House hunting in Andalucia? Here you can find some Star properties which provide a prestigious hand-picked list of special properties for sale that are either vastly reduced in price, are an outright bargain, great investments or just downright different!

House Hunting Holidays in Andalucia

Andalucia benefits from the sunshine of southern Spain, making it an ideal place for not only sun lovers, but grapes.  Sherry, probably Andalucía’s most famous product, is made from the sun drenched grapes that grow in vineyards in Andalucía, especially in the hills.  If you’re looking for property in Andalucia, you’ll find a wide range of settings from coastal to mountain – and a classy selection of locally produced sherry and wine at hand to enjoy when you’ve found it!
 
When you’re on a scouting trip hunting down property in Andalucia, the region can be easily covered flying into either Almeria or Malaga.

Almeria

The Mediterranean port of Almeria was founded during the Moorish reign in Andalucia, in 955 by Abd ar-Rahman III of Cordoba.  This heritage is still evident in the Alcazaba, the Moorish castle – the second largest still in existence in Andalucia, and a must see feature of the town.
 
Other nearby attractions include the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, famed for, among other things, fantastic beaches.

For those wishing to escape the rain, Almeria is the driest region in Europe, and also one of the warmest, boasting an average of around 330 days of sunshine per year.  Unsurprisingly then, Almeria is situated in arid, desert like surroundings – and for this reason was the location for several Spaghetti Western movies.  For a snap shot, try looking at some Sergio Leone pictures!
 
Try monarch.co.uk for cheap flights to Almeria, I found plenty at the time of writing.  

Malaga

Malaga is also a port city, and has around ½ million inhabitants.  Like Almeria, Malaga has a rich history, and has the ruins of a 1st Century roman theatre.  Malaga is a popular tourist destination, and is within easy reach of the Costa del Sol.  Famed as the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, Malaga is also a handy start place if you’re looking to tour Andalucia.  Cordoba, Granada and Sevilla can all be reached with ease by train or bus if you don’t want to drive.  Again, I found cheap flights to Malaga from the UK when I looked at Monarch.co.uk

House Hunting Holiday in Barcelona

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, and is the second largest city in Spain – although many of the Catalan people feel that they are Catalonian, not Spanish.  Fear not, most of the citizens of Barcelona speak English; so it’s easy to steer clear of this political hot potato, with no need to wonder whether to attempt your Spanish or not.
 
Barcelona has a population of over 1 ½ million people, and has one of the largest and most important ports in the Mediterranean ports.  Barcelona International Airport is the second largest in Spain, and is easily accessed by flights leaving from throughout Europe. You can also find beautiful, affordable Hoteles en Barcelona (for those of you who do speak Spanish!) so you can take your time exploring the wonderful culture. 
 
For football fans, it is well worth the effort to make a trip to the Nou Camp Stadium.  The stadium is easily accessible form just about any part of the city, thanks to the expansive and efficient Metro system, and is a truly impressive piece of architecture.
 
Indeed, Barcelona is a city of myriad dazzling architecture.  The Barri Gotic, which means gothic quarter in Catalan, lies at the centre of the city, and has many surviving medieval buildings.  In contrast, there are a number of World Heritage sites in Barcelona, produced during the period of ‘modernisme’ architecture (from 1885 – 1950) - more commonly known as the art nouveau movement in the rest of Europe.  While you are looking for a property in and around Barcelona, make sure you leave yourself time to have a look at some of these fantastic buildings.  
 
The most famous of these sites is the Sagrada Família, the crazy masterpiece of Gaudi.  This cathedral began construction in 1882 – a work that is ongoing!  A quirky point of pride with the Catalan, it has to be seen to be believed.  Private donation funds the ongoing building work, which may or not finally be finished in 2026!
 
Being such an important port, Barcelona enjoys the fruits of sea.  Sea food, and indeed the cuisine in general is fantastic in Barcelona, so you’ll not struggle to find a good place to eat.  Travelling from the UK, and looking for cheap flights online, I found  cheap flights to Barcelona at monarch.co.uk.

History, Geography and attractions of Mallorca (Majorca)

Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands, and indeed the largest Spanish Island.  Mallorca has a truly ancient history.  Remains of human habitation from the Palaeolithic period are preserved on the island, meaning that humans have lived there from between 6000 to 8000 years ago.  Today the capital of Mallorca is Palma, and this was once a Roman camp.  Modern day Mallorca is a popular tourist destination – indeed, the busiest holiday island in Spain - and the island has been developing for tourism since the 1950’s.
 
As well as beaches, Mallorca has some impressive mountains.  The highest accessible peak is Puig de Massanella which reaches 1364m (the highest peak, Puig Major, rises 1445m high but is a military base and out of bounds).  Both of these mountains are part of the Serra de Tramuntana, and it is possible to go sightseeing by coach or car, well worth it for some dramatic snaps during your house hunting holiday.  If you’re interested in getting active, there are many opportunities for hill walking and hiking in Mallorca.
 
Weather on Mallorca is pleasant most of the year round, averaging in the mid 20’s (degrees Celsius) between May and October

Attractions

Near the capital, Palma de Mallorca, is the 14th Century Bellver castle.  Bellver Castle imposes itself on the surrounding countryside from on high, and has a rich and often bloody history – it’s worth a visit and an interesting day out.
 
Inside Palma De Mallorca is the striking La Seu cathedral, and a prime example of Spanish Gothic architecture.  Both inside and out, this is an impressive building and a good diversion if you want a day away from the beach.
 
Away from the capital, try a visit to Alcudia, a Roman walled city that has been restored to pristine condition.  A walk through the market within the walls seems like a step back in time, winding through the ancient streets.  The ramparts are accessible in a way that simply would not be allowed in the UK, and I found this laid back Spanish approach to Health and Safety somewhat refreshing.  Just along the coast, the expansive beach is used by bathers, yachtsmen and windsurfers.
 
As with looking for cheap flights to Spain generally, I found plenty of cheap flights to Palma on monarch.co.uk.

Background to Lanzarote

Lanzarote is the farthest east of the Canary Islands, and is a mere 79 miles away from the coast of Africa.  Lanzarote has a dramatic landscape, much of which was formed in the last few hundred years as the result of volcanic activity.  The black rock and gravel that dominates much of the island are a legacy of this event, and indeed the white sand found on the beaches of Lanzarote has in fact blown over from the Sahara Desert in Africa.  Some of the beaches are comprised of a strange mix of black and white sand, but for those who prefer the seaside ‘picture postcard’ there are beautiful white sand beaches at Playa Blanca and Papagayo.
 
The climate in Lanzarote is mild year round, and there is only 5.5 inches of rainfall annually, making the island a popular winter home for many British and Northern Europeans pensioners.
 
When you are taking a break from the beach, or looking for a property, try taking a visit to the Timanfaya National Park.  High in the volcanic mountains, a well organised tour can take you through an otherworldly, ‘Lunar’ landscape.  After a white knuckle coach ride around the vertiginous route, the tour climaxes with the tour guide throwing a bucket of water down a hole – only to re-emerge some 6 seconds later as steam!  In fact, the site of the tour is so close to the magma beneath that it is possible to eat food ‘barbecued’ by the heat of the volcano itself, with cooking grills fitted over volcanic vents.
 
Another attraction not to be missed is the house of one of Lanzarote’s most famous sons, Cesar Manrique.  A close friend of Pablo Picasso, this artist chose to stay on his native Lanzarote for most of his life, and he had a huge influence over the development of the island.  Lanzarote benefits from this legacy, with a planning policy that states no development in the island shall be over 4 stories tall; and it is this policy, largely pushed by Manrique, that has ensure that the island is unspoilt.  The house of the man himself is a bond-esque wonder, based within a volcanic plug and bubble – honestly, it’s like being on the set on The Man with the Golden Gun!  Now a tourist attraction and gallery, it features paintings by Manrique himself, and famous friends Picasso and Joan Miro.
 
When you are planning your trip to Lanzarote, and looking for cheap flights, try having a look at monarch.co.uk – here I found plenty of cheap flights to Lanzarote.  

The Canary Islands

There are 7 major Canary Islands; Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Palma,  Tenerife, Gomera, Hierro – the first five of these have established tourism facilities and developed resorts.  Located in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Spain and North Africa, these volcanic islands benefit from a pleasant climate all year round.  With no space to do justice to all of these islands, this article will focus on Gran Canaria and Tenerife.

Gran Canaria  

Gran Canaria has been described as a ‘continent in miniature’, with ‘lush forests, exotic fauna and flora, Sahara like dunes, mountains, volcanic craters, sometimes snow on the highest peaks, the most dynamic capital city in the Canaries, incredibly beautiful coastlines and spectacular beaches’.  Granted, this is from a tourist website, but I feel that it is actually a reasonably accurate description.  Gran Canaria is a protected UNESCO biosphere in recognition of the pristine flora and fauna of the island, and is visited by around 2.2 million tourists per year.  Most choose to visit the south of the island, for the warmth and sun – the mountainous north is cooler and more prone to cloud.
 
If you are staying in the South, take a visit to Palmitos Park, a large bird park and botanical garden.  Only 10km away form the popular tourist beaches, it is possible to enjoy shows featuring birds of prey in the picturesque mountain settings – a good diversion should you need time away from property hunting or the beach.
 
One of the most important facts about Gran Canaria is that the temperature never falls below 20 degrees Celsius – all year round!  If you’re looking for cheap flights to Gran Canaria, have a look at monarch.co.uk

Tenerife

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, and has the largest population of all the Canary Islands.  The island features several world heritage sites, including La Laguna and El Teide.
 
El Teide is a dominant feature of the island, a dormant – but still active! – volcano.  The last eruption was in 1909.  At a height of 3718m, El Teide is the highest point in Spain, and indeed the entire Atlantic Ocean.  Take a trip to the Teide National Park if you are looking for some impressive photos.
 
Tenerife is well geared up for tourism, with established resorts in Los Christianos and Playa de las Americas.  If you’re going to have a look for yourself, try Monarch for cheap flights to Tenerife.   http://www.spainrei.com/ Portal offering useful information, guides and ongoing news about the Spanish real estate sector, as well as excellent property deals from the best agents in Spain.

Daily Telegraph Article