market, we produce dozens of our own travel stories, features and reviews each month, taking us to the known and, more importantly, lesser-known destinations around Spain.

Is it any wonder that over the past week alone we have been followed up by almost every national newspaper in the UK, including The Times, Daily Mail, Sun, Express, Metro and Mirror

We also got an in-depth feature on ITV, as well as frequent articles on GB News.

It means the Olive Press website is, without a doubt, the number one source of news in English in Spain.

While some sites will claim to have more stories - and all of them free - the Olive Press is about curating the news and breaking the news.

So when you’re deciding which online paper to subscribe to, there really is no better option!

KEY FIGURES: Keith Azorpadi (left) and Sir Peter Openshaw

LA CULTURA

WORDS OF ART

MADRID’s national art museum, el Prado, has created 266 new Spanish sign language (LSE) terms for art related vocabulary.

The project ‘Sign with el Prado’ is a joint effort with the State Confederation for Deaf People (CNSE).

New signs have been created for important Spanish artists such as el Greco, Murillo, el Bosco and Velazquez. They have also created signs for technical terms to describe artistic styles, skills, iconography, themes and characters commonly seen in art. The vocabulary is intended to make art workshops, gallery visits and conferences more accessible and facilitate translation.

November

Word of mouth

Malaga

named the best city to learn Spanish and the fifth in the world to learn a new language

MALAGA has been named the top city to learn Spanish and the fifth in the world for language learning.

Despite its infamy for strong accents and regional dialect, Malaga has been chosen as the best location to learn Spanish, according to holiday booking platform, Holidu

The company analysed important factors like the number of language schools, opportunities to learn and teach languages, interaction with locals and ability to practice language

THE Marlborough Gallery is to close in early June, shutting its locations in Barcelona and Madrid as well as London and New York.

The galleries showcase modern and contemporary artworks as well as staging exhibitions. The decision to close after 78 years was taken by the gallery board of trustees.

Marlborough's collections will be sold in the coming months and years.

Part of the money made from the sales will be donated to non-profit

By Yzabelle Bostyn

skills.

They also looked at the average cost of living, digital nomad culture, the friendliness of locals and safety. Considering each of these factors, Malaga was named the fifth best city in the world to pick up a new language. It was just behind Taipei (Taiwan), Varsovia (Poland), Zagreb (Croatia) and Wroclaw (Poland). Despite this, Malaga had a

FRIENDLY: Malaga takes top marks

near perfect score, with 9.5 out of 10.

Malaga was also named the best city in the country to learn Spanish, beating

MARLBOROUGH CLOSURES

cultural institutions whose purpose is to support contemporary artists. In 1992, Marlborough opened its current gallery in Madrid, and later expanded to Barcelona in 2014. Those two galleries became prominent representatives of Spanish and Latin American artists.

No reason has been given for the closure, although it is known that the galleries lost $18.2 million (€17 million) between 2013 and 2019.

Are you depressed? Suffering from anxiety? Worried about the year ahead? Are your kids having social issues?

I understand the issues many expats feel in Spain. Change through relocation abroad can really add to mental health pressures and these life changes are never easy. Counselling and therapy has changed the lives of many.

Getting in touch is the first step.

Recognising that there is an issue is the first step on the road to recovery.

Back to the museum

THE Spanish government has funded multiple programmes designed to bring the museum experience to children in hospitals across Andalucia.

Part of a €289,000 investment, the projects are just some of a five programme effort by the Junta.

The Museo de Almeria, Museo de Cadiz and the Museo Arqueologico de Sevilla are all taking part.

Madrid, Valencia, Alicante, Granada, Sevilla, Barcelona and Bilbao to take the top spot.

“Malaga stands out as a great destination for language learning. It has 190 language schools and an affordable cost of living, making it an ideal location,” said the travel company.

“Also it has a solid safety index of 71.14 and the option to work from home, making it an outstanding choice.”

The Costa del Sol city secured its place as the top city in the world to learn Spanish as it was the only place with a five out of five rating for friendliness towards foreigners.

In Almeria, kids can enjoy ‘The museum travels to hospital classrooms’, where they take part in ‘experimental archaeological workshops’, such as recreating toys used in the Roman era.

Puzzles

Meanwhile in Cadiz and Sevilla, ‘Museums in Pyjamas’ brings games, puzzles, reconstructions of ancient villages and archaeological ‘digs’ to hospitals in the regions. They aim to encourage cognitive, artistic, creative and cultural development in youngsters.

The projects have developed alongside three others designed to fight social exclusion in children with special needs, on the autistic spectrum or who find themselves in hospital.

MOSS MEN Sardine army and the

OW the solemn processions of Semana Santa have passed, Spain is gearing up for the fiesta

Throughout spring and summer, towns and cities across the country will gather to remember their strangest traditions, from celebrating New Year’s Eve in August to chucking paint at a thief hoping

But, some of Spain’s most unique

By Yzabelle Bostyn

fiestas take place in the spring, including Murcia’s curious ‘Burial of the Sardine’.

On April 6, locals gathered to watch 30 ‘sardine troops’ march through the streets in a parade to mark the end of carnival season.

The festival began in 1850, when a group of students decided to form

a ‘court’ pre sided over by a sardine, who symbolised Easter fast ing and abstinence, to revive the carnival spirit. Today, the sardine troops spend the days amping up local people before the parade (pictured below). Then, thousands take to the streets in mourning or fancy dress, comically sobbing over the dead sardine.

Toys are thrown to children, fireworks are set off and, crucially, a huge sardine is burnt, sparking a party which endures until the early hours. Equally strange is Salamanca’s Procession of Moss Men. Held in the town of Bejar, the event celebrates the festival of Corpus Christi. The tradition dates back to the 12th century, when, according to legend, Christians reconquered the town from Muslim rule

It was merged with the Corpus Christi procession in the 14th century and is now a huge cultural festival, with plays, exhibitions and lectures.

Locals also take part in a balcony decorating contest to mark the occasion.

Also coinciding with Corpus Christi, is La Patum de Berga, in Catalunya, which runs from May 29 to June 2.

This festival sees Berga filled with a host of unique characters including dragons, eagles and ‘big heads’ (people wearing huge paper mache heads).

The highlight of the festival is the salto de plens , a dance said to represent a satanic orgy.

Bonfires

Ironically, this profane act is followed by events for children the next day.

Although for the British, bonfires are associated with the cold days of November, in Spain, they mark the start of summer.

On June 23, locals used to go to the countryside for a feast to celebrate the summer season.

When midnight arrived, they would light campfires and dance around

P propertySpain’sbest

roperty

A MASTER EYE ON

Taking a look at the lesser known Gaudi creations

See page 14

CLUCKS TO CREATIVITY

transformedThechickencoopthathasbeen intoanarchitect’sstudio

WHERE once chickens literally ruled the roost, a firm of architects is now drawing inspiration from the nature of the Paratges de La Moixina. Nestled within the scenic natural park near Orlot (Girona), a remarkable transformation has taken place. What was once a dilapidated chicken coop is now a centre of creativity and innovation, thanks to the work of the Arnau Estudi d'Arquitectura studio. Led by Arnau Verges, (below) the firm decided to restore the forgotten structure to its former glory.

With a keen eye for design Ar nau and his team renovated the old coop, breathing new life into its weathered walls.

The transformation of the chic ken coop into an archi tect’s studio has been nothing short of ex traordinary. It exudes a sense of rustic charm, blending seamlessly with the natural beauty of its surroundings..

It was a labour of love for Arnau who

grew up on the farm where the coop stands. He remembers seeing roe deer and other wildlife on And now he has clear views from his comfortable studio as the wildlife timidly approach the old coop.

He said: “We watch the seasons and life go by through the window while we know that this little paradise is just a lucky fragment of the broken mirror of life.”

PERFECT BALANCE

SIESTAS, lots of holidays and long warm evenings… is it any wonder Spain offers the second-best work-life balance in the world.

According to new research, Spaniards have much more time to relax outside of work compared to most European countries.. In comparison to the UK, where most people work nine to five jobs with a short lunch

Spainisthesecond-bestcountryintheworldforwork-lifebalance

break, most Spanish workers get at least an hour to eat.

According to global HR company Remote, Spain scored a healthy 76 out of 100 for workers.

In the company’s study of the 60 countries with the highest GDP globally, only New Zealand came above with a score

By Yzabelle Bostyn

of 79.

The poll took into account public holidays, sick leave, healthcare, annual leave, maternity leave and overall happiness.

Spain did extremely well for

statutory annual leave of 36 days, while 16 weeks of paid maternity leave (at €100 a week) and getting 60% of your wage if sick were pluses.

While the minimum hourly wage is low at €7.41, it is compensated by an average happiness level of 6.48 out of 10.

An ordinary work week is 25.9

hours, including part-time work.

Despite coming first, Kiwis get less annual leave than Spaniards, with 32 days.

However, their sick leave percentage is higher at 80% as well as maternity leave allowance, at around €98 for 26 weeks.

France came third, followed by Australia, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands. The United Kingdom was in eighth position, with an average happiness score of 6.94 out of 10.

Brits get 28 days of annual leave, £96 a week for sick leave and 39 weeks of maternity leave at £24 (€27).

In ninth and tenth place were Canada and Brazil, respectively.

WINGING IT: Arnau grew up on the farm

What a fiasco

Spanish

bureaucracy has turned an opportunity into a disaster

IN the wake of Covid-19 the EU launched the NextGenerationEU recovery plan with €807 billion to help economies recover from the pandemic.

This was aimed especially at the hardest-hit countries like Spain, which suffered a real decline in GDP of 11.2pc in 2020, compared to an EU average of 5.6pc.

“NextGenerationEU is more than a recovery plan – it is a once in a lifetime chance to emerge stronger from the pandemic, transform our economies and societies, and design a Europe that works for everyone…. making Europe healthier, greener, and more digital,” explains the official website.

The Spanish government earmarked €15.4 billion for housing projects including renovating Spain’s ageing housing stock to make it more liveable, greener and ‘decarbonised by 2050’. The government’s stated objectives

BIG

stock in line with the European Renovation Wave, as well as increase the social housing stock in energy-efficient buildings, helping to activate the sector and generate jobs and activity in the short term’.

When NextGenEU was first announced the Spanish government made such a song and dance of the expected funds you could be forgiven for thinking we already had the money in our pockets. But having observed the Spanish planning system at work for decades I was sceptical.

In my article EU Next Generation billions could benefit the Spanish housing market if spent well I wrote back in December 2021 that ‘there is a good chance that the funds allocated to renovating Spain’s ageing and

poorly insulated buildings will not be deployed as efficiently as planned, with disappointing results’.

I was not wrong. A new study commissioned by the Andimac trade association representing distributors of building materials reveals that planning applications for renovations fell 8% last year, and is expected to shrink by the same amount this year because of the public administration’s failure to ‘channel and deploy the NextGenerationEU funds’.

The Spanish planning system, bureaucracy, and political machinations have turned a tsunami of funds into bottlenecks that have bunged up the system and caused renovations to pucker rather than mushroom like politicians claimed they would.

The NextGen funds were an opportunity to make the Spanish housing stock more energy efficient, as currently 83pc of homes do not meet the minimum ‘green’ requirements that will be in place in 10 years time, without which homes can’t be sold or rented.

Like many ‘green’ policies this will have to be ditched at some point because it is simply unworkable, but for now it is still an official EU objective that Spain should be working on with NextGen funds.

Incompetent administration of NextGenerationEU funds purportedly for upgrading the Spanish housing stock has left it worse off than it would have been without them, whilst the ‘next generation’ has been saddled with greater public debt.

THE International Monetary Fund has called on Spain to build more homes in order to ease the housing crisis that is ‘affecting the vulnerable.’

Much of Spain, especially in the big cities and along the costas, has seen a demand frenzy - both from renters as well as buyers - push up prices to sky high levels.

A new report by the IMF has urged the Spanish government to tackle the crisis by increasing the housing stock.

“To improve housing affordability, authorities should prioritise increasing supply rather than distorting support for demand,” Kristalina Georgieva said in the report.

Such a measure would lead landlords to lower prices in their attempt to find tenants, the report suggests.

The recommendation came a day after the government announced its intentions to boost house building to tackle sky-high prices.

The IMF also criticised the 2023 Housing Law’s price cap measures in congested urban zones, which has so far only been implemented in parts of Catalunya.

“Past experiences suggest that such price controls can diminish the rental housing supply,” the IMF notes.

Landlords might take their homes off the market if they cannot freely set rental prices, it is argued.

HOPES: But

BARCELONA’S iconic Sagrada Familia cathedral has finally been given a completion date - 100 years since its architect died.

Antoni Gaudi’s spectacular gothic basilica, which looms high over the city, will be completed by 2026 according to builders. He will have died exactly 100 years ago on June 10, 1926.

Work on the structure first began in 1882, with the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s construction dogged by wars, fire, a lack of funds and, most recently, the Covid-19 pandemic. But now, Esteve Camps, the president

Heaven can’t wait!

of the company behind the works, claims to have sufficient funds and material to complete the project, including the 172.5 metre central tower.

However, work on various intricate details could continue until 2034, as well as a stairway leading up to the main entrance.

But this has sparked controversy after it emerged that over 1,000 families and businesses would need to be dislodged.

“We are trying to follow Gaudi’s plan to

the letter,” insisted Camps.

“We are his heirs and the plan presented to the local authorities in 1915, signed by Gaudi, includes the stairway”.

The building is Barcelona’s most popular tourist attraction, with close to five million annual visitors cumulatively spending over €125m.

Yet it has not always been popular with everyone - George Orwell once described it as ‘one of the most hideous buildings in the world’.

He lamented that a fire sparked by anarchists in 1936 had failed to completely destroy the monument.

Landlords’ market CASH BUYERS

RISING rental property shortages have been blamed on Spain’s new Housing Law 2023, which has seen landlords choose to take long-term lets off the market.

The Canary Islands sees some of the highest number of inquiries per advertised property, according to property portal Idealista.

A flat rental advert in Santa Cruz de Tenerife sees an average of 44 applicants, a 62% increase on the same period in 2023, while in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria it is 41 - a 118% increase.

The new rules cap the rates at which landlords can increase rents and can potentially lock them into longterm contracts with tenants. This has allegedly led them to turn to the short-term rental market instead.

Malaga sees a more moderate 28 applicants per advert - a 31% increase on last year - and Valencia 29.

There is slightly less demand in Bilbao (26 applicants per ad), Sevilla (25), and Alicante (22).

GUIRIS WELCOME

By Alex Trelinski

FOREIGN house buyers are continuing to target the Spanish real estate market as domestic purchases fall.

Figures from the country’s notaries for 2023 show that 14.98% of property purchasers came from international buyers - a record percentage figure.

For the second successive year, foreign home purchases grew as a percentage to beat the previous best of 13.75% in 2022.

Oscar Martinez, president of the Professional Association of Real Estate Experts, said:

“More and more international tourists are coming to Spain and they find areas they like with a good climate which makes them think of buying a second home or even coming out to retire.”

Overseasbuyersboost propertymarketas domestic sales fall

Spain last year, down 9.8% on 2022’s total, which was boosted by a post-Covid pandemic rush.

INTEREST rate hikes since 2022 have caused a 5% rise in people buying a home in Spain without a mortgage.

Buyers who didn't need any bank financing accounted for 32% of sales in 2023.

A Fotocasa Research study based on 8,200 interviews has predicted the figure will climb to 35% this year.

A third of mortgage-free purchasers saved up enough money followed by people who got help from their family and those who made a profit on selling their previous property.

Determination

However, domestic purchase

A total of 583,000 properties were sold in slowdowns are not being mirrored by a fall in international buyers who accounted for three out of every 20 homes sold in 2023.

SOFA SURFERS

AFTER a Marbella landlord sparked outrage for renting out a sofa in a shared flat for €400 per month, the Olive Press has found further examples of the practice.

The advert on Facebook Marketplace showed a blue three person sofa with the caption: “Renting a sofa in a shared flat, Puerto Banus area.”

However ridiculous, the practice is not uncommon in Spain due to high demand for rentals.

On Milanuncios, one of Spain’s most popular rental websites, the Olive Press searched for sofas and identified four for rent on the first page of results. These ranged between €150-300 per month. One, listed as a ‘living room in central Madrid’

cost €200 per month with all bills included, while another in Barcelona would set you back €250. Property experts have

questioned how a contract would be drawn up for this kind of ‘property’ and if renting a sofa is even legal.

The Olive Press could not find any legal basis to justify such a rental agreement.

Pampered pooches

MARBELLA is known for its luxury and now, it is home to one of most swanky dog hotels in the world, offering beach walks, relaxing baths, a spa and reiki treatments for your furry friend.

The Tiny Dog Hotel is the brainchild of Dutch-Peruvian couple Jose Antonio Canales and his wife, Antoinette. The couple moved to Spain to set up their business, installing air conditioning for the dogs and installing

“Foreign customers are financially astute and are very clear about what they can afford,” said Eva Lopez from the National Federation of Real Estate Associations (FAI). According to the notaries, only 7.5% of mortgages last year involved foreign buyers. “If they need

security cameras. Now, for €24.50 a night, the dog hotel offers a range of services and even spa treatments.

Every morning, Antoinette carries out a ‘reiki’ ceremony, a form of Japanese alternative medicine thought to calm nervous dogs.

financing, some of them have it already ready from their own country because of different terms and conditions for a domestic buyer,” added Lopez.

The largest foreign group were the British with 8,173 purchases, followed by Germans (6,244) and the French (5,712).

The favourite areas for British buyers are the Valencian Community followed by Andalucia.

The Balearic Islands had the greatest foreign purchase totals as a percentage last year, coming in at 31.5% followed by the Valencian Community (29.2%) and the Canary Islands (28.5%). There was also a significant presence in the Murcia region(23.8%) and Catalun-

Fotocasa's director of studies, Maria Matos, said: “The survey indicates that people are looking for other ways to buy properties without using banks and it shows their determination to acquire a home.”

“It is important to highlight that potential buyers are waiting for an interest rate cut which will then produce a big demand which the real estate market must respond to,” she added.

PROPERTY prices in Malaga province reached an all-time historic high this February.

Each pooch has its own ‘suite’, complete with a bed, toys and water bowl.

The cost of housing in the region increased by 0.5% since January, and 10.1% up from February 2023.

The average property price for the area now sits at €3,113 per square metre.

Wealthy hotspots Marbella and Benahavis top the charts, with prices coming in at €4,526/m2 and €4,402/m2 respectively.

Increase

The greatest percentage increase over the past 12 months was in Algarrobo Costa, according to website Idealista, with prices going up by 18.1% to an average €2,793/m2.

Getting to know Gaudi: the Catalan architect’s masterpieces you’ve likely never heard of

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A MASTER EYE ON

By Yzabelle Bostyn

EVERY year, thousands of tourists flock to Barcelona to marvel at Antoni Guadi’s buildings. His emblematic Sagrada Familia cathedral which started to go up in 1882 could be finished in two years to make a century since his death.

It is Barcelona’s most popular tourist attraction, but there are so many other works by the artist in the city worth visiting. Most of them remain largely undiscovered by tourists. In particular, it’s incredible that so many miss Palau Guell (left), which is just steps from the city’s famous La Rambla street.

Gaudi designed the mansion for in -

who is also

1886, it is an early example of Gaudi’s signature style, using mosaic, wrought iron features and stained glass. Inside, the arching stonework, twisting stairways and soft lighting earn Palau Guell its palatial title.

Outside, the extraordinary roof offers lovely views over the city where you may be able to spot the even more amazing Casa Vicens. Found in Barcelona’s

at first glance you might not realise this unusual red, white and green house was one of the architect’s works.

He took on the project, in fact, as a newly qualified architect with just five years of experience after being hired by tile baron Manuel Vicens Montaner to design a summer house. Gaudi clearly considered his benefactor’s profession when designing the house, implementing brightly coloured motifs at every opportunity.

Typical of Catalan modernism, the design is inspired by nature every step of the way, with twisting vines for gates and tiled sunflowers decorating the

PALAU GUELL

CASA

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the namesake of the well-known Park Guell in the nearby hills. Built between 1886-

SKY HIGH: The remarkable roof of Palau Guell and the internal brickwork and staircases

TILE TYCOON’S DREAM: Gaudi used Vicen’s designs as much as possible with extraordinary originality

PROPERTY

CASA CALVET

Discover the jewel of Marbella with this stunning three bedroom duplex penthouse! This exclusive home combines contemporary elegance with luxury amenities, offering an exceptional lifestyle in one of the most sought-after locations on the Costa del Sol. This duplex penthouse has been designed with a focus on spaciousness and brightness. The open spaces and intelligent layout provide an airy and flowing feel throughout the property.

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All very Gaudi...

Andalucia, the Arabian smoking room is delightfully reminiscent of Granada’s wonderful Moorish masterpiece the Alhambra. After careful restoration, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2005 and has been open to the public for seven years.

With access limited to 500 people a day, it is best to book a ticket in advance to avoid disappointment.

For the purists, you should also visit one of Gaudi’s first works Casa Calvet (left).

Built in 1899, the building is considered the architect’s most ‘conservative’ work but it nonetheless earned him the city’s ‘best building of the year award’ in 1900. The house, built for textile ma -

It is also well worth visiting Torre Bellesguard, also known as Casa Figueres. The modernist manor house was From page

nufacturer Pere Martir Calvet is still distinctively modernist, with curved balconies lining the facade.

It also pays tribute to baroque style and Calvet himself, with decorative ‘C’s in every corner.

Today, the building houses a restaurant where diners can enjoy the incredible ceilings, granite columns and vine-inspired arches.

Continues on page 18

TORRE BELLESGUARD

This stunning luxury duplex penthouse with its prime location and exceptional features, this property offers the epitome of luxury living. The duplex penthouse boasts 4 spacious bedrooms, each with its own en-suite bathroom, providing space and privacy for all residents, an one service bedroom with bathroom. The property also includes an additional toilet for guests. This penthouse offers direct access with a private lift from the parking or from the gate building for an absolutely comfortable living.

This spacious and bright flat is located right on the golf course in one of the most sought after areas of the Costa del Sol, in Guadalmina, Marbella. Within a gated and private urbanization, with 24hrs security, it has a southwest orientation that allows you to enjoy the sun all day long. Its three bedrooms are spacious and with access to the large terrace that surrounds the entire property. It has two en-suite bathrooms and a guest bathroom, and an independent kitchen, equipped and with space to eat in.

This charming villa has a truly privileged location with stunning views of the Costa del Sol and the Mediterranean Sea, surrounded by mature and secluded garden. It is built in Andalusian style and with a small reform, or with a comprehensive renovation, offers the perfect opportunity for personalisation according to modern tastes. The elevated position facing the sea provides a sense of grandeur and tranquillity, while the large garden offers an outdoor space to enjoy the sunny climate.

CONSERVATIVE: By Gaudi’s standards but Casa Calvet is still distictly ‘modernist’

Vista Lago is located in the 200-hectare country club estate of Real de La Quinta, surrounded by magnificent countryside, just 15 minutes from Marbella. Each award-winning villa has breathtaking views across the Mediterranean Sea to Gibraltar and the African coastline beyond.

From page 16

Eye on the mask

constructed on the site of a mediaeval castle and the influence is clear. Built as a country retreat for the then King of Aragon, it fell into decay over the centuries until Juame Figueres commissioned Gaudi to redesign it.

Gaudi’s Catalan heritage is evident on the terrace which cleverly integrates a ‘dragon’ in a nod to the region's patron saint, Saint George. Although these details are what makes the house so special today, the architect’s obsessive behaviour added significant costs and time to the project and the Figueres family were never able to live in the property.

Fina - lly, Gaudi’s best kept secret is Colonia Guell, a short

20-minute train ride from the city. Originally built as an industrial village for one of Eusebi Guell’s textile mills, the project was intended to improve workers’ quality of life, including houses, a theatre, school, shops, gardens and a church. Gaudi was commissioned to design the church, now known as the crypt. The undulating arches, stained glass and broken mosaic ‘ trencadis ’ make the building unlike any other church and its influence is clearly seen later in his master-work, the Sagrada Familia.

After marvelling at the church, make sure to wander around the village.

COLONIA GUELL

The most iconic development situated in a luxurious resort which boasts an artificial lake and beach (canoeing), paddle and tennis courts and a golf course.

INTRICATE: The details of the village’s church and theatre were later adopted in his Sagrada Cathedral design

MODEL VILLAGE: Just a 20-minute train ride out of Barcelona

A relaxed and comfortable LIFESTYLE

A gated, modern, functional residential complex, perfect for everyday life.

Its south orientation allows all homes to benefit from natural light and enjoy the stunning marine environment of the Mediterranean coast.

Spacious terraces

Swimming pool and gym

Community room

600m from the marina

IThe Property Insider

by Adam Neale

Marbella’s luxury market grows

HAVE noticed a strong trend in recent years, accelerating since the pandemic, for Marbella to become a destination of choice for luxury home purchases. It seemed to me that luxury home sales and purchases were becoming a growing part of the overall real estate market. This was largely a phenomenon that was anecdotal, based on my experience. I wanted to confirm whether it was actually the case and not just my perspective, so I dug into the numbers.

SPAIN’S BOOMING LUXURY MARKET

The luxury real estate market in this country

Prices in the top end property sector have grown by up to 20% in two years but no bubble is forming

has experienced considerable growth, with high-net-worth individuals investing more in this segment. Prices in the country’s luxury real estate market have increased by 10-20% in the past two years, according to insurance firm Hiscox.

Transactions for homes over €3 million increased by 55% in 2022 over 2021, with over 8,000 transactions registered last year, mainly in Barcelona, Madrid, the Balearic Islands and Malaga province.

MALAGA AND THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE

In fact, Malaga leads the luxury real estate market, with 2,500 homes for sale above €3 million, representing 34% of total luxury home sales in Spain. The vast majority of these high-end homes are located in the so-called ‘golden triangle’, formed by Benahavis, Estepona and Marbella.

The rise in luxury housing has significantly impacted real estate prices in Marbella. Across all categories prices in the city rose by about 15% between June 2022 and June 2023. In fact, the average asking

price reached €4,461 per square metre in December, which is more than double what it was 10 years ago.

FACTORS INFLUENCING MARBELLA’S MARKET

A significant part of Marbella’s rise is a result of the paralysis that exists with regard to zoning. Marbella hasn’t had a zoning bylaw for over a decade now, and that has caused a shortage of available housing that will take years to work through, even though the zoning impasse should be sorted out this year. However, another part of the price increases comes from Marbella’s attractiveness as a destination for high-net-worth individuals. They can see the luxury, infrastructure, amenities and like attracts like.

The pristine beaches and plentiful golf courses help too.

So, what does this mean for us mere mortals who aren’t movie stars or oil sheikhs or jet-setting billionaires?

The growth in the luxury market in Marbella and the Costa del Sol is generally a good thing. However, it is not without its drawbacks. Price rises in both rental and purchase prices make housing less affordable to those who aren’t wealthy.

On the other hand, Marbella, being a destination for luxury seekers, provides a lot of work as well as improvements to the local infrastructure that benefits everyone.

CONCLUSION: A SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

Nobody wants a bubble. The last one in 2007 ended very badly. But what is happening in Marbella is not, I’m convinced, a bubble. Prices remain 22% below 2007 highs on the Costa del Sol. The restoration of a functioning zoning regime in Marbella will also ease, naturally and gently, the upward pressure over the course of the next couple of years.

Marbella and the so-called golden triangle are definitely experiencing the virtuous circle of an influx of luxury buyers, along with improved infrastructure from growing tax revenues.

It is true that we need more long-term rental options, and I hope that the regional government of Andalucia offers incentives to the many excellent developers along the Costa del Sol.

But even with that caveat, I feel confident that Marbella and the cities around it are just getting started in a historic and overall positive transformation.

PROPERTY

THERE can be little doubt that summer is the season when Spain comes alive. Blessed with a lovely climate and an exquisite natural environment, the best part of summer is the time one gets to spend outside.

Now, imagine stepping into your backyard and being instantly transported to a luxurious tropical resort… amid it all stands a stunning thatched gazebo, nestled next to your sparkling pool. This picturesque scene is not just a dream but a reality for many homeowners who have chosen to incorporate a Cape Reed thatched gazebo into their outdoor living space.

Thatched gazebos have long been cherished for their rustic charm and versatility, offering an idyllic setting for al fresco dining and precious family moments. These natural structures create a lively ambiance where you can socialize with friends and family, making every moment spent underneath the gazebo a memorable experience.

Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of having a Cape Reed thatched gazebo next to your pool is the opportunity to enjoy a vacation-like experience without ever leaving home. Whether you’re relaxing with a good book, hosting a poolside party, or simply soaking up the sun, having a tropical retreat in your backyard allows you to unwind and recharge in the comfort of your own space.

With the warmer weather on our doorstep, now is the perfect time to embody the true spirit of the Spanish summer. And a thatched gazebo will do just that, creating a sanctuary where nature and leisure intertwine harmoniously, allowing you to enjoy your outdoor space in comfort and style.

For more information, contact John at 638 421 464 , via email at john@capereed.com or visit the website www.capereed.es

Long time coming

Ibiza has revived its first theatreaftera16-yearrestoration

THE historic Teatro Pereyra will reopen in May to celebrate its 125th anniversary.

Now a ‘cutting-edge theatre and live music venue’, the theatre was originally built in 1899 following Spain’s loss of its final colony in Cuba. This marked a period of cultural and economic growth on the island, spearheaded by the ‘enlightened’ elite.

A landmark of Ibiza old town,

THEN AND NOW: Teatro Pereyra has a new lease of life

By Yzabelle Bostyn

it took 16 years to restore the French inspired building to its former 19th century splendour.

The regional government declared it a Cultural Heritage Site (BIC), meaning meticulous restoration was necessary to preserve the building’s original features.

RENOVATED: Theatre is ready to go

Now, the venue will host events year round, including film showing, concerts and theatre performances from artists across the world.

The programme is under the direction of 90s pop star, musician and composer, Nacho Cano. Over 300 people will be able to enjoy the venue’s surround sound, with 256 seats and 54 boxes.

Cafe Pereyra, a live music hub, will also open its doors.

During the day the sophisticated cafe will serve breakfast and lunch and at night, musicians will take to the stage.

Home to one of the best-preserved Renaissance walls in the Mediterranean as well as a beautiful colonial facade, the cafe has much history.

The building will also include a lounge and cocktail club, Sala Sandoval & Compañía.

A homage to the original driving forces behind the theatre, Commander Pereyra and his wife, the venue evokes the ‘seductive feel of Cuba’.

With ‘privileged views’ of the city and endless Cuban cocktails, the bar will surely become the place to go.

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Spaintoend goldenvisasthat grantresidencyto foreignerswhobuy a€500,000home

By Ben Pawlowski

SPAIN’S Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has pledged the removal of so-called ‘golden visas’ which grant residency to foreigners who purchase a property for €500,000 or more.

Previously, the scheme allowed foreigners to obtain a three-year residence permit, extendable for another two, by buying property, or investing €1 million in deposits or shares of Spanish capital companies, or more than €2 million in government bonds.

The scheme was introduced in 2013 in the wake of the housing market crash and Euro crisis as a means to re-invigorate the country’s property sector through foreign investment.

However, the policy has since come under severe scrutiny, with critics claiming it creates inflationary pres sures and acts as a back door for dirty money to enter the Spanish economy.

Now, Pedro Sanchez’s Socialist-led govern ment has vowed to end the scheme.

Sanchez, 52, said that 94%

NONSENSE!

of approved visas were related to property investment and located in regional capitals such as Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga and Valencia, ‘cities where the housing market is very stressed’. “We do not want a speculative investment model with housing”, he added.

The move comes in the build-up to crucial local elections in Catalunya and the Basque Country, with Sanchez stating that his main policy aim is to ‘guarantee access to affordable housing, to respond to the public, and assure that no citizen has to spend more than 30% of their income towards having a suitable, quality home’.

In 2022, Spain granted 2,462 residency permits to investors who had bought

VILLA, BENAHAVÍS – R4407832 – 1,200,000€

properties with a value exceeding €500,000, a 60% increase from the previous year.

The Spanish government has granted a total of 11,464 individual authorisations since the golden visa was introduced, in addition to 19,805 authorisation for family reunification.

Last year, countries including Ireland, Portugal and Greece cancelled their version of the ‘golden visa’ scheme as critics highlighted a lack of affordable rental housing in major cities.

However, housing experts have warned that a cancellation of the scheme could damage the Spanish economy by discouraging crucial investment from its European neighbours.

Tourism councillor in Benahavis Scott Marshall (left) branded the scrapping of the golden visa as ‘nonsense’.

Marchall,who is an estate agent

GOLDEN VISA

by trade, added that it was ‘a de-

cision made without consultation and without any basis’. He added: “The problem is that, whether the initiative goes ahead or not, it contributes to creating uncertainty in the foreign investor... foreigners cannot be blamed for the price of housing and rents.”

Uncertainty

In a tweet, Sanchez said: “Housing is a constitutional right and not a mere speculative market. That is why we are going to eliminate the ‘Golden Visa’, the law approved by the PP that allows you to obtain a residence visa if you invest more than €500,000 in housing in our country”. He added: “Having decent housing cannot depend only on market rules. This will be the legislature that turns housing into the fifth pillar of the welfare state.”

This stunning villa is in one of the best plots in village being a short walk to all amenities but benefiting from its quiet position with all-day sun and stunning views of the mountains and gorge from every room. This home is fully refurbished and benefits from being laid out over one level.

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BED: 3 | BATH: 2 | BUILT SIZE: 170 M2 | PRIVATE GARAGE | GARDEN/PLOT: 2162 M2 | PRIVATE POOL

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NEW LIFE

Almeria castle gardens pay homage to the history of the city, writes Yzabelle Bostyn

LMERIA’s La Hoya gardens are delighting visitors as spring brings new life to the Alcazaba.

Located just beneath the monument lies the 42,000 m2 oasis, once a sprawling medieval barrio, a farm and a dumping ground. The garden opened last November after over two years of renovation and a €2.5 million investment. It has been especially designed to avoid damaging archaeological remains that were detected during construction.

The park is home to 120 species of tree and 21,000 plants picked to withstand the dry, Mediterranean summers.

According to Juan Antonio Sánchez Muñoz, one of the landscape architects behind the design, it was of the ‘utmost importance’ to consider the location’s 1,000 year history.

NEW SHOOTS: La Hoya gardens are springing into life

Nestled by the Alcazaba and Cerro de San Cristóbal walls, the area has seen the foundation of Almeria. It pays homage to this legacy, preserving the waterways and steeped design consolidated by farmers. La Hoya uses low lighting at night, so that visitors can still stargaze.

These are not the only stars that have paid a visit to the garden, it has also been used in many films including Wonder Woman (2020) and Cleopatra (1963).

If you would like to visit the park, gates are open from 8.30am to 8.30pm.

LAS BRISAS, NUEVA ANDALUCIA

Ground floor elegance in gated community of Los Granados golf.

3 Beds | 3 Baths | 166m2 Built | 72m2 terrace

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Grand apartment with a villa feel in the popular gated urbanization of Los Granados Golf directly front line golf to Royal Las Brisas, Nueva Andalucia. The ample reception room leads you the spacious living and dining room that leads you out onto the very large covered terrace with open garden views. From here you can walk straight out onto the communal gardens and beautiful pool area. There are 3 large bedroom suites that include a very generous master suite leading out onto the terrace.

LA CERQUILLA, NUEVA ANDALUCIA

Elegant bungalow for sale in an exclusive residential area.

5 Beds | 5 Baths | 2537m2 Built | 653m2 build

REF: 176-02231P | 5.950.000€

Located in the prestigious residential area of La Cerquilla in Nueva Andalucia, this exceptional south facing residence is nestled between world-class golf courses and within close proximity to the finest dining, shops and beaches! The property sits on a generously sized plot and occupies over 600m² of living space with a stunning wrap-around covered terrace which is ideal to spend outside all-year-round and with views overlooking the Los Naranjos golf course.

Bfrom, an easy process can turn into a mind boggling one!

Another frustrating aspect is the fact that in the vast majority of Spanish shops, not only do the beds generally all look and feel the same, it is incredibly difficult to get the guidance we need.

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Another thing to consider is what type of ‘sleeper’ you are (eg. a side sleeper would benefit much more from a pillow top mattress than a back sleeper).

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IBy

The ‘diamond in the rough’ near the village of Pego is decorated with traditional artisan tiles in vibrant blues, yellows and oranges that exude summer vibes. Not only that, the intricate mosaic floors are reminiscent of Spain’s Moorish history and

could be easily restored to their former glory.

Even the bathroom and kitchen are adorned with tiles, making this a majestic property throughout.

The abandoned house needs a good renovation to restore but it would be worth the effort.

Spread over a 8,403m2 plot, the 105m2 property is listed for €120,000 by IAD Barcelona.

“It is a home with essence that maintains the authentic multicolored hydraulic floor and the Valencian ceramics on some of its walls,” explained the agent. It also counts on a basement, outside pool and storage space. The house still has running water and electricity.

The shops, schools and restaurants of Pego are just a few minutes away and the sandy beaches of Playa Santa Ana and Playa Denia are only 10 minutes by car.

Tourist flat cutback

RESTRICTIONS will be imposed by the government on the number of tourist apartments in ‘stressed’ areas of Spain.

Housing Minister, Isabel Rodriguez, said that she will intervene to limit the number of tourist apartments in parts of the country because they are ‘harming the right to access housing’.

The country’s 17 regions have no definition of what is a ‘stressed’ area but Rodriguez’s declaration signals the government’s intention to overrule local decision makers if need be.

Rodriguez made a specific reference to Madrid, where there are over 14,000 tourist flats. Across Spain there are thought to be more than 300,000.

“I don’t want the centre of Madrid to be a theme park, but to remain a city,” she said.

There have been protests recently in Tenerife over ‘excess’ tourism and the impact on property prices.

She pointed out that there are regions like Andalucia, Catalunya and the Canary Islands that are taking their own steps but emphasised that the national government can also intervene.

DOUBLED IN PRICE

THE cost of buying a home in Malaga city has more than doubled over the past decade, new figures reveal.

According to a study by property portal Fotocasa, the cumulative price of a property in the city has risen by 107% since 2014.

It means Malaga is now the second-most expensive provincial capital when it comes to buying a second-hand home.

It follows only Palma, in Mallorca, which has seen prices rise by 140% over the same period.

In 2014, the average 80 sqm apartment in Malaga city cost €135,821, today it is €234,561.

The third highest price rises were in Madrid, which has seen a surge of 82% since 2014.

This was followed by Valencia city (66%), Las Palmas (55%), Alicante (51%), San Sebastian (46%), Girona (46%), Santa Cruz (45%) and Barcelona (43%).

On average in Andalucia, the cost of an 80 sqm home is currently at €163,400, up from €117,900 some 10 years ago.

NEW START

Fresh blood sees 10% growth at Spain’s oldest property association GIPE

As one of the oldest real estate associations in Spain, GIPE was, in need of renovation and new ideas.

Based out of the heart of Malaga, GIPE (Gestores Inmobiliarios Profesionales Europeos) needed an injection of fresh blood.

And that’s when in-walked Scandinavian property dynamos Christofer Fogelberg and Daniel Holmquist of the StartGroup as well as Patrick Galiano of Inmoswiss, in 2022.

Full of new ideas and enthusiasm, such as making it the first bilingual Spanish/English association it is now becoming very popular among Costa del Sol estate agents.

“It’s grown by 10% in member numbers this year alone and our goal was 100 new certified members by the end of 2024,” the president Alfred van Krimpen told the Olive Press.

With monthly seminars, social events and conferences, 2024 looks set to be the year GIPE hits the big time.

In particular, campaigning for regulation in the Andalucian property sector, it insists that all new members are fully legal, have insurance and have undertaken certain courses.

In 2023 GIPE started offering training courses for new agents, many coming from other parts of Europe.

“Instead of sitting back and complaining about the need for rules and regulation we decided to be proactive and educate both new and estanlished agents,” explains Fogelberg, from the charming historic ‘palacio’ just off prestigious Calle Larios.

But best of all they are creating a safe networking space for all their members that come from dozens of nationalities.

“We have members from all over Spain and of all ages, including some founding members who are in their 80s.

“We are organizing events and informative sessions on numerous subjects, we have had four banks in to explain and compete with their mortgage products, seminars on new laws among other subjects.”

“We are teaching all the rules in order to comply and avoid the various fines they face operating here which go from 6,000 euros to up to 600,000 euros.

“We have various courses on offer now from the Andalucian real estate rules, to data protection laws and prevention of money laundering laws.”

Aside from a total renovation of the offices of the association, which was set up in 1985, it insists on being ‘totally bilingual’ with all training courses avaliablie in both Spanish and English.

GIPE is also part of CEPI, a platform based in Brussels looking after the interests of its members and facilitates real estate transactions for all EU member citizens.

All GIPE members are fully insured and certified, in order to give better guarantees to property buyers and vendors. Member benefits include responsability insurance, co-working centre in Malaga, monthly seminars and legal advice, for only 50€/ month. Sounds like the place to be for any respactable Estate Agency.

Visit www.Gipe.es

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CALAHONDA TORREQUEBRADA LA CALA DE MIJAS

CULTURA

November 29thDecember 12th 2023 LOOKING FOR MORE CULTURE STORIES?

them, throwing firecrackers in the flames before a dip in the sea.

After years of this custom, the Bonfires of San Juan (Alicante) were officially constituted in 1928.

Today, the festival has become a homage to fire in which enormous wooden figures are burnt in an event not dissimilar to Valencia’s fallas festival. If you love fireworks, this fiesta is for you, as at 2pm everyday between June 19 and 24, Los Luceros square hosts a range of pyrotechnic shows. Locals also choose a ‘Beauty of the Fire’ to represent local women, so if you fancy seeing the beauty of bonfires up close, make your way to Alicante.

Candela Marbella, a restaurant right in the heart of the charming old town.

Enjoy traditional local and national dishes with unique international touches and flavours thanks to our chefs

Andi Zillner and Mathias Theodosis.

tel: 646 88 84 31 candelamarbella.com

Pl. Gral. Chinchilla, 2, 29601 Marbella, Málaga

Are you prepared to protect your loved ones? Take care of the family

We can assist you with our Bespoke Life and Mortgage Protection policies to protect those that are most important to you, should the worse happen.

The first question would be – have you taken out Life Insurance? You may have a Mortgage Protection policy, which means on your death the mortgage will be paid. But of course, this does not provide your family with some financial security when they really need it.

Mortgage Protection is a good policy to have as it will pay off any mortgage you have on your house, keeping your family secure in their home. This is death only cover, however there are some additional options you can add on if you require them.

For example, Mortgage Payment protection for €100,000 of cover for a 50 year old can be as little as €305 per year. On the other hand, life insurance provides a payment to your family.

You can tailor the life policy to your own requirements and create a Bespoke Life insurance – whether to cover the initial costs incurred on your death or give your family a lump sum to provide for their future.

For example Life cover of €50,000 for a 50 year old, can be as little as €155 a year.

Our Bespoke Life policies can give you the cover most suited to your needs with standard death only cover and additional covers to include:-

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And what about a dream day out with a gourmet lunch on Candela’s stunning new yacht?

“A choice of four distinct menus, one vegan, perfect for a fun - or romantic - day out on the high seas!”

FUN AND GAMES: La Patum de Berga (above) Alicante (below) and a moss man

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

SPAIN is going through a ‘wine revolution’ believes leading UK wine guru Jancis Robinson.

Just as the country has seen a massive shift in its restaurant scene, the wine sector is also booming.

“There is a Spanish wine revolution and there is a revolution in vineyards all over the country,” believes Robinson.

“There are so many exciting new-wave producers…And the best thing is most of the wines are reasonably priced and so wide-ranging.”

Evidence of this, she insists, was clear from the 500 wines on offer at a recent London event for Spanish wine.

Called Vinateros, there were wines from over 80 grape varieties produced by 92 winemakers from all around the coun-

November

Wine revolution

Spanish wines have seen a ‘significant’ increase in quality over the last 20 years, insists UK wine expert Jancis Robinson

try.

The seasoned wine writer was particularly impressed with the ‘great whites’ and also noted that only 13 producers came from Rioja and Ribera del Duero.

The rest were from a range of frequently ‘obscure’ denominations (DOs) including Cebreros, Valle de la Orotava, Arribes, Ribeira Sacra and Mentrida. “You can see how

EVER fancied a journey on the Orient Express?

Well you can do just that - or rather sample its equivalent - right here in Spain.

RENFE has just launched this year's luxury Al-Andalus train service across Andalucia, taking in Jaen, Malaga, Cordoba, Granada, Cadiz and Sevilla.

The Al-Andalus is formed of 15 carriages, five of which are authentic from the 1920s.

They were built in France and were originally used by members of the British royal family to go on holiday in the French Riviera.

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By Jon Clarke

difficult it is for us to map the wine regions of Spain satisfactorily now as they are scattered all over the country and as far as the Canaries,” she wrote in her column in the Financial Times.

“For a time I used to rail against Spain’s dependence on just one grape variety, Tempranillo, the dominant grape of Ribera and Rioja. But at the event this year

there were over 80!” She particularly raved about one wine, Guix Vermell, from Montsant as well as the Albarinos from Galicia. “These albarinos are far

Royal treat

But also not cheap on the Al-Andalus train tour

more interesting today than they were when they became fashionable 10 or 20 years ago,” she wrote. “White Rioja is also now taken seriously and there is a host of deep-flavoured whites based on grapes such as Albilllo, Verdejo and Xarel-lo.”

Location

The vinateros (who are ‘wine growers’ as opposed to ‘winemakers’) believe that great wine is ‘made in the vineyard’ and the location is more important than the winemaking technique. The event was attended by over 20 UK importers as well as the Spanish ambassador. There will be an American version of the event in the US next year.

Tax blasted

THE Junta has been criticised for considering a tax on the millions of visitors who stream to the region each year.

Malaga Tourism Councillor Arturo Bernal (below) warned of the risks that such a tax would entail, calling it ‘a tax against tourism.’ He said: “We are killing the goose that lays the golden eggs, we have to be careful with certain apocalyptic plans.” Bernal claimed that the impact of such a move would ripple out far beyond the hospitality sector to hit as many as 76 other industries that underpin the Andalucian economy. Instead he called for better management of existing taxation, like the VAT from tourism, which generates €2.5 billion in revenue, suggesting a more equitable distribution of current levies could be a solution.

DOYENNE: Jancis praised the wide variety of grapes

DELUXE:

Cadiz

Overtourism is the word on everyone’s lips this Spring. As visitors start to roll into Spain’s most popular destinations in droves, anti-tourism movements are growing across the country and politicians are taking notice.

Tourist tax has increased in Palma de Mallorca while you will soon be charged to enter Sevilla’s Plaza de España.

So, why not help alleviate the strain on the likes of Malaga, Barcelona and Tenerife by checking out some lesser known locations?

Leading tour comparison site, TourScanner, has conducted a study to discover the best alternative options.

QUIETER TWINS

It found similar - or twin - locations to popular tourist spots and ranked them based on the amount of annual visitors.

Barcelona = Cadiz

The Catalan capital was one of the first cities in Spain to begin an anti-tourist movement. Millions of visitors flock to the city each year to see the mix of the jostling old town, impressive art and the bustling city centre. That has not only made Barcelona overcrowded but expensive and in some areas, dangerous.

Cadiz in Andalucia has been suggested as a great alternative, with far fewer tourists each year.

While the cathedral is no Sagrada Familia, its grand facade and the views from its tower make it worth a visit.

The Parque Genoves bears many similarities to Barcelona’s Parc de la Ciutadella, with sandy pathways and overhanging palm trees providing shade from the summer heat.

Above all, it is the lively street life - including Spain’s most famous carnival - that sets it apart.

But if you can’t handle the crowds, Salamanca receives far fewer tourists a year compared to Madrid’s 60.2 million.

Found in Castilla y Leon, the city is just a 2.5 hour train ride away from the Spanish capital.

It is home to the oldest university in the Hispanic world and still maintains a vibrant student community, with plenty of bars, cheap food and nightlife.

Similar to Madrid is the Plaza Mayor, complete with Baroque style architecture to rival its neighbouring city.

The best chicken and ribs in town also available salads, fries, garlic bread, wraps and kids menu

Just like Barcelona, Cadiz perfectly mixes beach days and city culture, with lots of museums and historic monuments.

Much like the Costa Dorada, Cadiz is surrounded by beach side hamlets and fishing villages, all with clear water and golden sand.

Madrid = Salamanca

One of the most visited cities in Spain, Madrid is well worth a visit.

Salamanca

Unlike Madrid’s Catedral de Almudena, Salamanca boasts two cathedrals.

The Old Cathedral is a ‘truly magnificent’ Roman monument, while the New Cathedral is built in an inspiring gothic style.

The city also has a river flowing through it and you can walk along it over the roman bridge.

It also has many museums, including the impressive Museo de Art Nouveau.

Mallorca = Menorca

Tourism is a key political issue in Mallorca at the moment, with pro -

BREATHTAKING: The beauty of Salamanca is not spoilt by overtourism

By Yzabelle Bostyn

Scrap Barcelona for…

Swap Madrid for…

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

Love Spain but hate overcrowding? Here are three of the best alternatives to the biggest tourist traps

testors even putting fake posters at popular beaches warning of ‘dangerous jellyfish’ and ‘falling rocks’ to scare off tourists.

Visitors outnumber locals 70 to one, threatening the beauty, peace and culture of the island.

Nonetheless, holidaymakers are still searching for holidays in the area, with 201,000 monthly searches. But, if you prefer not to increase tensions, why not try Menorca? The island welcomes just 4 million tourists a year,

27 million fewer tourists than Mallorca’s 31 million.

Menorca has equally picturesque coves, clear waters and dramatic rocks lining their beaches.

Although it isn’t hilly like Mallorca, Menorca is still great for cycling and hiking amongst its vast nature.

The towns of Mahon and Ciutadella are small in comparison to La Palma de Mallorca but nonetheless historic, with a relaxed vibe as you wander through the charming streets.

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April 17th - April 30th 2024

Menorca

TIMELESS: The charm of Cadiz has endured down the ages

SMALLER BROTHER: But the coves and old world vibe of Menorca hold their own against Mallorca

Swap busy Mallorca for…

Gloomy outlook

PARKINSON’S disease is the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world with around 160,000 sufferers in Spain, according to the Spanish Society of Neurology.

Among those aged over 65 years of age, some 2% of the group have it, doubling up to people aged over 80.

The risks of contracting the disease are linked to age, but 5% of cases occur in people under the age of 50, which is named early-onset Parkinson's disease.

Dr Alvaro Sanchez Ferro from the Neurology Society says that in Spain the number of people affected will grow at a higher rate than in other countries and may triple by 2050. Some factors that seem to predispose to developing Parkinson's are being exposed to pesticides, industrial solvents and air pollution, which is frequently bad in southern Spain.

Empowering Independent Living

Costa Angels are ‘Assisted Living’ professionals who provide the best client centered care for our Clients while enabling them to maintain their all-important independence in their own home.

We offer a flexible approach to 24hr Live In Care, Hourly Visits, Respite and Palliative Care to Clients living on the Costa del Sol and some inland areas. Our services include help with personal care, dressing, washing & grooming. Medication prompting, light housework, shopping & meal preparation. Accompanying to social & medical appointments.

Whether you are a Client in need of our services or a Carer interested in working with us to provide first class care, please contact us on +34 952 709 933, +34 611 289 381 or email us on info@costaangels.com Visit our website at www.costaangels.com

STUB IT OUT

War on smoking moves forward with plain packs and vape flavours ban mooted

SPAIN has started the process to introduce its new anti-smoking plan by announcing a public consultation over instigating plain cigarette packets and banning vape flavourings. The 2024-2027 plan was agreed by the Health Ministry and the country's 17 regions on

By Alex Trelinski

April 5.

The Ministry has now put out for consultation the launch of 'neutral' tobacco packets - already implemented in countries like the UK - and

Fishy alternatives

SWAPPING red meat for small fish such as sardines or boquerones (anchovies) could save up to 750,000 lives a year by 2050.

It would help reduce worldwide levels of diet-re lated diseases according to a study published last week by the journal, BMJ Global Health.

A team of Japanese researchers says forage fish like sardines are perfect in a food regime to reduce red meats - cutting coronary heart disease and are also full of Omega-3.

“In Spain we have the advantage that culturally these small fish, such as anchovies and sardines, are consumed a lot,” said nutritionist Aitor Sanchez. “The survey confirms what we know but vegetables and legumes should also be eaten more,” he added.

UNDER THREAT: Vape flavours in sights of Health Minister Garcia ending the sale of flavoured vapes. Flavoured vapes are viewed by health experts as being a hook for teenagers and younger people to try traditional tobacco products. The proposed changes are in line with the Smoking Control plan to 'prevent the initiation of consumption of tobacco and related products'.

Health Minister, Monica Garcia, said that tobacco tax levels will be discussed with the Finance Ministry to 'bring us closer to countries around us'. The plan also envisages outdoor 'smoke-free' spaces but details of that have still to be ironed out including whether or not that means a total ban for hospitality terraces. Garcia said: “The sector is in good health and the ominous forecasts that spoke of widespread ruin because people were going to stop going to bars because they could not smoke indoors never happened". “There is no economic impact

because there was no impact with previous measures either," she added.

"I don't think people will stop going to terraces or beaches because there is a measure that protects against second-hand smoke but we will help the regions to implement it with all of the guarantees," said Garcia. She promised there will be a public consultation ahead of any stage of legislation, like in the case of packaging and vape flavours, where people from all sides of the argument will be able to contribute.

Though all of the regions backed the plan, it’s expected that some will take a more 'looser' view on some of the proposals - especially over terraces.

In December, Madrid's mayor, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida branded a terrace smoking ban as 'crazy' while a Mallorca restaurant owner has said that a ban would spark 'fights' between customers and waiting staff.

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Eat yourself well

Taking olive oil daily could help prevent these five serious health issues - according to scientists

SCIENTISTS in Spain have revealed eating olive oil daily could help to prevent five serious health issues.

A study by the Universidad de Sevilla has revealed which illnesses and health issues this Spanish staple can help combat.

It is thought olive oil has medicinal properties thanks to its 70-80% quantity of oleic acid, an omega-9 fatty acid. Commonly found in olives, canola oil and sunflower oil, oleic acid fights a variety of common illnesses.

OBESITY

Olive oil contains oleylethanolamide, a chemical which helps to regulate appetite and body weight. Studies have also found that people who consume extra virgin olive oil regularly have a lower risk of being overweight. This is probably because it is a monounsaturated fat, thought to promote weight loss.

CHOLESTEROL

According to the study: “oleic acid reduces the expression of proteins related to the movement of cholesterol, it also lowers the absorption of cholesterol and reduces oxidation of lipid proteins, preventing atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in the arteries.

ALZHEIMERS

The study showed olive oil could be beneficial in preventing alzheimers as oleic acid is a key component of cell membranes, including neurons.

HYPERTENSION

One of the biggest factors influencing cardiovascular risk, the antioxidant power of oleic acid can help to lower pressure on the arteries thanks to its nitrous oxide content.

CANCER

The anti-inflammatory properties of oleic acid act as an anticarcinogen, ‘inhibiting the expression of oncogenes, genetic mutations thought to cause cancer’.

THROUGHOUT SPAIN AND THE UK

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72 Avenida Ricardo Soriano, Portal B, 1st Floor, Marbella, Malaga, 29601 www.britishcareservices.com

EASY ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

Quirónsalud Marbella Hospital has opened new clinics dedicated to Clinical Analysis and Nursing with the intention of improving the quality of care for patients.

The recently inaugurated facilities are located in Singlehome, an independent building located just a few metres from the hospital on the same street, Avenida Severo Ochoa, number 28 in Marbella.

The opening of this new area reinforces the hospital’s commitment to offer a comfortable space, the latest technology and the best quality care possible for patients in order to guarantee exceptional service.

“It gives us great satisfaction to provide our patients with these new, high standard facilities in order to provide quality healthcare and improve the experience of our patients,” says

Salvi Rodríguez, Outpatients’ Supervisor.

This new space, with a surface area of 500 square metres, is home to an admission area, waiting room and multi-purpose consultation room for Nursing/Clinical Analysis. All patients with appointments for Clinical Analysis (blood extractions, collection of physiological samples...) and Nursing Consultations (cures, intramuscular medication, electrocardiograms, vaccinations...) have already been transferred to this new location on the main floor of the Singlehome building.

As for the building layout, the facilities have been designed with an emphasis on accessibility, minimising routes and times for care. As Rodríguez highlights, ‘on arrival at the building, patients will easily find the consultation room where they have been scheduled

Quirónsalud Marbella opens new Clinical Analysis and Nursing consultations in Singlehome building for an appointment. This, together with the optimisation of our appointment systems, makes it possible to shorten the length of the patient’s stay’.

The opening hours of the Clinical Analysis and Nursing Consultation at Quirónsalud Marbella Hospital are as follows: Clinical Analysis: Monday to Friday from 8:00 h. to 13:00 h.

Nursing consultation: Monday to Friday from 11:00 h. to 20:00 h.

SPACIOUS: The new facilities have been designed to help guarantee exceptional service

Nuclear graveyard

SPAIN'S government has approved a long-term project to build a €4.1 billion facility to store all of the country’s nuclear waste. All nuclear power plants will be closed down progressively between 2027 and 2035 with each of the seven facilities having temporary dumps for radioactive waste to be kept at the sites for 50 years.

Waste

The intention is to transfer everything to a central nuclear graveyard (AGP) - in effect a large hole in the ground - where the waste will be kept permanently. The design and location of such a site has yet to be decided but it could be ready as soon as 2073, according to the National Radioactive Waste Company (Enresa).

Ear-splitting row

Environmentalists blast plans to parade F1 cars through the streets of Barcelona ahead of GP

ENVIRONMENT groups have blasted plans to host a Formula One roadshow in Barcelona city centre ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix in June.

F1 cars will drive along the Passeig de Gracia boulevard after plans for the exhibition were revealed last week.

The bustling thoroughfare will become home to VIP boxes, hospitality, food and drink stalls - an F1 Fan Village will also be installed in Placa Catalunya as authorities look to whip up enthusiasm for the annual Spanish Grand Prix, hosted at Circuit

OP Puzzle solutions

Quick Crossword

Across: 7 VC R, 8 For free, 9 Pristine, 10 Edit, 11 Misdemeanours, 14 Reincarnation, 17 Scab, 19 Libretto, 20 Austria, 21 A P R.

Down: 1 Overripe, 2 President Bush, 3 Affirm, 4 Ortega, 5 Order of the day, 6 Yeti, 12 Ear, 13 Roosters, 15 Allure, 16 Nubian, 18 Cyan.

By Ben Pawlowski

de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 23.

However, the plans have provoked the ire of local environmentalist groups who claim the exhibition is ‘absurd’ and will worsen air quality.

KEEP IT HERE: and not on the streets of Barcelona

In a statement on X, Eixample Respira, which campaigns for the improvement of air quality in the Eixample neighbourhood of Barcelona, said: “We are suffering from a public health crisis caused by poor air quality and noise.

“It is absurd to consider a Formula 1 exhibition in the centre where thousands of people live, many of them particularly vulnerable to the effects of pollution.”

The future of Formula One racing in Catalunya was thrown into doubt after Stefano Domenicalli, the sport’s CEO, announced a new Madrid Grand Prix which will

take place from 2026.

The new circuit will incorporate both street and nonstreet sections around the IFEMA Exhibition Centre, just five minutes from Madrid Airport. The contract for the current Spanish Grand Prix, hosted in Catalunya, is set to expire in 2026 - the same year that the Madrid Grand Prix’s contract starts.

MUCK TO FUEL

SPANISH green energy company Solarig will spend €780 million on a plant that will produce aviation fuel from agricultural waste.

When complete in 2026, it will produce 60,000 tonnes a year, enough for 12,000 flights between Madrid and Mallorca.

Built in an industrial park in Garray - in the Castilla y Leon region - it will be powered by a 370MW solar farm and a 50MW wind farm, supplemented by a 100MWh-capacity battery.

Solarig chief executive Miguel Angel Calleja said the plant would help Spain lead the sustainable fuels sector.

Aviation accounts for up to 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

NO LET UP

MARCH was the 10th consecutive month for record global temperatures according to Copernicus - the EU’s Earth observation programme. It beat the previous March high recorded in 2016. The Copernicus group says temperatures in the last 12 months ‘are the highest since records began’, and are already 1.58ºC above the pre-industrial average of 1850 to 1900. In Europe, March was the second warmest on record, but it was only 0.02ºC cooler than the hottest in modern times, back in 2014.

Copernicus Deputy Director Samantha Burgess said: “March 2024 continues the sequence of broken climate records in both air temperature and sea surface temperatures.”

VELEZ-Malaga will soon have dog lifeguards specially trained in water rescue.

Triple eclipse

SPAIN will see three solar eclipses in three years, 2026, 2027 and 2028. Two will be total eclipses while the other will last an astonishing seven minutes.

Bird barmy

ANDALUCIA will hold its annual Bird Festival this weekend, April 19-21. It will be held in Montejaque, one of the top birding destinations in the region.

Fair cop

TWO women in Gandia were arrested when they tried to burgle a policeman’s home only for him to return and catch them tearing out a wall safe.

Britain is a much happier country than Spain according to new ranking

THE United Kingdom is a much happier country than Spain, according to the 2024 World Happiness Re port.

The research, which is published annually, ranks the happiness of 143 countries based on respondent ratings and quality of life fac

By Ben Pawlowski

tors.

GREAT BALL OF FIRE!

A HUGE fireball flew over Spain on Sunday. It could be seen in Huelva, Sevilla, the Sierra Nevada and La Sagrada, Granada. The object, determined to be a rock separated from an asteroid, was spotted from the Calar Alto observatory in Almeria. It entered our atmosphere at 65,000 km/ph and lit up around the border of Malaga and Granada, some 90 km in the air. Then it moved above Granada, before fading away at 25 km high over Jaen.

that Spain is less happy than countries including war-threatened Taiwan, Mexico, Kuwait, Kosovo

Spain has fallen in the rankings for the fourth consecutive year to 36th place, whilst the notoriously melancholic UK is 20th. The study indicates and El Salvador, the latter of which has the highest murder rate in the world. The result was even worse for Spain’s youth, who ranked in 55th position for happiness behind countries such as Guatemala, Bosnia, Panama, Paraguay, Nicaragua and Thailand. The United States, meanwhile, have fallen out of the overall top 20 for the first time in over a decade.

enth consecutive time, followed by Denmark, Iceland and Sweden.

At the other end of the scale, war-torn Afghanistan is last with an average score of just 1.7/10.

The top 10 were: Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Australia.

In a ranking dominated by Nordic nations, Finland comes out on top for the sev-

2 for 1

The bottom 10 were: Zambia, Eswatini, Malawi, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Congo, Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Lebanon and Afghanistan.

The project is a collaboration between the local council and the Asociación de Rescate Acuático Canino (Association for Canine Water Rescue).

Dogs are trained to save swimmers in peril and transport flotation devices.

They provide vital support for human lifeguards, using their sense of smell to locate people in areas where human vision is limited or where victims have been dragged under water. The furry friends will wear special life jackets so they can be easily identified.

Bus-ted

BARCELONA city council has removed a busy bus route from Google Maps to prevent tourists dominating the service. It comes after years of complaints from locals.

The 116 bus covers the Antoni Guadi designed Park Guell area, a major tourist hotspot.

Once a quiet area for locals, tourists visiting the park have left the 20 seat service unusable for people going about their daily lives.

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Avda. Ricardo Soriano, 12 952 863 332