Blog contributions are provided exclusively from Luxury Real Estate members throughout the world.
Courtesy of Kirsty Bryson of Luxury Homes by VAPF
For all of those living in the Northern hemisphere, the month of February is possibly the coldest of the year, with plenty of rain, snow and low temperatures. Well, just to make you a teeny bit envious, just take a look at the weather chart for the whole of Spain for the next 4 days: the whole country is in the sun, with daytime temperatures reaching as high as 20º Celsius on the Mediterranean coast.
This is not a freak weather pattern, however, because the Spanish White Coast or “Costa Blanca” is classified as enjoying a Mediterranean climate, with warm weather all year round and mild winters. The centre and North of the country aren’t as lucky as the East coast and the Southern area as the temperatures tend to be more pronounced at both ends: colder winters and hotter summers.
The Mediterranean coast is the number one tourist destination in the world in terms numbers of holidaymakers each year with the main advantage being the climate that can be enjoyed in this natural environment.
From a tourist and residential point of view, the Mediterranean climate, also referred to as Warm Climate with Dry Summers, offers added advantages over Humid Tropical and Subtropical climates.
The total amount of rainfall is far less, with more sunny days for enjoying the beaches and outdoor sports. The months with less rain coincide with the summer months. Fine weather is far more prevalent in Mediterranean areas, particularly in La Costa Blanca.
Alicante, in La Costa Blanca, enjoys a Mediterranean climate. The altitude, orography, distance to the sea and orientation are decisive factors in defining this climate, which allows us to enjoy warm weather all year round. The main centres of action are the polar front, which unloads masses of humid air, and the area of high pressure of the Azores, which dominate in summer.
The sea breeze marks a very regular rhythm from May to October. In this period, it has very moderate values, even calming down entirely at night in July and August.
La Costa Blanca enjoys exceptional weather with more than 2,800 hours of sun per year and an average annual temperature of approx. 18º C, making this microclimate perfect for all-year-round living, with winters that feel like spring or summer.
This climate is classified as one of the healthiest by the World Health Organisation, WHO, in its reports on healthy towns, cities and communities.
So, what are you waiting for to visit the area and improve your quality of life by buying a property on the Costa Blanca? Take a look at the luxury homes for sale in this area of Spain at www.luxuryhomesinspain.com and go for it!
Courtesy of Michel Cruz of Rimontgó
Rising in the distant Montes Universales, the Turia River traverses the province of Valencia before flowing through the region’s capital city and into the Mediterranean. As its main river, and the reason why the original settlement grew into a major port city, the Turia is inextricably linked with Valencia.
For centuries it provided a navigable link between the sea, Valencia’s port and the agricultural areas immediately beyond the town walls, yet after a devastating flood in 1957 it was decided to tame the Turia by rerouting it southwards around the city. The decision to stop the river from flowing through the city centre, as it had done for countless generations, was a difficult one, but within a few months the course was diverted and the flowing water ceased to be the focal point of life in Valencia.
From Decay to Delight
Neglected and forgotten, the old riverbed dried out and eventually became an eyesore littered with garbage and vermin. From the 1980s on, however, efforts were made to clean it up, though no clear plan emerged until later, when it became the focal point of the urban regeneration of Valencia.
Since then the Turia riverbed has been converted into a delightful green oasis in the midst of the city, offering a parkland environment where people can relax, jog or simply enjoy the beauty of the Jardin del Turia gardens. In true Spanish style there are cafés, but also artwork displays, a Zen garden, climbing walls, an athletics track, football fields, racket clubs and playgrounds for children.
Two metro stations, one on either bank, link the area to the city’s public transport network, while traffic moves overhead on the many bridges linking the two parts of town cleft by the former river. A particular attraction is the Parque Gulliver, a children’s attraction that includes a huge model of Gulliver, while the pride of the project is the modern Palau de la Musica Valenciana.
Converted from a decaying and neglected area, the old riverbed has been converted into an oasis of greenery and a recreational space that serves as an example to town planners around the world.
Courtesy of Luxury Homes by VAPF
According to the well-known ‘A Place in the Sun’ magazine, Spain has once again come top as the favourite British destination for buying a holiday home, ahead of neighbouring France, Portugal, Italy, Florida, Turkey and other Mediterranean locations.
The results of the study carried out by the British publication, specialized in overseas properties, situate the Spanish coast as the most popular location for second homes, having carried out a worldwide research on the standards of living and the property options available in each country. Hundreds of the magazine’s readers and visitors to the exhibitions they organize have pointed out their reasons for purchasing their dream hideaway home in Spain and the survey also reveals the costs involved in buying and owning a house in this sunny country. The result is that Spain tops the chart of the best places to buy abroad in 2011, with all the right ingredients: a great transport network that makes travelling to and from Spain extremely easy, an extensive cultural offer, well-established infrastructure and, of course, the fundamentals, sun, sea and siesta!
France comes on the list as a close second, followed by the other European countries of Portugal and Italy. Florida has dropped to 5th position from 2010’s second place, then its back to the European continent to Turkey, in 6th place, Greece, in 7th, and the Mediterranean island of Cyprus in 8th position. Finally, the 9th and 10th places are taken by two new entries, Malta (which officially is the most crowded country in Europe) and Egypt, with countless new developments bordering the Red Sea.
Don’t miss out on the trend of owning a luxury seaside villa in Spain and take a look at the kind of properties that you can enjoy in 2011’s ideal destination by logging on to the Luxury Homes by VAPF website, www.luxuryhomesinspain.com.
Courtesy of Kirsty Bryson of Luxury Homes by VAPF
The latest region in Spain to become popular for luxury home seekers is the Costa Blanca, where true quality is at your fingertips through the spectacular scenery, the wonderful weather and the cultural and entertainment opportunities, the not forgetting the extensive culinary palette.
The Costa Blanca stretches along the Eastern coast of the Spanish peninsula, from the coastal towns of Denia to Pilar de la Horadada, covering a total of 218 kilometres, where the Mediterranean light bathes the region and envelopes it in an exceptional climate, considered to be one of the healthiest in the world by the World Health Organization. Large and majestic, the beaches of the Costa Blanca are without doubt among the best in
One of the favourite tourist destinations of all times within Europe, the Costa Blanca is now attracting many famous personalities and businessmen alike looking for the perfect hideaway home in this area which has so much to offer. Elegant properties in unique designs are establishing themselves amongst the traditional Spanish villas and the local towns shelter numerous galleries, exclusive boutiques and fine restaurants that offer exquisite high-quality services tailored to individual client needs.
Considered as one of the best spots in
The Costa Blanca is now one of the most cosmopolitan sites in
By Heidi Warth of Warth & Properties
Region: Pollensa - Formentor
Construction Year: 2009
Plot: 8,564 m2
Living Area: 800 m2
Number of Bedrooms: 7
Price: on request
Exclusive charming estate with a prime location South facing. The living area is distributed over 3 floors. Ground floor: attractive entry foyer, beautiful living/dining room, impressive modern kitchen, winter lounge, 1 en suite bedroom, guest toilet. First floor: library, 3 large bedrooms with bathroom and dressing room and 2 additional bedrooms each with a bathroom. Basement: kitchen, TV lounge, spa and gym, 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom, laundry.
Extraordinary construction quality and top technical equipment, comfortable layout, spacious light-flooded rooms, modern interior design, underfloor heating, reversible air conditioning, large double-glazed windows, natural stone flooring in all the house, beautiful finish materials and works (stone, steel, iron, glass and wood), high ceiling, Bulthaup kitchen, wine-cooler, Dornbracht y Kaldewei fittings, Floss and Fontana Arte lighting-system. Alarm.
Spacious inviting terraces with summer kitchen and barbecue, big kitchen. Marvellous Mediterranean garden and green areas with old tree-population. This fabolous estate has been buil 1960 and totally renovated in 2008/2009. Idyllic quiet location, privacy and good access. Large parking area for several cars.
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MYKONOS, Agios Sostis -- Luxury Villas Located on One of the Best Sandy Beaches of the Mediterranean
By Kitty J. Laios of Kitty J. Laios Real Estate
Two wonderful island homes at the highly desirable location of Agios Sostis, on a large plot of land. Agios Sostis is known for one of the best sandy beaches of the Mediterranean.
An ideal proposition for a large family, two or more friendly families or an investment opportunity as one of the two villas can be rented out throughout the summer season.
Built in the traditional island style with stone built areas and white washed walls, the villas offer absolute relaxation as well as ideal entertainment areas such as the outdoor bar and pergola.
The houses, which are identical, are on two levels with the large reception area and kitchen with informal dining area on the ground floor, as well as the master bedroom. On the 1st floor there are another 3 sunny bedrooms with bathrooms, and one of the bedrooms has its own attic. There is also a guest house with its own kitchen and bathroom, which sleeps 4.
Total grounds area: 5400m2
Main house: 380m2
1 master bedroom with 1 double bed
1 bedroom with 1 double bed
1 bedroom with 1 double bed and attic
1 bedroom with 2 single beds
Reception area with fireplace
Hall
Informal dining area
Large fully equipped kitchen
3 bathrooms
Fireplace
Garage
Garden
Guest House: 75m2
2 bedrooms with 1 double bed
Kitchen
Bathroom
Independent Entrance
· Both villas offer a/c, satellite tv and are fully furnished,
· Shared amenities: swimming pool, bbq with outdoor dining area, garage, garden.
Price: 4.000.000€
By Serge Cowan
Cyprus offers a superb tax system whereby foreign pensions will only ever be taxed at 5 percent – maximum. “This is exceptional,” says Serge Cowan, MD at Unique Living, specialist property agents offering supreme luxury and lifestyle homes around the world including luxury homes for sale in Limassol.
“When looking for a retirement home, one has to consider not just what the country has to offer but also where you stand financially. Cyprus must come high on people’s agenda because it has so many benefits”.
In some countries you could be paying tax in your home country on pension income of 40 percent or even higher, so the 5 percent is something that really needs to be taken into consideration when buying abroad.
Cyprus also has many other benefits: good year-round weather, low crime rate, you drive on the left, a cosmopolitan atmosphere, quality golf courses, European Union membership and superbly located at the east end of the Mediterranean, providing convenient access to the Middle East and Far East as well as Europe.
In addition, the Government of Southern Cyprus is making big strides to be a serious contender in the world of “movers and shakers.” Developments are increasingly for the luxury market, and soon to be released is a Marina Resort in Limassol. This is to include a manmade island for residential villas, plus there is rumoured to be a 5-star hotel and berths for 600 privately owned boats. All of which is to be in the heart of the old town of Limassol and its rapidly growing commercial and business centre.
“Southern Cyprus is rapidly changing and those who are astute can be part of this altering picture – one that is creating a supremely elegant and sophisticated island to appeal to discerning buyers from around the world. A shrewd buyer looking at the current market place will not be disappointed with Cyprus and in particular luxury real estate in Limassol,” concludes Serge.
Editor’s Note:
Founded in 2002 by Serge Cowan and Sophie Hammond, Unique Living’s portfolio of luxury properties for sale includes new property developments, resale property, villas, townhouses, penthouses and apartments in prime locations around the world. Unique Living is headquartered in London and it is a member of Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate. Let’s see, in the past week or so we’ve received blog entries on Costa Rica, Mexico, the Caribbean, Australia, Vanuatu, France and now Cyprus. This is very exciting. Keep checking the Luxury Real Estate Blog for great information like this. Also, feel free to submit your own blog entries for consideration. The photo of the Limassol, Cyprus shoreline is from www.flickr.com/photos/mamchenkov/281322233 and it is the copyright of Leonid Mamchenkov.
By Jean-Yves Piton
History, the country of the Cathars, châteaux, sun, Mediterranean, Pyrenees, good food, vines, Canal du Midi and enjoyment of life? All of this is in the Aude. Straddling the Black Mountains, the Pyrenees, the plains of the Lauragais and the Mediterranean Sea, the Aude – a section of the Languedoc Roussillon region – has more than 310,000 inhabitants spread over 6,200 square kilometers. With its exceptional climate, varied countryside and fascinating history, the country of the Cathars invites you to learn more about it.
Carcassonne
Carcassonne is the only town in Europe fortified by a double enclosure that is still inhabited. The oldest parts of it date back to the 6th century BC. This magnificent fortress has been classed as an UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997 and is without doubt the most beautiful jewel in the south of France. 2,500 years of history to be discovered...
Today, the best way to visit Carcassonne is to wander up and down its little streets and, even better, to do so with a guide. There are, however, certain sights which shouldn’t be missed: the Basilica of Saint Nazaire, begun in 925 AD and completed in the first half of the 12th century; the château, built in the 12th century by the Trencavel family, Viscounts of Carcassonne; the Porte Narbonnaise, the gateway recognizable by its two huge towers in the shape of a spur; and finally the Lices (Lists), the area between the two enclosures which used to slope up the hill but was leveled in the 13th century.
The Canal du Midi
14 years to build, 15,000 workmen, 350 works of art (bridges, locks...), 240 kilometers long, this is the work of Pierre Paul Riquet, who began in 1663 in the reign of Louis XIV. The Canal Royal du Languedoc, today called the Canal du Midi, was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. It was built to link the Atlantic to the Mediterranean and is an exceptional architectural achievement to be enjoyed on boat cruises, cycling along the tow-path or simply strolling in the shade of the 300-year-old plane trees.
Medieval sites
There are a multitude of medieval sites to visit in the Aude. From Cathar castles to abbeys, from fortified villages to underground caves, not to mention churches and museums – all bear witness to the area’s rich and varied history.
The Mediterranean
As soon as the sun arrives, the Mediterranean awaits you just 60 kilometers away. You can spend the weekend or even longer on some of the most beautiful beaches in the “Golfe du Lion” either via the motorway or the very pretty road through the Corbieres.
The Pyrenees
The ski resorts of the Pyrenees are just over an hour away. These resorts are just as beautiful in the summer as they are in the winter. In addition to skiing, they offer snowshoe walking, sleigh rides, horse riding, fishing, climbing and rafting.
The Aude
The Aude is also an important wine-making area, producing a wide variety of very different appellations.
First, the oldest sparkling wine in the world (dating back to 1531) is Blanquette de Limoux, using Mauzac, Chardonnay and Chenin grape varieties. It is aged in bottles and is drunk as an aperitif or at the end of a meal.
The vineyards of Limoux also produce a fabulous Chardonnay. A large festival called “Toques et Clochers” takes place each year around mid-April. Some of the greatest chefs and vintners in the world come to this to buy oak barrels of the Chardonnay at auction. The profits from this go towards restoring local church towers (clochers).
The Corbières, with its narrow valleys cutting through the hilly landscape, is home to many well-known wine producers. Its reputation dates back to the time of the Roman occupation and its wines are full-bodied and spicy. They improve with age.
The Minervois is one of the oldest Mediterranean wine areas. Its name comes from the ancient city of Minerve, a Roman stronghold built in honor of the Goddess of Wisdom. Its wines range from the exceptional Muscat de Saint Jean de Minervois, to be drunk with “foie gras” or as an aperitif, to steely whites to accompany seafood and reds and roses to go with barbecues and main courses, and even “cassoulet” for the more spicy wines.
Fitou is a very dense area on the edge of the Mediterranean that produces full-bodied wines with flavors characteristic of the most famous “grands crus.” Wines to be kept and to accompany richer dishes.
Cabardès, on the chalky slopes of the south face of the Black Mountains, combines Cabernet, Merlot, Cot, Syrah and Grenache grape varieties. These wines are known for their aromatic complexity and balance.
And finally the Malepere, a wild area of stony terraces and gentle hillsides, produces wines that are strong, supple and generous with flavors of vanilla and red fruits. Merlot, Cabernet, Grenache and Syrah are combined to make wines to accompany red meats, cheeses and casseroles.
Editor’s Note:
Jean-Yves Piton is the Global Services Membership Manager for LuxuryRealEstate.com. He assists Bente Madtsen, the Director of Global Services, in expanding the LuxuryRealEstate.com brand into even more countries around the world. Wow, this is a long blog entry. There are lots of great details in here about southern France. R. Chayla Immobilier is a member of LuxuryRealEstate.com located in Carcassonne, France.
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