I had been looking for a villa in Spain for some time now, being of retirement age I was ready to find a spot in the sun and spend the rest of my days sipping margarita by a pool.
Having worked hard for my whole life I felt I deserved a luxurious villa somewhere in Spain, I did not however want the usual villa in a complex surrounded by other Brits, which was my idea of hell, I wanted to be surrounded by local Spanish inhabitants and in a location that I could savour for the rest of my days.
The main question to ask however when buying a property in Spain is where? The country is such a diverse mixture of cultures that the choice is limitless. As long as you haven't got your heart set on buying property within spitting distance of the beach you can find places with a true insight into the culture of Spain, and I must emphasise again, why would you move to Spain, just to live in a British cul de sac?
A region worthy of note is Catalonia; in the north east corner of Spain it is much cooler than the south with the major city being Barcelona. Sitting close by to France it is a heady mixture of the cultures whilst retaining its own distinguishing features.
The cuisine however is my favourite element, and eating out is one of the greatest delights of this region. The mixture of sweet and sour, and the inclusion of pork and fish combine wonderfully to make menus of pure delight.
Murcia offers the usual delights of Spain and again is a great choice if looking for property, its climate can be defined as semi arid, it experiences extremely mild winters and warm summers, perfect for retirement. Over 300 hundred days a year are sun drenched, this makes Murcia the perfect place to buy a villa if you plan to plant olives, grapes and citrus fruits.
The idea of having my own orchard with the ability to make my own wine and olive oil is extremely appealing to me, despite retiring and looking for an easy life, I still want to undertake a few day to day chores.
If you are looking for a villa somewhere with an easier, more moderate climate however I would recommend Galicia as the ideal destination. Often referred to as 'green Spain' its close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Biscay means cooling seaborne winds bathe the peninsula with moisture and make it a much more bearable destination for property. The wide variety of golf courses in this region of Spain also makes this the perfect place for those who appreciate time on the fairways.
Out of all the regions of Spain however I like Andalusia, in the far south of the country it is by far the hottest and its proximity to the Straits of Gibraltar make it sweltering in the summer. As someone who likes the sun I find this climate the most preferable.
I also enjoy the heavy Moorish influence in the region, architecturally the domes of Muslim Iberia are a sight to behold whereas the cuisine has eclectic feel to it as it combines Mediterranean and European cooking styles with those of Moroccan North Africa. This is another benefit of the region as Africa is a short ferry ride away, opening up the wonderful bazaars for your shopping needs.
The reason so many retire to Spain is most probably due to the country's efforts to accommodate the retiring of Europe, however I feel it should be remembered that instead of taking the first option of property surrounded by your fellow countrymen, take the plunge into Spanish culture and find a region where you can soak up the way of life and truly integrate yourself with the locals.
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