Olive Press Andalucia issue 476

37 people arrested and 89 under investigation for

382,000 hectares of Spain

BORDER WOE

GIBRALTAR looks set for a punishing hard border with Spain for months while ratification of the long-awaited border agreement drags on.

Hope sparked in June when a sweeping deal on the Rock’s future was finally struck, promising an end to vehicle and pedestrian checks.

But bureaucratic hurdles mean the relief could take years to arrive. Reports in El Pais peg the earliest dismantling of the border fence at January 2026 –and even that is far from guaranteed. The treaty must be translated into 23 languages and win European Parliament approval, where tricky MEPs could yet throw a spanner in the works.

Chaos

Meanwhile, Spain is gearing up for the EU’s new digital Entry Exit System from October 12, with biometric scanners and expanded passport control already installed – a sign Gibraltar may endure months of suffocating delays.

Daily commuters and businesses could face chaos, repeating the disruption seen when Spanish police previously blocked cross-border workers.

Gibraltar’s government says it is ‘working towards the earliest timetable possible’, while La Linea’s mayor demands urgent clarity from Madrid.

EYEOPENERS

Heated vendetta

EXCLUSIVE: Costa blaze the result of a battle within the expat community: Bar owner was stabbed just days before thugs torched his bar

A VIOLENT feud within the Costa del Sol’s Irish community is at the heart of a devastating blaze which ripped through a strip of pubs over the weekend.

The inferno took hold of the bars and restaurants in Torremolinos on Sunday morning, quickly spreading to engulf seven bars and restaurants as well as a supermarket.

Police reported the 5am fire on Calle Salvador Allende destroyed seven outdoor terraces, but only one bar was completely gutted from the inside.

The Olive Press can reveal this was

The Bailey International and it was an arson attack aimed at its owner, Craig Phillips.

While he declined to comment, the blaze was the most recent in a series of violent attacks that have rocked

By Walter Finch

the local community, with the origins stretching back to Ireland.

Phillips is currently recovering in hospital after two masked thugs cornered him in his bar on Thursday last week and slashed him with knives.

Shocking CCTV footage acquired by this newspaper shows Phillips standing quietly with two customers sitting at the bar just moments before the horror begins.

All of a sudden, a hooded man emerges out of the darkness and leaps over the bar as he backs away.

A second attacker then cuts off his escape, and they corner him against a table.

Terrified patrons reel in fright as the attackers land several blows against Phillip’s back and neck.

They then scurried off into the night, barging customers out of their way.

Witnesses have told the Olive Press the attackers did not stop there.

Having sent Phillips to the emergency operating room, they came back at the weekend with matches.

“There is always trouble in that bar –there was a big fight there just before the fire,” one local business owner told the Olive Press.

“I 100% blame this bar for the fire.”

The Olive Press understands that on this occasion, units from the local fire brigade came and were able to put the fire out before it could take hold.

But just a few hours later, Baileys and a number of other popular spots were totally torched beyond repair.

“I just can’t get my head round it,” Brian Ennis, the nearby owner of Champagne Charlie’s added.

“We had been coming here on holidays for 17 years. When the old owner decided to sell up, we took it over.

“We were fulfilling a dream. Now our bar is destroyed. I can’t come to terms with it.”

long preceded the events of the last few days.

“We all know what kind of people are involved with that bar,” another owner said, asking to remain anonymous.

“I think some men came to scare him.

To give him a fright.”

The Olive Press understands the attackers even targeted Phillips’ mother at her home in Cork last year.

The local fire brigade and Gardai were called to a house fire on September 13, it was reported.

But what has been behind all these attacks against Phillips? “It was payback for something Craig did,” a source told us.

CHILLING: CCTV footage

bar

“The police had to come out and break it up.”

He continued: “How can we run a business when this is constantly going on?

The owners of McGuire’s wrote on social media meanwhile that it ‘is a devastating loss for us, and a deeply sad day for our community.’

The alleged reputation of Baileys has

Phillips has a chequered past back in Ireland.

He was described as a ‘trusted drugs courier’ for a mafia gang in Cork during a trial that he pleaded guilty to when he was just 18.

When contacted by this newspaper for comment, Phillips told us to ‘f*** off’.

He refused to be drawn further. Forensic specialists from the Policia Nacional have been conducting an inspection of the wreckage this week. Officially they say they are investigating suspected arson.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Bad takeaway

THREE suspects face robbery charges after €57,000 was stolen from a restaurant boss who was heading to the bank in Torremolinos.

Bad cop

A SENIOR police inspector in Mallorca has been remanded in custody, accused of leaking secret intel to a powerful European drug gang linked to a 675-kilo cocaine haul in Valencia.

Fled scene

AN 83-year-old man in Madrid has been arrested for hitting four cyclists on the M-320, leaving two seriously injured, and fleeing the scene, following a twoweek Guardia Civil investigation.

US blow

THE US has removed Spain’s Port of Algeciras from a key Asia-America shipping route, diverting cargo to Morocco, threatening Spanish trade, maritime competitiveness, and the port’s status as a major Mediterranean hub.

POLICE arrested a Swedish teenage suspected hitman just moments before he was allegedly due to carry out a contract killing.

The boy, who flew in from Gothenburg with an adult accomplice, was being watched by Spanish police after a tip-off from Swedish authorities. Dressed in black and riding an elec-

TEEN HITMAN

tric scooter at night, the pair were intercepted near their target.

The hit had been meticulously planned by Swedish crime bosses using encrypted apps. The duo were given a Fuengirola safe house, two

loaded pistols with serial numbers removed, and the scooter for a quick getaway.

It echoes last year’s arrest of a Swedish youth caught strolling through Benalmadena just hours before he was due to assassinate a biker gang member.

Police discovered he was part of a

network run by a Swedish family in Alicante who were grooming teenagers from Sweden and Denmark via Telegram to become contract killers. The family operated as criminal recruiters, posting contract killing advertisements on encrypted channels to target vulnerable children as young as 13 and 14.

Price o rice on his head

Brit ‘double killer’ thought to be hiding among expats

A €12,000 reward is on the table for information that leads to the capture of one of Britain’s most wanted men – feared ‘double killer’ Kevin Parle.

The 6ft 6in man, nicknamed ‘Hemp’, has been on the run for over 20 years after allegedly gunning down two people in

BRIT ARRESTED

A 59-year-old British woman has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting an Italian girl under the age of 14 in Mijas.

The incident occurred on Boulevard de La Cala, when the suspect allegedly sat next to the victim on a bench and struck up conversation to gain her trust.

According to witnesses, the British woman then began touching the child, including intimate areas of her body. Terrified by the ordeal, the young Italian girl fled to a nearby establishment where her aunt was present, who immediately called emergency services.

The victim was first taken to a local health centre for assessment before being accompanied by family members to Guardia Civil headquarters to file an official complaint.

By Walter Finch

Liverpool – and is now linked to a double murder in Estepona.

The Olive Press has tracked the fugitive for years and helped former police officer Peter Bleksley in his hunt for more evidence. Sources confirm Parle was working as muscle for a drug gang in Marbella’s Puerto Banus as recently as 2022. He reportedly teamed up with Manchester gangsters smug gling drugs in crisp pallets from a shady Costa warehouse.

He has also been linked to the Ali cante area.

Now, Crimestop pers is offering £10,000 (€12,000) for tip-offs that lead to his

arrest. The privately educated Liverpudlian is described as white, stocky, with ginger hair, blue eyes, and a distinctive scar on the left side of his head.

In 2004, Parle allegedly blasted 16-year-old Liam Kelly to death over a £200 debt. Just 14 months later, he was linked to the horrific killing of Lucy Hargreaves, 22, who was gunned down as she slept before her home was set alight.

Police suspect she was not the intended target – the killers were hunting her boyfriend. Now, Parle is believed to be hiding among thousands of expats in Spain.

UK cops also think he may be tied to the 2019 disappearance of Danny and Liam Poole, a British father and son last seen in Estepona during a suspected drug deal. Parle has been spotted as far afield as Asia – but has always slipped through the net.

Anyone with info is urged to contact newsdesk@ theolivepress.es anonymously.

A BRITISH gang boss who orchestrated violent attacks from a luxury Barcelona penthouse has been jailed for 43 years.

Jamie Rothwell, 38, from Salford, ran a massive drug and gun network from Spain while hiding from UK police.

Using the EncroChat alias ‘livelong’, he boasted of smuggling cocaine, ketamine, and heavy weapons – including AK-47s and rocket launchers – into Britain.

In 2020, he ordered a fake pizza delivery hit on David Barnes, stepfather of rival Liam Byrne. Barnes was shot three times in the leg. Rothwell was arrested in a dramatic raid in Barcelona, then extradited. He admitted conspiracy to supply drugs, possess firearms, and cause GBH.

Judge John Potter called him ‘ruthless’ and ‘at the top of the organisation’. He’ll serve 25 years for firearms and 18 for drugs, backto-back. Nine other gang members were also jailed –two ringleaders got 38 years each.

See Dirty Dozen, page 6

ARE THEY OR AREN’T

RUMOURS FLY

HOLLYWOODS’S rumoured new A-list couple, Ana de Armas and Tom Cruise, have been caught soaking up the sun on a summer getaway in Menorca – sending the romance rumours into overdrive.

The pair were snapped sailing along the Balearic island’s stunning southwest coast, enjoying turquoise waters and golden sunshine aboard a luxury yacht.

Their trip began in Ciutadella, a historic harbour town famed for its cobbled streets, Gothic cathedral and buzzing marina packed with bars and restaurants.

Locals enjoying a drink on the waterfront could easily have spotted the Top Gun star and the Blonde actress as they set sail south.

The sighting is just the latest in a string of public appearances by the pair since February, as speculation grows that the Hollywood heavyweights are far more than just friends.

TABLES TURNED

Judge who charged PM Sanchez’s wife with corruption now under investigation

THE judge who charged Pedro Sanchez’s wife, Begona Gomez, with embezzlement is now facing an investigation of his own.

Juan Carlos Peinado, the judge overseeing the corruption probe into Gomez, is under fire after Socialist ally Felix Bolanos filed two formal complaints accusing him of misconduct. The complaints revolve around legal proceedings from April, when Bolanos, a former top official in Sanchez’s office, was summoned to testify as a witness. Gomez is accused of influence peddling, corruption, and misappropriating public

By Ben Pawlowski

funds. Peinado accused Bolanos of giving false testimony under oath, referring the matter to the Supreme Court for further investigation. However, the Supreme Court cleared Bolanos of any wrongdoing in July, citing a complete lack of evidence. It also slammed Peinado for failing to consult the Prosecutor’s Office before pushing the case forward. In his complaint, Bolanos claims Peinado acted irregularly during questioning, even shouting at him for smiling at one point. Meanwhile, Gomez and her

aide, Cristina Alvarez, are due in court on September 11 over allegations that Alvarez used public resources to assist Gomez with private business during her time at Madrid’s Complutense University. The probe into Gomez, which

was launched by the farright union Manos Limpias in April, has already sparked chaos in Sanchez’s government. Despite his claims of his wife’s innocence, the corruption storm has intensified, with growing calls for Sanchez to step down over the mounting scandals surrounding his administration.

MULLINS IT OVER

I ALMOST can’t believe the outrage in my own inner voice. How dare they come over here and concrete over one of the most beautiful and unspoilt coastal paradises in southern Spain!

For a moment, I wondered if I’d lost the plot entirely - maybe developed schizophrenia - and the voice in my head was some demented demon version of me.

But that can’t be right. I know the sort of nonsense that evil voice might come up with, and believe me, campaigning against idiotic town planning decisions wouldn’t be on the list.

Paradise lost

with too many others.

It’s a strange headspace to be in, especially for an expat Brit who’s dabbled in property out here. But angry I am - outraged, in fact - and I know I’m not alone.

From what I hear, aside from the local council in Tarifa, there aren’t many fans of the new mega-resort planned beside Los Lances beach - 730

I am outraged at new mega-project plan - but red tape is sure to come to the rescue

Rubles, not Euros.

Thirty years ago, this stunning area didn’t even have a local environmental management plan. That lack helped kill the project then, so it’s hard to see how the current versioncovering the size of 80 football pitches - is going to break ground anytime soon.

SPANISH Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem - married to Penelope Cruz - has sparked outrage after calling Israeli soldiers ‘Nazis’ in a social media post.

The 54-year-old actor shared a 2018 video on Instagram showing an Israeli sniper shooting an unarmed Palestinian youth, while soldiers cheer in the background.

In his updated post, Bardem compared the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) to Nazi officers,

Amon Goth from Schindler’s List and accusing the IDF of applying ‘terror and dehumanisation’ against Palestinians.

While some supporters praised Bardem’s message, others criticised him for comparing modern-day soldiers to Nazis, calling it ‘ignorant’ and ‘offensive.’

The post comes amid ongoing violence in Gaza, where over 53,000 Palestinians have died since October

ROYAL CONCERN

KING Felipe cut short his family holiday in Greece to return to Spain while wildfires raged across the country.

The 57-year-old monarch, who had been soaking up the sun in the Greek islands with his wife, Queen Letizia, and their daughters, Princess Leonor, 19, and Princess Sofia, 18, flew back to Spain to over see the military efforts to fight the devastating wildfire crisis.

In response to the crisis, King Fe lipe oversaw the deployment of 2,000 additional soldiers, bringing the total number of troops to 3,500 in the fight against the flames.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia will vis it areas devastated by wildfires from next week to ‘show their gratitude to all the teams that contributed to fighting the fire and protecting the population’.

No, what’s happened is this: I’ve become a NIMBY in Spain. Or as the Spanish put it, oposición a la ubicación de cualquier tipo de construcción o proyecto problemático en su vecindario. I didn’t see it coming, but here we are. Spain is now officially my backyard - and I’m all for keeping it nice, peaceful, and not sharing it

‘luxury’ homes and 1,360 hotel beds that the council’s shortsighted majority has just voted through.

Yet, approved it has been, despite 157 formal objections, the presence of two national parks within metres of the site, and dire warnings about environmental disaster - all in a town already struggling to supply water to its existing population.

But don’t panic just yet. As I’ve said before, Spain has its own unique rhythm, especially when it comes to large-scale building projects.

I suppose the 16 councillors had Euro signs flashing in their eyes. Word is, this isn’t even a new idea - it’s a resurrection of an old scheme from the 1990s. Back then, it was rightly shelved, and one suspects the millions clouding judgment now may be

As the old English adage goes: Rome wasn’t built in a day. Which is why I’m 100% certain these 2,000 homes and hotel beds won’t be rising from the sand in my lifetime - or in the lifetime of anyone currently breathing. Why? Because, as I’ve come to appreciate, Spain has one glorious saving grace: layer upon layer of cascading red tape. Yes, it’s maddening at times - but it just might be the very thing that saves Tarifa.

China in a bull shop

A STORM has erupted in Benalmadena over plans to demolish the town’s bullring to build a €15 million Chinese-themed cultural park.

The controversial 24,000 sqm ‘Friendship Park’ will feature a Zen monastery, Buddha temple, landscaped gardens, museum-classrooms and Europe’s first eco-friendly Chinese cemetery.

Backed by the Spanish-Chinese Promotion and Exchange Association, the park will also include an organic restaurant and a semi-underground car park for 236 cars and four buses. Mayor Lara says it will attract wealthy tourists and ‘transport us to the most traditional China’.

But right-wing party VOX has blasted the move, calling it an ‘attack on Spanish culture’, accusing the PP-led council of relying on ‘flimsy’ reports to justify bulldozing the 1968 Plaza de Toros.

WILDFIRE ARRESTS

FIRE HORROR: People were largely to blame for many of the blazes across Spain

SPAIN’S countryside is still burning - and police say arsonists are to blame for many of the blazes that tore through forests and farmland, destroying homes and killing four people.

Police have revealed that 37 suspects have been arrested and 89 more are under investigation for suspected ar-

VOTE, OR ELSE

Spain still smouldering as arson suspects add fuel to the fury

By Dilip Kuner

son since June. So far this year, more than 382,000 hectares of land - over twice the average in

recent decades - have been consumed by fire

BRITISH expats in Spain may face a £20 (€23.50) fine for failing to vote in UK elections under a proposal by Labour peer Lord Foulkes. He plans to introduce an amendment to the elections bill, calling for Australian-style compulsory voting. The plan would apply to all eligible UK voters, including the three million living abroad. Foulkes argues the fine would encourage participation, not punish non-voters. Expats recently regained lifelong voting rights under the 2022 Elections Act.

Details on enforcement remain unclear, and the proposal must still pass through Parliament—meaning changes are unlikely before 2026 at the earliest.

Thousands of firefighters remain on the ground tackling the 14 ‘large fires’ still burning. The biggest infernos include the fire in A Rua (Ourense), which scorched 44,424 hectares and became Galicia’s biggest blaze on record, while Uña de Quintana (Zamora) burned through 40,781 hectares

In the Costa da Morte region of Galicia, two men from Olveiroa (A Coruña) were cuffed in ‘Operation Coppair’ over eight separate wildfires. Investigators say the pair sparked the blazes while burning stolen copper cable to strip it for sale on the black market. Using petrol and blowtorches, they allegedly set fires in remote, wooded spots - but left them smouldering and unattended. The resulting infernos caused around €20,000 in damage and threatened towns including Camariñas, Cee, Dumbria, Vimianzo and Zas. Further south in Malaga province, another man has admitted to starting six wildfires in Teba , scorching

roughly four hectares. Some were lit just metres from people’s homes. Locals’ tips led police straight to the suspect, who confessed during questioning. Meanwhile in Castilla y Leon, three separate cases rocked the region. A man in Zamora is accused of accidentally setting off a blaze in Puercas de Aliste–Gallegos del Rio that swallowed 3,000 hectares. In Leon, another is under investigation for an ‘unintentional’ fire in Filiel–Lucillo that burned two hectares. And in Avila, officers say a man deliberately torched land in Cuevas del Valle, Mombeltran and El Arenaldestroying 2,200 hectares. Almost 90 administrative fines have been issued for breaches of fire safety laws.

Opinion Page 6

Unite

FORMER ECB boss Mario Draghi has declared the European nation-state ‘obsolete’ and called for a United States of Europe to survive in a superpower-driven world. Speaking in Rimini, Italy, he warned 2025 marked the death of Europe’s global illusion, citing US tariffs and defence pressure as proof of waning influence. Despite leading Ukraine aid, Europe had little say in peace talks, he said - while China backed Russia and flooded EU markets with cheap goods. Draghi urged joint borrowing for defence, tech, and energy, saying: “Only pan-European projects can justify good debt and give Europe real global weight.”

THE family of a 17-year-old boy who died in Marbella are appealing for witnesses to help find answers to the tragic incident.

Eliah, a German living in Marbella, was found dead on the night of August 18 next to his motorbike on Avenida Juan Carlos I, close to his home in the Los Monteros area.

Police are treating the case as a traffic accident, but his parents and siblings say they have doubts about the circumstances.

They are now asking for anyone who saw what happened to come forward and share information.

Thermometer rising

SPAIN’S latest heatwave has officially become the most intense ever recorded, according to national weather agency AEMET.

Blazing from August 8 to 17, the scorching spell was a staggering 4.6°C hotter than average, breaking the previous record of 4.5°C set in July 2022.

It lasted a brutal 16 consecutive days – the longest and hottest mid-August stretch since records began – and produced the warmest run of 10 days since at least 1950.

Over 200 local temperature records were shattered, mostly in the north and west. Health warnings soared and wildfire risks spiked.

Provisional data shows the first 20 days of August 2025 were the hottest since 1961, with AEMET predicting the full month will rank among Spain’s four hottest Augusts ever.

Of Spain’s 20 hottest periods on record, five belong to this single heatwave, with the remaining 15 all occurring since 2022.

GALA SUCCESS

A GLAMOROUS gala in Marbella has raised over €200,000 to help impoverished children in Africa.

Held at the Puente Romano Hotel, the World Vision Gala attracted 360 guests, including Marbella’s Mayor Maria Angeles Muñoz and hotel boss Daniel Shamoon.

The auction alone raised €80,000, with prizes including luxury holidays to Antigua, Marrakesh, and Sierra Nevada, plus jewellery and designer dresses.

Entertainment included 90s legends N-Trance and flamenco group The Gypsies.

Funds will go to sustainable farming projects in drought-stricken regions of Africa.

Danish tech boss Janus Nielsen of AnyTech 365, who sponsored the night, said it was ‘one of Marbella’s best events’.

Mayor Muñoz called it an honour to host the gala for 13 years, praising its ‘life-changing impact’ across Africa.

Spain boils in hottest heatwave since 1950 as 200 records smashed

By Walter Finch

Since 1975, Spain has logged 77 heatwaves, but the six most intense have all hit since 2019. AEMET’s long-term chart shows clear signs of escalating extremes, with hotter, longer, and more frequent events.

To silence climate change deniers, AEMET stressed the data is ‘measured and official’, not political. The agency also confirmed Spain’s average temperature has risen by 1.69°C since 1961, with four of the five hottest Augusts happening in just the last four years, along with the infamous summer of 2003.

caves to see if humans could one day live in similar tunnels on the Moon or Mars.

Researchers from the University of Malaga ran tests in Lanzarote, where the volcanic terrain is similar to the lunar surface.

The lava tubes, formed by ancient eruptions, could protect astronauts from radiation, meteorites and deadly temperatures.

Using remote-controlled rovers and sensors, the bots mapped the caves in 3D, recording conditions inside.

The study, published in Science Robotics, shows how robot teams could safely explore and prepare alien environments before humans land. Scientists say it’s a huge step towards building future space bases, with Spanish tech leading the way.

Voted

top expat paper

in Spain

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than two million people a month.

OPINION

Stop, now!

SPAIN is still smouldering. Villages remain under threat, thousands of firefighters are stretched to breaking point, and families are living with the fear that the wind might shift and send flames racing towards their homes.

Yet what is most disturbing is not the sheer scale of destruction – more than 382,000 hectares gone this year, twice the historic average – but the fact that so much of it was man-made.

Police have arrested 37 people and placed almost 90 more under investigation for suspected arson. In Galicia, men allegedly set fire to forests while burning stolen copper cable for resale. In Malaga, another confessed to lighting fires within sight of people’s houses.

Others claim carelessness, yet the result is the same: scorched earth, poisoned air and livelihoods reduced to ashes - and tragically the loss of four human lives, not to mention the toll taken on wildlife.

The excuses no longer wash. Whether reckless or deliberate, fire-starters are gambling with lives and entire ecosystems. These are not minor lapses of judgment but acts of sabotage against communities already suffering from drought and climate change.

Spain cannot afford to treat arson as a seasonal nuisance. It must be pursued with the same seriousness as organised crime. Tougher penalties, faster investigations and harsher enforcement of fire safety laws are essential. So too is education: rural populations must be reminded, relentlessly, that one match can undo generations of hard work.

Wildfires are not just a natural disaster anymore. They are increasingly a human one – and those responsible must feel the full weight of justice. Spain is burning, but it does not have to keep burning.

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The Dirty Dozen

WHEN British drug trafficker

Brian Colin Charrington died last month in Villajoyosa, near Benidorm, it closed one of Spain’s most notorious fugitive chapters.

The former Middlesborough car dealer, who became an international cocaine kingpin, spent years evading justice amid luxury villas, fast cars, and a sprawling empire on the Costa Blanca.

For decades, Spain’s sun-drenched costas offered a haven for fugitives, particularly while no extradition treaty existed with the

Brian Charrington

The former Middlesborough car dealer turned international drug kingpin died on July 22 while awaiting a court decision on whether he would begin serving a prison sentence in Spain related to a 2013 cocaine bust.

Charrington was first arrested in 2013 at his luxury villa in Calpe, on the Costa Blanca, after authorities uncovered his international drug empire.

In 2018, courts heard how he had shipped 192 kilos of cocaine from South America. Alongside his son, Ray Charrington, he was convicted of money laundering.

Dubbed the moniker ‘El Narco de Wikipedia’ for reportedly editing his own page on the website, Charrington was handed a 15-year prison sentence and fined €31.2million. He died a free man aged 68 while waiting for a judgement on whether he was too ill to serve his sentence.

BEASTS OF RENEWAL

AS SPAIN struggles in a deadly spate of wildfires, a remarkable success story in Andalucia is giving hope for the country’s scorched countryside - and it is largely thanks to bison.

While other regions struggle with blazes and scorching heat, these mighty animals are helping regenerate the land after last year’s Sierra de Andujar fire that razed 797 hectares, and provide a glimmer of hope in the face of growing environmental disasters.

Following the recent death of notorious British drug trafficker Brian Colin Charrington in Spain the Olive Press highlights 12 expat criminals who took refuge in the country

By Olivia Idle

UK. The so-called Costa del Crime became synonymous with Marbella mansions, lavish parties, and criminals living in plain sight.

Figures like Ronnie Knight, Charlie Wilson, and Freddie Foreman defined the era, mingling with celebrities while laundering fortunes and building criminal empires.

But the era of impunity ended. In 2006, Operation Captura – a joint effort by the UK’s

Ronnie Knight

The villainous wide boy and flashy London club owner - and husband of actress Barbara Windsor - was a key player in founding the Costa del Crime.

After dabbling in several illicit enterprises in the UK, he moved to Spain and established himself in Fuengirola, revelling in the era which lacked an extradition treaty between the two countries.

Years of living the high life with no consequences eventually closed in on the wheeler dealer, and the law was also creeping up on him for his role in the £7million Security Express Robbery in 1983.

National Crime Agency, Spanish police, and Crimestoppers – brought many fugitives to justice. Yet Spain’s allure persists, with criminals still hiding among tourists, adopting false identities, and living in fortified villas. Charrington’s death is a reminder that no matter how high the walls or deep the pockets, the law has a long reach.

Here, the Olive Press revisits 12 of Britain’s most notorious fugitives who were eventually caught in Spain, revealing how their lives of crime unraveled under the Mediterranean sun.

In 1994, Knight was charged with handling £315,000 of the proceeds and left Spain's sunny shores to face up to his crimes. He was sentenced to seven years after pleading guilty to the handling charge. He died in 2023, aged 89.

Kenneth Noye

The infamous gangland criminal, linked to the scandalous 1983 Brink’s-Mat gold heist, went on the run in 1996 after fatally stabbing 21-year-old Stephen Cameron in a road-rage attack on the M25. His dramatic arrest came in 1998 when Cameron’s teenage fiancee, flown to Spain under police protection, identified him in a Costa del Sol restaurant.

The felonious gangster served nearly 20 years before his controversial release in 2019. He now lives quietly in Kent aged 79.

How Spain’s reintroduced bison are helping regrow the land amid the country’s wildfire crisis

By Dilip Kuner

After the blaze the fear was that the once-thriving ecosystem had been lost.

However, a year later, the European Bison, which were re-introduced to the region five years earlier, are at the heart of an ecological recovery.

The giant herbivores, along with other wildlife like deer, wild boar, and lynx, have re-

turned to the scorched earth to play an essential role in restoring the ecosystem.

Fernando Moran, a key figure in the European Bison Conservation Centre said: “The bison have been crucial in helping the land regenerate. They didn’t just survive – they recolonised the area almost immediately.”

Moran, who has worked with the bison since their reintroduction in 2020, explained that the animals are helping nature heal by feeding on the undergrowth and preventing the build-up of vegetation that could fuel further fires.

“The bison act as nature’s gardeners –their grazing prevents overgrowth, and their manure helps fertilise the land. They also trample the soil, aiding the growth of new grass.”

The bison didn’t just survive the flames; they thrived. “The fire didn’t touch the soil, so the oaks regenerated quickly. About 80% of the encinas (oak trees) survived and started growing again,” said Moran.

With the heavy rains that followed the fire, the regrowth in the region has been astonishing. “The rain was a blessing,” Moran added. “It soaked the land, and the bison were quick to help everything

INSPIRATION: Ray Winston’s character in Sexy Beast (right) was based on Mickey Green (above)

NOTORIOUS: Ronnie Knight (pictured left with wife Barbara Windsor) was never far from the front pages

Paul Monk

British drug lord, Monk, who ran a £60million cocaine empire for over 20 years, was finally arrested in

2015 at his luxury hideout in Javea.

Living under a false identity, the 54-year-old fugitive ran his operation from his fortified villa, rarely stepping outside for fear of rivals and arrest.

Police say he led the life of an ‘authentic fugitive’, relying on friends to smuggle in food.

He was jailed for 18 years in 2017.

This British criminal was best known for his suspected role in the 1983 Brink’s Mat gold heist, earning his nickname after being accused of melting down some of the stolen gold.

Originally a market trader and gold dealer, Palmer later built a multimillion-pound timeshare empire in Tenerife, which authorities believe was funded by his criminal activity.

Mark Acklom

Serial conman and fraudster, Acklom, began his career as a criminal at 16, posing as a stockbroker to steal £1million with his dad’s AmEx card.

bounce back.”

GRAZING: Keeps undergrowth down, reducing the fire risk

As fires continue to ravage large parts of Spain this summer,the recovery of the sierra serves as a reminder of the importance of natural processes and wildlife in restoring destroyed ecosystems.

In the face of wildfire seasons, conservationists are turning their attention to reintroducing large herbivores like bison in fire-prone areas. These animals play a key role in keeping vegetation under control and ensuring the land can regenerate after disaster strikes.

“We’ve seen firsthand how the bison can help restore a burnt landscape,” Moran said. “With wildfires becoming more frequent, their role in these ecosystems will only become more important. It’s proof that even in the worst of times, nature can recover if given the right tools.”

Mickey Green

Mickey ‘The Pimpernel’ Green, a British expat gangster who built an €80million empire, dodged capture for decades before dying at 77 in his luxury hideout near Estepona.

His drug empire, dubbed The Octopus for its vast reaching tentacles, made him a criminal mastermind and the inspiration for Ray Winstone’s character in Sexy Beast.

To escape investigation and enjoy his wealth, Palmer lived in the perceived safety of Spain’s lawless playground.

In 2015, he was shot dead at his home in Essex in what was widely believed to be a targeted gangland killing. He was 65.

Curtis Warren

Notorious drug baron, Curtis ‘Cocky’ Warren, once Interpol’s Target One and a Sunday Times Rich List name, built a global illicit empire worth tens of millions. Warren was jailed but released in 2022 after 14 years. Now 61, he remains under strict crime prevention orders in the UK.

divorcee, Carolyn Woods, of her £850,000 life savings.

Jailed five times in Spain, he was behind bars when UK police learned he had allegedly romanced and fleeced

Sarah Panitzke

The British criminal and fraudster, who was often referred to as ‘The UK’s most wanted woman’, spent years evading capture when she fled the UK in 2013.

Panitzke spent almost a decade on the National Crime

In 2017, the Olive Press tracked the fugitive to Murcia, tracing his wife to a business address and discovering his rented home. We just missed him as he fled to Switzerland, where he was finally arrested in 2018. Now 51, he is serving a prison sentence in the UK for fraud.

Agency’s most-wanted list after fleeing the UK during her trial for involvement in a £1billion tax fraud scheme.

Living under a fake identity in Santa Barbara and Tarragona, she evaded capture until her time at large came to a dramatic halt in January 2022, when a tip off led to her arrest while walking her dog. She is serving a sentence for fraud and will be eligible for parole in 2027. None of the money has been recovered.

Freddie Foreman

Once dubbed the Godfather of London and largely associated with the Kray twins, British gangster Foreman fled to Marbella’s infamous ‘Golden Mile’ after the 1983 Security Express robbery. There, he bought a nightclub to

blend into the local scene. But his serene Spanish hideaway came to a halt when police ‘illegally’ defied non-extradition laws, detaining him and flying him back to the UK in the late 1980s. Now aged 93, he lives in London, one of the last surviving figures of the Kray era.

DIGITAL DELIGHT

Stunning success of our latesummer sale shows the power –and primacy? – of digital news

WHILE the Olive Press is staunchly committed to the community values and merits of a physical newspaper, we have to admit that the digital world is coming up fast.

Charlie Wilson

Wilson, a key player in the Great Train Robbery and the Brink’s Mat heist, fled to the Costa del Sol, settling in Marbella with his wife, Pat. There, he was suspected to have been involved in a drug smuggling network of cocaine suppliers threaded through Europe, leading to Pablo Escobar’s cartel in Colombia.

In 1990, Wilson was gunned down at the age of 57 during a family BBQ at his luxury villa in Marbella. His killer’s identity remains buried in the shadows of the clandestine criminal underworld.

Patsy Adams

Patrick Adams’ Clerkenwell Crime Syndicate operated in London’s underworld throughout the 1980s and 90s.

In the late 80s, at the height of their notoriety, they controlled the majority of cannabis, ecstasy and cocaine entering the capital.

In 2015, an international manhunt targeted Torremolinos for leading gangster Patsy who was wanted in connection with a gangland attempted murder two years prior.

The then 59-year-old, known as the ‘enforcer’, reportedly owned a luxury villa near Torremolinos with his wife Constance, who was also wanted. He was later sentenced to nine years for causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

There is something intangibly important – and not just in a nostalgic way – about a newspaper that you pick up and read, knowing that your friends and peers have picked it up too.

SUCCESS: The sale may be over but you can still get three months for the price of one

In the digital world, on the other hand, we all tend to hive off into our own bubbles and echo chambers, united with people far away but separated from those around us. But the success of our recent late-summer sale shows that more and more people are consuming news through their phones and computers. And the Olive Press seeks to unite these digital consumers with our unbeatable online reporting that doesn’t approach the news from one angle or one political ideology.

Over seven days from Monday to Sunday August 24, we offered readers the chance to get an annual subscription to the Olive Press website with a 50% discount.

This was full and unfettered access to all our breaking stories, news features, restaurant and trip reviews, in-depth investigations and so much more which – due to the physical constraints – don’t all make it into the newspaper.

It’s a wealth and breadth of information about Spain and life in this beautiful country for visitors and expats that can’t be found elsewhere. And the response was immediate. As soon as the first email went out advising our readers of the sale, sign-ups spiked.

Hundreds of people signed up over the course of the week, with the line graph going off the chart on the final day of the sale.

It is the dedicated subscribers who are willing to pay to read our reporting that are fast becoming the life blood of the business – and we thank them all.

But we also want to thank the readers of the newspaper too – some long and loyal people who’ve been with us for the nearly 20 years we’ve been around on Spain’s costas.

Scan the QR code to subscribe to the Olive Press

Powering up

SPAIN’S public debt dropped to 103.4% of GDP in June, down 1.9 percentage points from a year ago, the Bank of Spain has revealed.

SPAIN is making renewable energy history as work begins on the country’s first floating solar platform, set to be deployed off the Port of Valencia.

The keel for the pioneering structure was officially laid this week at the Factorias Vulcano shipyard in Vigo, with Astilleros San Enrique leading the build.

The project, known as PV-BOS, forms part of the ambitious BlueNewables initiative launched in March 2025, which will eventually see two floating solar units producing 1 MW combined. Final assembly and testing are due

in 2026, with annual output expected to hit 1,500 MWh.

Unlike land-based solar farms, the floating design preserves valuable land while using Spain’s vast coastline to deliver renewable energy at sea - a concept already hailed as a blueprint for global expansion.

BlueNewables celebrated the milestone on LinkedIn, calling it a ‘major leap forward’.

Meanwhile, Astilleros San Enrique is also building six offshore wind vessels for UK operator Tidal Transit, further cementing Spain’s role in Europe’s green transition.

TAKE CARE

Bank of Spain warns heirs could be liable for the deceased’s debts

Boom stock

SPAIN’S IBEX 35 stock index has topped 15,000 points for the first time since the 2007 property boom.

The milestone sparked comparisons with the lead-up to the housing crash and recession nearly two decades ago.

But Transport Minister Oscar Puente insisted the rise is ‘based on solid foundations’, not a bubble.

The IBEX has surged nearly 30% this year, fuelled by strong corporate profits and hopes of interest rate cuts.

Investor optimism has soared on falling inflation and global growth hopes.

By Walter Finch

DEBT DOWN Looking east

Despite the drop, the total debt was a staggering €1.691 trillion, marking a 4% annual increase.

The central government accounted for most of it, with the state alone holding €1.534 trillion, or 93.9% of GDP.

Social Regional governments owed €342.6 bn, and local authorities

€23.4 bn, while the social security system’s debt jumped 8.6% to €126.2 billion.

Debt held across multiple public administrations rose 3.4% to €371 bn.

Long-term bond issuance grew by 4.6%, while longterm loans dropped slightly.

Short-term borrowing rose 3.8% year-on-year.

HEIRS in Spain who don’t formally reject an inheritance could find themselves personally liable for the deceased’s debts - including outstanding mortgages, credit card bills and even unpaid utility bills.

The Bank of Spain has warned that many people wrongly believe debts die with the deceased, when in reality Spanish law passes all financial obligations directly to inheritors alongside any assets.

Under the country’s inheritance laws, heirs automatically receive both the good and the bad – unless they take specific legal action to protect themselves.

Those who accept an inheritance where debts exceed assets will be forced to pay the shortfall from their own personal wealth, potentially putting their homes and savings at risk.

The warning comes as legal

experts report growing confusion among expat families about their rights and obligations when inheriting Spanish property and assets.

“If you don’t formally renounce or accept with conditions, the law assumes you’ve accepted everything,” explained lawyers from Altima Abogados. “This can be financially devastating for families.”

The most common inherited debts include personal loans, outstanding mortgages, unpaid taxes to the Hacienda (Tax Agency), Social Security contributions, credit card balances and even community fees or utility bills.

Spanish law offers three options for handling problematic inheritances. Heirs can accept everything outright, renounce

BANK OF SPAIN: Has issued a warning to inheritors

completely, or choose the safer ‘beneficio de inventario’ route. This third option allows inheritors to settle debts using only inherited assets, meaning they keep whatever remains but aren’t personally liable if debts exceed the estate’s value. If heirs renounce entirely and debts outweigh assets,

the Spanish state assumes responsibility for outstanding obligations.

Legal experts advise all potential heirs to seek professional advice before making any decisions about Spanish inheritances, particularly where property or significant assets are involved.

However, analysts warn of ‘excess optimism’, as such gains have rarely come without a slump in company earnings.

SPAIN’S exports to the US dropped 5% in early 2025, as Donald Trump’s trade war began to bite. Official figures show total exports hit €197.1 bn in the first half of the year – up 1% overall – but sales to the US fell to €8.75 bn, while exports to China soared 14% to €3.95 bn. Trump’s return has redrawn global trade flows, with his 15% tariff on EU goods already disrupting supply chains. In response, Madrid has leaned east – deepening ties with China, defending Huawei contracts, and boosting agri-food exports. But with Chinese imports also surging, Spain’s trade deficit has now hit €25.1 bn.

Financial Planning Seminar

FINANCIAL ADVICE FOR YOUR CHILDREN

WHAT large financial risks do you currently face? That your investment portfolio might suffer losses if there’s a sudden stock market downturn?

Maybe, but oftentimes your biggest financial risk occupies the same house as you and calls you ‘Mom’ or ‘Dad’.

That’s right. Regardless of where your children are raised or educated – the UK, the US or Spain – it’s often challenging to teach them financial responsibility. Few kids know how to resist the strong influence of peer pressure on their spending habits, or to avoid the troubling temptation of credit card debt. Fewer still demonstrate a natural inclination to be thrifty with money. Nor can we count on schools to help.

Personal finance education is not universally required in the UK: it varies significantly across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In the US, only 26 of the 50 states require high school students to take a personal finance course. In Spain, although financial education exists in high schools, it’s sel -

dom taught as a distinct subject – it’s often mixed into optional courses and through voluntary programs.

Thus, the task of teaching our children the value of money and the importance of saving often falls on parents. Although I’ve worked 25 years in the financial sector, I think only two lessons are worth passing on to your kids: spend less than you earn and start now. Spend less than you earn

The fundamental principle of money management is that you need to spend less than you earn.

That means the most important financial skill a child can learn is the ability to delay gratification. However, this is frequently a difficult skill to acquire. To that end, it is vital to give youngsters financial responsibility. It can be as simple as giving them a small allowance at a young age. They’ll likely buy candy with the money. As they get older, you can elevate this to a clothing allowance. Maybe even help them

You should try to set up a system where instead of you saying ‘no’, your kids have to say ‘no’ to themselves.

Start now

It’s never too early to introduce children to concepts like earning, saving, and investing. It’s unlikely you can prevent your kids from making significant financial mistakes in their lifetime. But it is much better if

they make those blunders while they’re young and the sums involved are modest.

Storytelling is a good first step. It can introduce children to the financial priorities and values that are important to your family. And conversations are typically more effective than lectures. Stories are a great way to pass lessons from one generation

WARMING WARNING

THE Mediterranean Sea has been hit by the most extreme marine heatwaves ever recorded this summer - putting the region’s delicate ecosystem at serious risk, experts have warned.

Sea surface temperatures in parts of the Balearic Islands, including off the coast of Majorca, soared above 30ºC in late June and early July - more than seven degrees higher than the seasonal average.

Marine heatwaves - defined as prolonged periods of unusually high sea temperatures - are becoming more

By Josie Sharp

frequent and severe due to climate change, with serious implications for marine life, fishing industries and even tourism across southern Spain.

“We have a lot of evidence showing that rising temperatures are driving ecological changes every year,” said Dr Oscar Esparza Alaminos, Coordinator of Marine Protected Areas at WWF España.

“The first and most important impact

Recordbreaking Mediterranean heatwaves risk marine ecosystem collapse

the Mediterranean ecosystem.”

While warm water may be welcomed by beachgoers, scientists warn that these conditions can supercharge the spread of harmful bacteria, algae and invasive species, while threatening native marine life that cannot adapt.

The Alboran Sea, between the Costa del Sol and northern Morocco, is already seeing major shifts in marine populations.

is the loss of biodiversitywe have many local species that are vital to ters.

As the

up invasive

the Costa del Sol.

Warmer waters are attracting tropical species typically found in the Canary Islands, such as grouper, lionfish and even whale sharks, into Spanish wa-

But the changes aren’t all exotic and exciting.

The soaring temperatures are also driving blooms of nuisance jellyfish and invasive tropical Asian seaweed, which is disrupting local ecosystems and causing headaches for beach resorts across

“The loss of keystone species unbalances the ecosystem, and at the same time, we are seeing a tropical species invasion,” warned Dr Alaminos.

“These changes also affect ecosystem services like fishing, with consequences for both local economies and food security.”

The Mediterranean - already one of the world’s most vulnerable climate change hotspots - is warming 20% faster than the global ocean average, according to climate experts.

Over the past 40 years, the region has gone from experiencing one marine heatwave per year to an average of four, covering vast areas of the sea.

About 90% of the excess heat from global warming is absorbed by the oceans, while shifting wind patterns have reduced natural cooling, meaning these heatwaves are now harder to

avoid and more damaging.

Globally, the effects have been devastating: Western Australia saw its worst coral bleaching on record, and Norway’s salmon farming industry has suffered massive losses from sea lice outbreaks - both linked to rising sea temperatures.

“We need a global response to this problem, because climate change is not a local issue,” added Dr Alaminos.

“We must implement protective measures in marine areas before it’s too late.”

As the Mediterranean continues to heat up, scientists are urging urgent international cooperation, sustainable fishing practices, and better monitoring of protected areas to safeguard one of the world’s most diverse - and most fragile - marine environments.

EXPAT homeowners are being urged to review their mortgages as more people switch their loans to different banks.

The trend has taken hold as lenders are offering increasingly attractive deals following eight consecutive interest rate cuts by the European Central Bank over the past year.

Moving your mortgage - known as ‘subrogacion’ in Spain - rose to 4.5% of all new mortgage operations in the second quarter of 2025.

This is the first increase since late 2023, according to data from idealista/ hipotecas.

The surge comes as the ECB has driven eurozone interest rates down to just 2%, prompting Spanish banks to offer increasingly attractive fixedrate mortgages.

Meet the architect whose elegant designs are as breathtaking as they are modern

BUILDING BEAUTY INTO NATURE

Malaga gets the Zaha Hadid touch

IT’S not just the sun that’s sizzling in southern Spain

- Malaga is getting a bold architectural makeover, and it’s as glamorous as it is groundbreaking.

The global icons at Zaha Hadid Architects have just unveiled pictures of a new 21-storey residential stunner set to rise in the El Bulto area, and it's nothing short of architectural theatre. Sculptural waves of glass and concrete wrap skyward like a luxury yacht caught mid-sail - and each floor is a fluid ripple of balconies, soft lines and seamless design.

Perched along the sparkling Mediterranean coast and right beside Malaga’s busy marina, the new tower is part of a wider regeneration scheme. From the renders alone, it’s clear the project is going for a bold aesthetic statement. The tower’s sleek, undulating façade plays with light and shadow throughout the day, blending a futuristic edge with soft organic curves.

Floor-to-ceiling glass ensures that views of the marina and coastline are uninterrupted and truly panoramic.

The development promises 153 high-end residen-

ces alongside 80 subsidised homes for long-term local residents - bringing a balance of luxury and community to what was once an industrial pocket of the city.

The streetscape at ground level is equally considered. Cafes and shops spill out beneath dramatic white overhangs, while landscaped courtyards and public plazas invite both residents and locals to mingle.

Think balmy evenings under golden lighting, palm trees swaying, and diners clinking glasses on sleek terraces nestled between sculptural forms. In true Hadid fashion, it’s all high-concept fluidity and no harsh angles. Interiors haven’t been fully revealed, but expect ultra-modern minimalism paired with elegant natural finishes, all tuned to the rhythm of the coast.

With the addition of this showpiece, Malaga is fast becoming a design destination to rival Barcelonaproof that even a once-grim industrial zone can be reimagined with vision, investment, and a whole lot of architectural swagger.

MAKE THE MOVE

ExpatsinSpainadvisedtheycouldsavemoney byreviewingtheirmortgagesasbankswitching trend rises thanks to interest rate cuts

By Walter Finch

Several lenders are now offering deals at around 2.5% with maximum bonuses, with some operations being signed at close to 2% or even below. Switching will undoubtedly reduce monthly payments and provide greater stability.

“After the wave of mortgage changes in 2022 and 2023 caused by soaring Euribor rates, there are now excellent fixed and mixed-rate conditions being offered,” said Juan Villen, at Idealista “Banks are even actively encouraging those with variable mortgages, as well as some who signed fixedrate deals at higher levels, to review their mortgages.”

The trend has seen fixed-rate mortgages dominate the market, accounting for 80% of all new home loans - a historic high.

Among those moving their mortgages to new banks, 75% are opting for fixed-rate deals, the highest level since early 2022.

Madrid leads the charge in requests to move mortgages to new banks, representing 26.7% of all applications nationwide, followed by Catalunya at 22.8% and Andalucia at 14.2% - key expat property markets. Those seeking to move their mortgage

in Madrid have an average monthly income of €4,600, well above the average nationally of €3,900, while the average amount requested for the bank transfer stands at €288,000 in the capital.

The data suggests expat homeowners could save significant money by reviewing their current mortgage arrangements.

However, experts don’t expect bank-switching activity to return to the record levels of autumn 2023, when it peaked at over 16% of all operations.

Mark Stucklin www.spanishpropertyinsight.com

FROM last month all tourist

lets and seasonal rentals

- including room rentalshad to display a unique registration number to be listed on platforms like Airbnb , Booking.com or Vrbo

The reform, part of EU Regulation and implemented through Spain’s Royal Decree 1312/2024, aims to increase transparency and control fraud in the digital rental economy. In theory, the new national Registro Unico de Arrendamientos and its accompanying Ventanilla Unica Digital should make things clearer and cleaner.

But in practice, the launch has been marred by the kind of teething problems that tend to accompany anything emerging from the Spanish Housing Ministr y.

At the heart of the problem is the gap between policy and reality.

While the law is now in force, only around 200,000 properties have obtained a registration number - leaving up to 55% of Spain’s estimated 370,000 holiday rentals out in the cold and potentially illegal in the eyes of the authorities. Platforms are now required to

ROCKY START

Spain’s new short-term rental registration scheme has been launched with questionable execution especially for the thousands of foreign owners caught up in the chaos, writes Mark

de-list any property that lacks a registration number, though how rigorously this will be enforced remains to be seen.

Some of those without a number may be dodging the rules, but many simply don’t know about them - or have tried to comply and failed. The system for obtaining a registration number relies heavily on Spain’s infamous electronic bureaucracy, including the Cl@ ve system and digital certificates that even Spaniards struggle to use.

“

Stucklin

sums it up neatly

“We feel caught in a Catch 22 and may lose our satisfactory balance lasting many years of legal seasonal rentals alternating with family holiday use,” she told me. She’s not alone.

“ It’s almost as if the system is designed to make it difficult for non-resident owners to rent out

Lucy Hadfield, who bought a home with her husband in the Valencian Region nearly 20 years ago,

Thousands of foreign non-resident owners are likely in the same boatwilling to comply, but blocked by a clunky and unwelcoming system.

“It’s almost as if the system is designed to make it difficult for non-resident owners to rent out their property legally” added Lucy.

Help is available for a fee, of course - companies have already sprung up offering to navi-

gate the bureaucracy for you. But before you shell out, it’s worth asking: do you even need to register?

According to the new law, registration is only required if you use an online plat form that handles bookings and payments, or collects data on guests and stays - think Airbnb and Booking.com.

If you advertise your rental on a classified site like Idealista or ThinkSpain that doesn’t facilitate transactions, you’re technically off the hook.

The Ministry of Housing has confirmed this interpretation. But don’t relax just yet. Legal experts warn that authorities could decide you’re in breach anyway, if your activity is seen as undermining the regulation’s intent.

So while the letter of the law may not apply, the spirit might - and registration is probably the safest option.

ALHAMBRA FEVER

IT’S not Madrid, Barcelona or even Malaga.

The fastest-moving property market in Spain right now is Granada, where nearly one in three homes change hands in under seven days.

The Andalucian city tops the national league for so-called ‘express sales’ – properties listed for less than a week before finding a buyer.

Granada’s 32% share dwarfs the national average of 13%, which has actually dipped slightly from 14% a year ago.

Property experts point to Granada’s unique mix of factors, including relatively affordable prices, strong rental demand from students, and an influx of buyers seeking lifestyle and investment opportunities.

But the home of the Alhambra isn’t the only less popular location to dominate the rankings.

Next comes Huesca (27%), Soria (25%) and the north African enclave of Ceuta (23%).

The traditional power house of Madrid sits further down the list at 18%, while Barcelona, Malaga and Palma all hover around 12%.

In fact, the big names have cooled. Barcelona’s rate has fallen to 12% in a year, while Malaga slipped from 16%. At the other end of the spectrum, some markets remain sluggish. In Pontevedra, Badajoz, Ourense and Zamora, just 5% of homes sell within a week.

The report by Idealista based on the second quarter of 2025 sales also highlights how fortunes can change fast. Soria has seen the most dramatic surge – from zero express sales in the same quarter last year to a quarter of all transactions now. Ceuta has jumped from 6% to 23%, while Huesca leapt from 12% to 27%.

Property insiders suggest smaller, lesser-known cities can sometimes outpace the big hitters because demand is concentrated on a much tighter pool of homes.

In places like Soria, Huesca or Ceuta, the same effect can be amplified by limited supply – when the right home appears, local buyers and opportunistic investors are ready to pounce.

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

Height of luxury

WELCOME to the very pinnacle of prestige - stunning Villa Makena, perched high up in the opulent hills of Marbella.

Based in Altos de Los Monteros, the sweeping sea views, 20-metre infinity

All up at the Castillo

A PROPERTY company has announced plans to build 45 new sustainable homes on the Costa del Sol.

Madrid-based Metrovacesa will develop Castillo de Lagos into eco-friendly residences in Velez-Malaga.

The new residential development, Proa, will feature 45 modern, sea-facing, three-bedroom detached homes, each with a private garage and spacious terrace. Prices will range from €388,000 to €464,000 and are expected to be completed in the second half of 2028. The complex will also include landscaped communal areas and swimming pools.

Experience

Metrovacesa is one of Spain’s oldest developers with over 100 years of experience.

In December 2024, the market value of its assets reached €2.38bn.

The company currently manages 115 active projects throughout Spain, collaborating with local partners to meet the needs of each market it operates in.

Buy or sell favourites

MADRID, Valencia, and Zaragoza were the most ‘in demand’ municipalities in Spain for buying and selling properties during the second quarter of 2025.

Provincial capitals continued to dominate the list with eight of the top 10 towns and cities coming under that category.

Once again Madrid topped the standings ahead of Valencia in second and Zaragoza third. The Valencian region town, Torrent came fourth, followed by Santa Cruz de Tenerife (5), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (6), and Barcelona (7). Sevilla is in eighth followed by Gijon and A Coruña.

pool and a rooftop built for sipping champagne are the order of the day.

The 750 sqm villa - costing a

cool €7.9 million - is designed across multiple levels to showcase the uninterrupted Mediterranean views.

Not only does the villa boast a south-facing infinity pool that disappears into the horizon but also a rooftop terrace with a lounge area, bar, and a fireplace - creating the ultimate entertaining hub.

The five bedroom residence also offers a wellness zone that rivals

five-star spas, hosting a private gym, yoga studio, and a calming candle lit Turkish bath.

you can

For those who appreciate luxury, space and silence, the area provides peace, security and privacy yet is just minutes away from fabulous beach clubs, golf courses and fine dining

spots in central Marbella. The villa, nestled among a canopy of palm trees, is ready for turnkey delivery within 16 to 22 months through the design-focused team at Solvilla properties.

Rental rip-off?

LANDLORDS across Spain are booting tenants into costly short-term lets to get around housing rules – leaving punters hundreds, even thousands, out of pocket.

New figures reveal a surge in so-called ‘seasonal’ rentals –11-month contracts that dodge rent caps, and legal limits brought in under Spain’s 2023 Housing Law.

The 2023 law has been controversial as it encouraged shortterm rental listings, which

Landlordsditchlong-termlets tododgenewhousinglaw

By Walter Finch

soared by 26% last year, now making up 15% of the total. The law was meant to protect tenants from being squeezed – but it’s ended up pushing them into a grey zone of rolling 11-month contracts, where rules don’t apply and prices

keep rising. Barcelona is the worst hit city, with nearly half of all rental listings now seasonal, up 31% from last year. That means thousands of renters are shelling out eye-watering agency fees of €1,500 to €3,000 – fees their landlords would have to cover if the contract were longterm.

San Sebastian (39%), Girona (37%) and even Badajoz (33%), in Extremadura, are seeing landlords make the same switch, ditching proper leases for loophole contracts.

The trick? By calling the contract ‘seasonal’, landlords avoid strict rules on rent rises, eviction rights and who pays the estate agent.

It’s a growing problem across Spain – Bilbao’s seasonal listings are up 29%, Madrid 25%, and Malaga 24%.

MALAGA’S housing market is hotter than ever and prices are now nearly 50% more than at the peak of the 2007 property bubble.

In just 10 years, the price of a standard 80m² flat in Malaga has rocketed from a relatively modest €125,000 to a jaw-dropping €331,609.

That’s a 164% increase, putting the coastal city in the upper echelons of Spain’s property hotspots.

According to the latest figures from Fotocasa, Malaga has hit an all-time high, with the price per square metre now standing at €4,145 - nearly 50% higher than the peak of the 2007 property boom. Back in the heady days of April 2007, the cost per square metre was €2,778. Following the bubble burst, prices plunged by more than half before starting to gently recover in the following years. While the market took a brief breather during the pandemic, the boom began again in mid-2015, with year-on-year increases regularly pushing past 20%. In fact, the Malaga property market has been seeing uninterrupted growth since the pandemic’s end in 2021, with no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

Malaga is now officially one of Spain’s hottest property markets - and it shows no signs of cooling off.

Local experts claim that this rapid growth is largely down to a combination of factors: high demand from both national and international buyers, a limited supply of new housing, and the city’s appeal as a prime destination for both remote workers and foreign investors.

The city’s transformation over the past decade - from tourism hub to business hotspot - has turned it into a real estate goldmine, but it’s come at a cost.

At the peak of the 2007 property bubble the same 80m² apartment in Malaga would’ve set you back an ‘unaffordable’ €222,232 - still a far cry from today’s staggering €331,609. Experts claim that Malaga’s meteoric rise reflects a structural shift in the demand for housing. Maria Matos, head of research at Fotocasa, explained: “Malaga is now one of the most dynamic and tensioned residential markets in Spain. The fact that property prices are 49% higher than the peak of the 2007 real estate bubble shows just how much demand there is, both locally and internationally. The city’s transformation over the last few years has made it a magnet for foreign investment, tourism, and remote workers.” Malaga’s housing market is now 53% more expensive than the national average, and while prices have started to moderate slightly in 2025, they’re still historically high.

Even smaller cities like Ourense have seen a massive 600% jump in short-term lets.

“Tenants are being left with less protection, higher costs, and nowhere to turn,” warned one housing watchdog.

TWO coastal cities in the Basque region are among the most expensive places to buy or rent properties in Spain.

San Sebastian and Bilbao both sit in the top five priciest spots in the country.

The new study by Idealista shows the top 10 is more or less the same as it has been for years.

After San Sebastian come Spain’s two biggest cities - Madrid and Barcelona, before Palma, in Mallorca, makes an appearance. Malaga comes in sixth, with Valencia in seventh and Sevilla eighth.

The major change, is that the high prices are getting even higher, making it even harder for people on modest incomes to get into the property mix.

The top 10 list is:-

● San Sebastian

● Madrid

● Barcelona

● Palma de Mallorca

● Bilbao

● Malaga

● Valencia

● Sevilla

● Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

● Girona

PRICES for new homes in Spain will continue rising in the second half of 2025.

It comes after prices reached an average of €3,151 per m2 in June - a yearly rise of 7.5%.

And a report by appraisal company, Sociedad de Tascion, predicts the price will be €3,291 by the end of the year.

New properties - around a fifth of the market in Spain - cost 44% more than second-hand homes.

Reasons for the variation include higher building standards and better energy efficient structures, along with a lack of supply.

Consuelo Villanueva from Sociedad de Tasacion, said: “The availability of new builds is seeing a slight improvement after a 19% increase in the number of new construction permits in the first quarter of 2025 compared to last year.

“However, it still remains well below the levels necessary to meet the demand of the market,” she warned.

Villanueva added that inflation had put pressure on household purchasing power and that the rise in property prices ‘structurally limits the ability to access housing’,

BUILDING BEAUTY INTO NATURE

How a Valencia architect is making a global name by working with the landscape around him

DRAWING inspiration from the natural beauty of the landscapes they inhabit, Fran Silvestre designs properties that seamlessly integrate while maintaining their signature style.

His Valencia-based architecture studio is known for its playful geometric design, luxe swimming pools and impeccable white walls - elements that can be found throughout its properties. However, the studio also values connecting each property to the nature it is set in.

The firm boasts a diverse array of designs, from vineyards to citys -

By

capes, jungles to mountainsides… and in each, the location and design varies greatly; some properties mimic the natural curve of the land while others use shallow water to reflect the landscape back to its owners.

Silvestre’s designs demonstrate a commitment to balancing multiple interests with a united product. This focus is not only reflected through the homes, but in their impact on the users and the builders involved in its development.

From an aerial view, Casa Sabater can be seen zig-zagging through a tropical jungle of palm trees and lush vegetation. Striking a balance between the organic elements and the studio’s signature geometric

style, the residence spreads around a series of existing large trees. Though the large windows remain minimal, they are juxtaposed by the eye-catching shape which contours to the gentle curve of the land.

La Montaña Vacia

Constructed within a small portion of excavated mountain, La Montaña Vacia, boasts a low-impact focus. From an outside view, only the deck pool and a

sliver of the minimalist living area can be seen, peeking out from the lush, mountainous range. The virtually unobstructed topography mirrors the overall focus on

sustainability, as the residence itself has a naturally regulated temperature from the mountain’s high resistance to temperature changes.

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Offering you help, support and advice during your search, through the buying process and personal after sales services. We have a wide range of properties to interest our clients, from small village houses to large country fincas or cortijos.

€54,000 compensation for Brit against Banco Sabadell/Solbank mortgage

TENS of thousands of mostly British homeowners in Spain could be owed a cool €50,000 in compensation after crafty banks were exposed for putting a hidden clause in their mortgages.

If you had a mortgage from Sabadell, Unicaja or many other banks, you could be in for a big windfall.

It stems back to the early 2000s when a string of lenders secretly wrote in their clients’ contracts that interest rates could not drop below 3.5% – in what is now known as a ‘floor clause’.

However, for a decade, between 2011 and 2021, the interest rates in Spain sat at a record low, between zero and 1%. What this meant was tens of thou-

The clients are named Turner and the house is in Orihuela... and the ‘floor clause’ affected mortgage was approved in 2008

sands of homeowners spent years paying hundreds of euros more per month than they should have done.

One legal firm in southern Spain has been at the forefront of winning back money for affected homeowners – and on a promised ‘no win, no fee’ basis.

Fairway Lawyers boss Diego Echavarria, based in Marbella, told the Olive Press that one of his latest clients, the Coopers, were recently awarded a total of €21,075, plus legal costs. The British family had bought a home in Riviera del Sol, in Mijas, in 2006, but didn’t sell up until recently. They were totally unaware of the floor clause issue until they read about it in a copy of the Olive Press last year. Now, after six

months of legal wrangling, Echavarria, originally from Madrid, has won them the fee, plus compensation.

“It’s always a bit of a game and involves plenty

of legal letters being pinged backwards and forwards, but I know what I’m doing having done this for years now,” he explained.

It comes after the golf-loving lawyer, a member of Guadalmina, won another British couple, the Brighouses, €48,359, last summer.

The couple had bought an off-plan apartment in Mirador de Costalita, in Estepona, in 2004. They took over the mortgage from the developer, which contained the hidden clause and they ended up paying an extra €250 per month than required. It was the fourth case Fairway Lawyers have won on homes in Mirador de Costalita alone.

There are thousands of similar cases all around Spain in which expats or former expats had no idea they were victims.

“Right now I am handling cases all

over the country,” explained the father-of-two.

Warning signs

There are two tell tale characteristics to look out for; Your mortgage was signed off between 2001 and 2010 and your payments were the same amount for a large number of years.

“What is key is they will not have lowered for years,” continued the lawyer, who also handles many other legal work, in particular conveyancing from his office in Marbella.

He added: “Even if you have sold the property and paid off the mortgage, you can still claim.

“There is no deadline since the latest ruling from TJUE (Tribunal de Justicia de La Union Europea).

“There are around 100,000 mis-sold mortgages that have yet to be resolved in Spain.”

If you want to claim for a mis-sold mortgage or feel you may have been affected, contact diego@fairwaylawyers.com or send a message via Whatsapp to +606 307 885

Simple process

WHAT BANKS WERE INVOLVED IN FLOOR CLAUSES?

Most Spanish banks, but especially Banco Popular (now merged with Santand- er), Caja Duero, Caja España (merged with Unicaja), La Caixa, Solbank, Sabadell and many other savings banks which have since been taken over by major banks.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR MAKING A CLAIM?

You need to submit a claim be- fore the bank to try to reach a settlement out of court. Then comes a three-month period in which you await their response. Unfortunately the Spanish banks do not want to reach any kind of agreement or set- tlement and they always force the clients to go to court to get a positive ruling. They do this because they hope clients will get fed-up with the process and drop the claim – which is why we operate on a no win no fee basis.

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Bodegas Dominio D'Echauz

Aligned perfectly to the curvature of the vineyard it sits atop, Bodegas Dominio D’Echauz melds unique architecture with functionalit y as a winery. The long design of the property reflects the process of making wine, from the arrival of the grapes, to fermentation, aging and bottling the wine. Thoughtfulness defines this property, even down to the building's elements using a cork-based mortar, which pulls together the design visually, as well as optimising the conditions for wine aging.

Casa Piera

A striking wall of thin, vertical panels line the side of Casa Piera. The residence draws inspiration from what many may see as a limitation: a set maximum height for opaque fences surrounding residences in many municipalities. The unique fence veils Casa Piera, allowing just the right amount of light to pierce through, while also allowing its residents to keep their privacy.

Villa Noon

Five circles of various sizes may appear as a typical family home, however, Villa Noon boasts the very same kitchen, bedrooms and dining room as many other residences.

The cylindrical volumes are of various heights, contouring to the slope of the land and overlooking the La Reserva development, in Sotogrande. It carefully maximises on the views towards the sea and Africa beyond.

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frontline golf homes & beach club

Serenity is an exciting new development in Alcaidesa, set in a frontline golf location just 10 minutes from Sotogrande Offering the highest quality 1, 2, 3, and 4-bedroom apartments and penthouses, these homes combine style and sophistication.

Each residence includes private spacious terraces with stunning views of the golf course, Mediterranean Sea, or mountains. Set within over 10,000m2 of landscaped gardens, Serenity boasts luxury amenities like an indoor gym, lap pool, beach-entry pool, yoga area, children’s play area, and co-working space.

Alcaidesa now features a wide range of shops, restaurants, beach clubs, and two luxury hotels Fairmont & OKU, offering both relaxation and convenience in the heart of the Costa del Sol.

ENQUIRE NOW: (+34) 663 493 630 living@oneeden.com oneeden.com

Thick walls and holy vibes

Back in the 10th century, Spain was all about survival and salvation. Enter the Romanesque era: stone-built churches so chunky they could survive a siege. Think tiny windows, big arches, and the sort of place where monks mumbled Latin by candlelight.

Star of the show?: The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. A sacred stop for pilgrims and a fortress of faith. Stone, silence, and a whole lot of God.

Gothic glam

By the 12th century, Spain had discovered drama. And light. And, frankly, showing off. Cue the Gothic period—where churches started reaching for the heavens like a teenage pop star with a record deal.

Must-see masterpiece: Burgos Cathedral. It’s got everything - spires, stained glass, and enough carved saints to start a football team. One word: ICONIC.

STONE TO STARDOM!

How Spain’s buildings became the toast of europe

FROM medieval fortresses to jaw-dropping museums, Spain’s architecture is ‘pure drama, darling’.

Here’s how one country went from building bunkers for monks to designing some of the world’s wildest wonders.

Spain’s architecture isn’t just about buildings. It’s a full-blown storyof faith, flair, conquest, rebellion, and artistic madness. Whether you’re into dusty cathedrals or fu-

Neoclassical nudes

By the late 1700s, Spain calmed down a bit. Out went the excess; in came the Neoclassical lookthink toga-party chic. Symmetry, straight lines, and a nod to ancient Athens.

Hot pick: The Prado Museum in Madrid. It’s all serious culture and big columns. Think posh dinner party, not dancefloor chaos.

By Dilip Kuner

turistic icons, Spain’s got the structure for you.

So next time you sip sangria under the Spanish sun, look around.

The buildings are watching - and they’ve seen it all. Fasten your seatbelt - we’re going on a whirlwind ride through 1,000 years of spectacular Spanish st yle!

Modernisme –Gaudi goes gaga

Modernisme is Catalunya’s answer to ‘what if architecture was trippy?’ Late 19th-century Barcelona went full fantasy with flowing lines, colourful tiles and buildings that looked like they were grown in a dream.

Absolute legend: Gaudí’s Sagrada Família. Still not finished. Still the most mesmerising building you’ll ever see. It’s like Willy Wonka and a cathedral had a baby.

Only in Spain, babe. Between the 12th and 16th centuries, Christian and Islamic cultures collided in the sexiest design mashup ever: Mudejar style. Picture brickwork, colour ful tiles, swooping ar-

Hello, Renaissance

The 15th century rolled in, and Spain started acting like it just discovered Italy. The Renaissance arrived with symmetry, proportion, and columns straight out of Caesar’s living room.

The one to know: The Palace of Charles V in Granada. Slap bang in the Alhambra, it’s cool, classy, and built like a Roman VIP lounge.

Baroque and bonkers

If Renaissance was neat and tidy, the Baroque era said: “Hold my sangria.” The 17th and 18th centuries went wild with swirls, curves, gold leaf and facades that looked like someone yelled more! at every stage of construction.

Scene-stealer: The OTT Baroque facelift on the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. You came for God, but stayed for the glow-up.

ches and geometric vibes for days. Don ’t miss: The Alcazar of Sevilla. It’s like a sultan’s palace had a makeover on Changing Rooms. Exotic, intricate, and dripping in decorative detail.

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After the Modernisme party, Spain needed a breather. Enter Noucentisme in the early 20th century - a bit more serious, a bit more Roman revival. Less glitter, more grown-up.

On the playlist: Palau de la Musica Catalunya. Part concert hall, part art gallery, all fabulous - with just a touch of restraint.

The 20th century brought Rationalist architecture, where style got serious. Clean lines, minimal fuss, and buildings that didn’t waste time being pretty for pretty’s sake.

Sleek sensation: The Spanish Pavilion in Barcelona (1929). Designed by Mies van der Rohe. It’s so cool it practically smokes a cigarette. Noucentisme – the

And now? Spain’s buildings are strutting into the 21st century with full-on contemporary confidence. Think titanium, wild curves, and tech that makes them look like spaceships.

Showstopper: The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Designed by Frank Gehry, it looks like a metallic flower exploded- in the best way possible. It didn’t just change Bilbao, it changed the world’s idea of what a museum could be.

Estate agents in Sotogrande since 1999

2.100.000

Shining stars of Spain

From ancient Roman towers to battles over beachside beacons – why the nation’s lighthouses are back in the spotlight

TBy Dilip Kuner

HEY once saved sailors from certain death. Now Spain’s lighthouses are becoming something else entirely – tourist magnets, cultural battlegrounds and Instagram gold. From the cliffs of Galicia to the sands of the Canaries, these towers aren’t just about light anymore. They’re about history, pride – and sometimes controversy. But whether you’re climbing the Roman steps of Hercules, watching the sun go down at Formentor, or standing in the

dunes at Trafalgar, one thing’s certain: these towers still shine

PORTOPI

Palma’s Proud Old Light

Not many people know it, but Mallorca’s Portopi lighthouse is one of the oldest working lighthouses in the world. First lit in 1617, it still beams across the Bay of Palma today. It’s shorter and squatter than most, sitting on a rocky headland by the city. But what it lacks in height, it makes up for in history. Generations of sailors have relied on its steady light to guide them into port – from medieval traders to modern cruise ships. Locals call it the island’s quiet guardian, often overlooked by tourists rushing to the beaches. But catch it at sunset, and you’ll see why it’s survived for more than 400 years.

HERCULES

The original and still the best

Forget modern tech. The Tower of Hercules in Galicia has been flashing its beam since Roman times – nearly 2,000 years. It’s the oldest working lighthouse in the world and a UNESCO treasure. Climb to the top and you’ll feel like you’ve conquered the Atlantic itself.

CABO DE GATA –

It’s a magnet for anyone chasing that wild, windswept feeling

Spain’s own desert

a gateway to the Americas. A rare mix of sunbed and seafaring histor y.

FORMENTOR

Not for the nervous

Mallorca’s Formentor lighthouse feels like the edge of the earth. To get there, you drive a nerve-shredding road of hairpin bends and sheer drops.

But the payoff? The sunset of a lifetime, with the beam stretching over an endless Mediterranean.

TRAFALGAR

Back from the brink

Spain’s most talkedabout lighthouse right

Head to Andalucia and you’ll find Cabo de Gata, standing stark in a desert landscape that looks more like Morocco than Europe. This one guards the deadly Arrecife de las Sirenas – jagged black rocks that tore ships apart. Today it’s a magnet for photographers and anyone chasing that wild, windswept feeling. now? Trafalgar. Perched on the dunes of Cadiz, just a few miles from where Nelson sank the Franco-Spanish fleet in 1805, the 19th-century tower has just been given the green light for heritage protection.

MASPALOMAS

Beacon of the beach

Gran Canaria’s Maspalomas lighthouse is a different breed. Instead of isolation, it’s right in the middle of a buzzing resort.

By day, tourists lounge beside it. By night, its 55-metre tower reminds you this island was once

Locals were up in arms when plans surfa ced to turn it into a high-end restau rant - a petition raised 10,000 signatures. Campaigners called it the ‘second Battle of Trafalgar’. They’ve won and the lighthouse will remain what it has always been: a lo nely sentinel against the winds.

wrecks, reefs and a marine reserve teeming with life.

Above? Some of the best

CABO DE PALOS

Wrecks below, views above

In Murcia, Cabo de Palos rises above

Yes, you can spend the night inside a lighthouse, with waves battering the rocks below and the beam sweeping across your window. It’s romantic – though you’ll pay for the privilege.

ALONG-FORGOTTEN gem of mid-century design has found a new lease of life in the rolling vineyards of northeast Spain.

The work of French engineer Ferdinand Fillod – a little-known trailblazer in prefabricated architecture – is now proudly on display at the Terra Remota estate, near Girona.

The sleek, steel-framed structure, known as the ‘Tropical Pavilion’, is one of only a handful that still exist worldwide.

Originally built in 1951, it has been carefully restored and installed among the vines of the Franco-Spanish vineyard run by Marc and Emma Bournazeau.

Born in France’s Jura region, Fillod made his name designing prefabricated metal buildings at a time when the concept was still revolutionary. He began his career manufacturing

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

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Prefab sprout

Let a bit of light into your life with a pop up style from the 1950s

By Dilip Kuner

agricultural equipment, but soon developed and patented a modular steel construction method that allowed for quick and efficient assembly. His company went on to export these

structures globally.

Though Fillod died in 1956, his designs remained in production until the mid1970s.

The Tropical Pavilion, first unveiled at the International Exhibition of Urbanism and Housing in Paris in 1947, features a distinctive design of curved steel arches, ribbed metal panels, and a clever double-roof system that helps cool the interior naturally.

It spans 90 square metres inside, with an additional 30 square metres of terrace space.

For decades, the pavilion was hidden in plain sight – repurposed as office

space for the French national telecoms company in Marseille. Weathered and forgotten, it was eventually rescued by design specialist Clement Cividino, who transported it across the border to Spain for a full restoration. The structure has now become the latest addition to

Terra Remota’s growing collection of 20th-century architectural icons. Previous installations have included a futuristic Hexacube by Georges Candilis, a 1969 house by Greek architect Nikolaos Xasteros, and a vintage Total petrol station by modernist legend Jean Prouve.

Fillod’s Tropical Pavilion is now officially recognised as part of France’s 20th-century heritage, marking a turning point in the wider appreciation of his work. With its clean lines, functional

elegance, and for ward-thinking engineering, it stands as a striking example of how prefab design was being pushed to its limits in the post-war era. Set against the rural beauty of the Emporda landscape, the pavilion offers visitors a rare glimpse into a forgotten chapter of architectural history – where innovation and utility met decades ahead of their time. Far from the urban sprawl, in the calm of Spanish wine country, Fillod’s vision has finally found the spotlight it deserves.

A family-run business, since 1970, offering the full range of traditional agency services

30 highly skilled professionals speaking 14 languages

Two prestigious offices on Marbella’s Golden Mile

Highest qualifications, regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

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LA CULTURA

Undead invaders

TURNING ARAB

BENALMADENA Pueblo

will transform into a medieval wonderland for its Arab Souk, running from Thursday to Sunday (August 28–31).

The event immerses visitors in the sights, sounds, and aromas of the Middle Ages, featuring over 40 craft stalls, traditional cuisine, parades, and live music.

Highlights include daily Sephardic concerts by Al Folk, a special performance by Ziraj on Saturday at 11pm in Plaza de Andalucia, and falconry displays in Plaza del Alguacil. Families can enjoy henna, Arabic calligraphy, wood-carving workshops, a medieval boat, and a children’s play area.

This year also spotlights local talent through the Alma y Esencia artisans association. Spread across the old town, the souk celebrates culture, supports local trade, and draws visitors during the peak season, boosting both heritage and the economy.

THE first-ever San Diego Comic-Con Malaga kicks off September 25–28, promising cosplay, comics – and some seriously undead drama. Around 60,000 fans are expected to flock to the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos to join in. There will be screenings, cosplay contests, gaming zones, comic book launches, and celebrity appearanc-

es.

Top of the billing is the presentation of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Stars Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride (pictured) will bring zombies to life as their characters crash-land on the Spanish coast, facing both the undead and humans desperate to survive. Spanish actors Eduardo Noriega and Óscar Jaenada join the cast, with local produc-

tion company Anima Stillking helping shoot the season. Also on the menu is a showing of AMC’s Talamasca: The Secret Order, from Anne Rice’s vampire universe.

Actor Nicholas Denton and the creative team will unveil a secret society hunting supernatural creatures – witches, vampires, ghosts and werewolves.

ROMAN LUXURY

Giant Roman ‘spa centre’ unearthed after eight-year dig

AFTER nearly a decade of painstaking excavation, archaeologists have finally revealed a giant Roman bathhouse in its full glory - and it’s one of the grandest ever found in Spain.

The discovery, made at La Alcudia (Elche) by a University of Alicante team, has exposed the

full scale of the so-called Eastern Baths – a 1,300-square-metre complex dripping in luxury that once catered to the citizens of Iulia Ilici Augusta, a Roman colony founded in the 1st century BC.

Led by Professor Jaime Molina Vidal, the eight-year dig has uncovered mosaics, pools, steam rooms and saunas –a snapshot of

FINALLY UNCOVERED: The site at La Alcudia, and the team from the University of Alicante

the kind of pampered lifestyle enjoyed by Hispania’s wealthy elite in the 2nd century AD.

“These are among the largest Roman baths unearthed in the Valencian region,” said Molina. “Their scale and decoration reflect the prosperity of the city during its golden age.”

The complex included icy cold plunge pools (frigidaria), steaming hot caldaria, saunas, and even one of the biggest preserved swimming pools

(natatio) in Roman Spain. Two stunning mosaics have also been uncovered: one mimicking marble slabs, the other decorated with acanthus leaves and floral patterns. But the baths – once bustling with chatter, politics and pleasure – eventually fell silent. Decline set in by the 3rd century as the empire faltered, with partial repairs attempted before the site was finally abandoned by the 6th century.

Picasso dispute

COLLECTOR Sasan Ghandehari has filed a lawsuit against Christie’s, claiming the auction house failed to disclose that a Pablo Picasso painting he purchased was previously owned by a convicted drug trafficker.

The work, Femme dans un rocking-chair (1956), was guaranteed by Ghandehari’s Brewer Management Corporation (BMC) for £14.5 million during a London evening sale in February 2023. The lawsuit, filed in the High Court of England & Wales, alleges Christie’s misrepresented ownership, stating the painting belonged to Jose Mestre Jr., while concealing that his father had served nine years in prison for a €14 million cocaine seizure.

Ghandehari claims he would not have signed the third-party guarantee had he known. He seeks cancellation of the contract and return of a £4.8 million partial payment. Christie’s says it will ‘robustly defend’ the claim.

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LA CULTURA

The matador and the movie king

WHEN Cayetano Ordoñez (‘El Niño de la Palma’) hit the big time as a bullfighter, he bought himself a finca. Cayetano was a gypsy, and had been raised in poverty in Ronda. His father made a precarious living as a cobbler.

We’re talking a hundred years ago.

Señor Ordoñez’ customers were illiterate, so – as a marketing ploy – he placed a big palm frond over his shop doorway. When people needed their shoes re-soled, they knew to head for ‘La Palma’.

Bullfighters need nicknames. Think of Manuel Rodríguez, the greatest of them all. How many young men in Andalucia are named ‘Manuel Rodriguez’? Thousands. But ‘Manolete’

How Orson Welles swapped Beverly Hills for bullrings – and chose Ronda as his eternal home

By Michael Coy

stands out from the crowd.

That’s why young Cayetano called himself, ‘The Boy from La Palma’. What has any of this to do with Orson Welles?

The finca, ‘El Recreo’, was handed down to Cayetano’s son, another bullfighter, An-

“er, still stands proud.

When Welles, the great actor-director, died suddenly in 1985, among his papers was found his hand-written wish to be cremated – and to have his ashes sprinkled in the finca’s well in his beloved Ronda.

Clearly, El

tonio Ordoñez. Antonio was on very friendly terms with Ernest Hemingway and, later, Orson Welles.

The two Americans were big fans of the bulls, and were frequent guests at El Recreo.

To this day the finca has remained in Ordoñez hands.

It was once in the countryside, half a mile outside Ronda, but urban sprawl has now enveloped the area. El Recreo, howev-

“ At El Recreo he could eat, drink and laugh with Antonio Ordoñez and his family

Recreo was emotionally very important to him, and his wish was carried out. The farm’s well is now known as the Pozo Orson Welles’. Welles was born in Wisconsin in 1915. His colossal talent was obvious from very early on. At 16 years of age he toured Ireland on his own, and talked his way into acting roles in Dublin’s Gate Theatre. Back in the USA, he conquered Broadway as a young drama director of genius. Progression to Hollywood was

the next obvious step. He was 25 years old when he wrote, directed and starred in Citizen Kane, a film which critics regularly vote to be ‘the greatest movie ever made’. Charles Foster Kane is a fictitious newspaper magnate, along the lines of Rupert Murdoch. Through and 1960s, he was a man in constant battle with Hollywood studios, critics, and his own health.

a kaleidoscope of stunning images, we watch Kane’s life as he goes from a young, optimistic hero to a sad, broken old man.

He had fabulous wealth, but he wanted love – and never found it.

Immediately before the sensational Citizen Kane, Welles caused an enormous stir with his radio production of The War of the Worlds.

He came up with such a powerful, convincing rendition of the HG Wells novel about martians invading the earth that thousands of Americans thought it was really happening.

People packed up the family car and fled their homes to get away from the martians!

Because of his high intelligence and intimate knowledge of cultural traditions, Welles was drawn to Europe.

After World War Two he spent most of his time (and made many of his films) in Italy and Spain. He followed the bulls, year on year. An honoured guest, he rubbed shoulders with Spain’s finest. Matadors frequently dedicated their ‘toros’ to him.

But Spain was more than a spectacle for Welles – it was a sanctuary. By the 1950s

He carried his immense bulk with difficulty, often suffering from gout, swollen legs and shortness of breath. Walking the cobbled streets of Ronda was no easy feat, but the town gave him peace. Locals recall seeing him at bars and cafes, sweating heavily in the summer heat, but always surrounded by admirers.

He was witty, magnetic, and larger than life, yet there was sadness too. Friends said Welles felt misunderstood, abandoned even, by the American industry he had once conquered.

Spain, with its long dinners, bullfights and traditions, offered him something different: respect without judgement. Ronda, in particular, became his refuge. At El Recreo he could eat, drink and laugh with Antonio Ordoñez and his family, away from the pressures of Hollywood. “He found in Spain a kind of family,” one friend remarked, “and in Ronda, a home.”

It is interesting to note that this man, a social lion in New York, London, Paris and Venice, chose to have his ashes scattered in little Ronda.

We can only suppose that the most precious memories that he carried into his old age were of tranquil, sun-kissed evenings, laughing and telling stories with dear friends, and drinking sangria around the garden table at El Recreo –the place where Orson Welles, for all his brilliance and pain, finally found rest.

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

LA CULTURA

TIME TO Par ty!

It is the biggest celebration of the summer - Malaga Feria. The Olive Press sent intern Maia Pak from California to find out what Spanish life is all about

STEPPING off the train, I was immediately swept into a riot of colour, music and festivities.

Calle Larios and the surrounding streets were alive with swirls of flamenco dancers, endless stalls selling bright accessories and candy, and streamers in purple, white and green draping the buildings. The air vibrated with the rhythmic clapping of castanets, strums of guitars, and the lively notes of verdiales, Malaga’s traditional folk music.

Groups of musicians gathered in almost every street, giving impromptu performances that drew cheering crowds, while children in frilly Andalucian outfits twirled through traditional dances on the main stage, and older women in bright pink dresses encouraged passers-by to join in. Every song ended with a chorus of ‘olé!’ from the crowd, and more often than not, someone got pulled in to dance. Despite the shops being closed, the streets were alive with en ergy – families, friends and visitors filled the bustling thoroughfare, enjoying tapas and drinks on outdoor pati os, dancing, and soaking up the loud music.

Couples twirled gracefully in flamenco dresses while children ran about, catching the aroma of churros sardines, and sweet pastries.

In the Plaza de la Constitucion, live bands, flamen co artists, and open-air choirs took the celebration up a notch, while groups of friends formed their own dance circles,

TRANSFORMED: The Historice centre of Malaga was packed for the day feria

balancing beers in hand and attempting sevillanas.

Feria de Malaga, also known

Feria de Agosto, is an annual celebration lasting 10 nights and nine days, held since 1491 to commemorate the city’s capture by Catholic monarchs. Nearly every attendee had a pink and white bottle of Cartojal in hand - the sweet local wine served in iconic fuchsia cups. Some drank it straight in chilled shots, others mixed it with tonic

Costa & Sol: The

ERA Costa & Sol continues to make waves as the standout real estate agency along Spain’s beautiful, sunshine coast.

Part of the renowned, international, ERA Real Estate network, this dynamic firm combines global real estate expertise and heritage, with expert local knowledge catering to an international client base seeking to buy their dream property in the sun.

With offices in Benahavis and Marbella, ERA Costa & Sol offers more than just property listings – it delivers a full-spectrum real estate services, including property management, rental services, and real estate selling and purchasing with end to end transaction management, financing options, mortgage assistance and legal support.

Backed by the ERA network, which spans over 1,100 offices and 36,000 agents across Europe, the agency brings heavyweight marketing tools and an integrated client service model to the table. The result? A seamless, hassle-free experience that allows buyers and sellers to focus on the future, while the ERA team handles the details.

Whether you’re buying a luxury villa in Marbella, selling a stylish apartment in Mijas, or investing in a new beachfront development in Estepona, their expert team is on hand to guide you every step of the way. What truly sets ERA Costa & Sol apart is its global heritage and the local knowledge of its multilin gual team of professionals hailing from Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany and the UK. This diversity ensures that their clients receive clear advice which is tailored to support an international client base.

over ice, but everyone agreed feria isn’t feria without it.

Supermarkets dedicated fridges to the wine, bins were plastered with its logo, and pink cups and fans were passed freely to passers-by.

I even saw parents pour a tiny sip into their young son’s mouth – though it was decidedly not his favourite.

Venturing away from the main streets, each alleyway had its own celebration. Flamenco claps echoed between narrow walls, mixing with the lively notes of verdiales and laughter. Private gatherings spilled onto the roads, and music could be heard drifting from every corner, creating rhythms anyone could join.

Though not necessarily traditional fare, I couldn’t resist a cup of frozen yogurt from one of my favourite shops, Myka. Everyone who wasn’t drinking or dancing seemed to be enjoying some kind of frozen treat – a necessary aid in the 30-degree heat.

To me, feria proved one thing: in Malaga, even a simple stroll can turn into an unforgettable party.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

BOTTLING HISTORY

A RONDA vineyard has paid homage to John Morrison, the British engineer behind southern Spain’s first railway line.

Huerto de la Condesa has created a new red, ‘Mr Morrison’, blending Syrah, Graciano and Malbec grapes, aged 12 months in French oak.

The label features a steam train, the vineyard’s rolling hills, and the iconic town of Ronda.

Morrison oversaw the Algeciras-Gibraltar-Ronda-Bobadilla line in the late 19th century, opening the region to tourism and allowing British officers from Gibraltar to explore inland Spain.

The route inspired famous writers, from Hemingway to Welles, and still runs three times daily.

For Huerto de la Condesa, whose vineyards border the tracks, the wine is both a tribute and a connection to history.

Owners describe it as cherry-hued, opening with ripe dark fruit and a fresh, elegant finish – a liquid echo of Ronda’s landscapes.

LOOKING for a quiet getaway in Spain? A new study has revealed the five calmest cities – with the lowest noise levels and least nightlife. Travel firm Altezza Travel ranked 30 destinations by sound pollution, nightlife, traffic and density. Topping the list is Cartagena, Murcia’s historic port, with only 25 nightlife activities and an aver-

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

QUIET LIFE

age of just 10 decibels – making it Spain’s quietest city. Next is Zaragoza, where 700,000 residents still enjoy relative peace at 39.7 decibels, followed by Vigo in Galicia, with a modest tourist flow and average noise of 34.8 decibels.

Perhaps surprisingly, Valencia makes the list, scoring 33.5 decibels thanks to wide boulevards and smart planning, despite 12 million visitors a year. Completing the top five is Oviedo, Asturias’ capital, at 41.6 decibels. By contrast, Barcelona ranks loudest, averaging nearly 63 decibels, ahead of Sevilla, Palma, Granada and Bilbao.

Feeling the pinch

Food prices have shot up 38% since 2019 while wages have risen by barely a third of that

SPANISH households are feeling the pinch, with food prices rising far faster than wages over the past six years. Filling a shopping basket now costs 38.5% more than in 2019, while average wages have crept up just 12.3%, according to Eurostat.

Basic staples are hitting record highs, with eggs up 18.3%, beef 15.1%, lamb 11.7%, chocolate 21.6%, fruit 8.8%, vegetables 8.4% and fish 6.2% year-on-year.

Fresh produce has surged an average of 43.2% and processed foods 33.7%, leaving families spending a bigger slice of their income on essentials and cutting back on rent, transport, clothes, or savings.

By Walter Finch

The Bank of Spain warns low-income households are set to suffer the most if prices remain high.

Part of the squeeze comes from the end of the government’s temporary VAT cut on basic food, which restored the 4% levy in January and raised €853 million in just six months. It’s not just the supermarket – housing costs have spiralled too. Since 2019, average sale prices have jumped 30%, rents roughly 20%.

A worker taking home €1,500 a month in 2019 would now need €1,834 just to stand still, but wages have

only lifted to €1,666, leaving them over €2,000 worse off in real terms. The cost-of-living crunch has forced many families to rethink budgets, skipping meals, buying cheaper alternatives, or cutting back on

is now 38.5% more

leisure.

Experts warn that without relief, the gap between pay and essential costs will keep widening, leaving Spanish households poorer, more stressed and less secure than just a few years ago.

ANDALUCIA is breaking records this summer despite historic price hikes and high inflation.

Last-minute bookings are driving the surge, with coastal hotels at 85% occupancy.

Tourists are reserving holidays just days ahead, a trend confirmed by Gaspar Saez of Barcelo Hotel Group and Rocio Galan of Melia Hotels, who report a 10% rise in late bookings in Torremolinos.

While domestic tourism has slowed, international visitors – particularly Americans and Portuguese – are keeping hotels full, with British numbers steady.

Room rates have jumped, with the average nightly price at €143 in July and €157 in August, up from €107 and €121 in 2019.

AI-driven pricing and high demand are behind the hikes, though spending on hotel services has dipped 6–9%.

LIVE LONG AND PROSPER

€300,000 raised to fight ageing: Alicante nonprofit drives radical lifeextension research forward

ANONPROFIT group in Alicante province has secured €300,000 in new funding to propel its ambitious anti-ageing science through 20252026.

The Radical Life Extension Group (RLE) confirmed the commitment after a summit in Dubai in April, co-organised by CEO Yuri Khait and investor relations manager Alisa Perekopskaya. The event gathered existing patrons and new backers for direct talks with the scientific team.

At the gathering, RLE’s senior figures – including scientific director Alexander Fedintsev, recognised as a ‘Rising Star’ at the Longevity Summit Dublin in 2024 – set out their roadmap for extending healthy human lifespan.

They were joined by director of development Stanislav Polozov, medical director Andrey Isaev, partner relations director Nikolai Sidorov, and Perekopskaya, who played a key role in shaping the future.

Supporters pledged €300,000, which RLE says will go directly into scientific projects. “Every euro we

raise goes directly into scientific investigations and practical experiments,” said CEO Khait.

SCIENCE AT THE EDGE

RLE describes itself as the only organisation in Alicante province – and among the few in Spain – dedicated entirely to longevity science. Its current projects include:

● Genetic factory of longevity – a non-viral silicon nanoparticle platform delivering ‘longevity genes’ to normalise ageing pathways. RLE reports that, in mice, this has extended lifespan by up to 40%.

● The method of stimulating elastin synthesis – designed to restore elasticity in skin, blood vessels and organs.

● Muscle preservation – a molecule in development to prevent sarcopenia, or age-related muscle loss.

● Immune rejuvenation – targeting the protein Cdc42 to reinvigorate

blood-forming stem cells, based on established findings in academic research.

● Early cancer detection – technology aimed at identifying signalling proteins in pre-cancerous cells long before tumours form.

A RADICAL VISION

The group was founded by researcher involved in proposing the ‘tenth hallmark of ageing’ – extracellular matrix stiffness – along with biohackers known for therapeutic plasma-exchange experiments. This unconventional heritage, RLE says, allows it to push boundaries faster than traditional labs.

Unlike commercial biotech firms, RLE operates as a nonprofit, channelling all funds directly into research. Sponsors gain early access to its unique developments and priority in future spin-offs. RLE welcomes additional sponsors

who share its vision of radically extending healthy lifespan through advanced science.

ALICANTE IN THE LONGEVITY SPOTLIGHT

Although most lon-

gevity conferences in the region are held in Valencia – including the Longevity World Forum, which has drawn international figures such as Liz Parrish and Steve Horvath – Alicante is positioning itself as part of this ecosystem.

The province now hosts both RLE’s headquarters and growing biotech interest in the science of ageing.

International networks such as the International Longevity Alliance, which campaigns to classify ageing itself as a treatable condition, also provide opportunities for collaboration.

CHANGING THE ODDS

Average life expectancy continues to rise worldwide, but the rate of increase is slowing. For those born in developed countries today, the chance of reaching 100 is estimated at around 3 to 5% for women and just 1% for men – far from the radical extension sought by longevity researchers.

RLE says its mission is not just to add years but to extend healthspan – reducing frailty, preventing disease and restoring vitality.

“We now have both the scientific momentum and the financial backing to accelerate,” said Khait. “Our goal is nothing less than to radically extend healthy human lifespan.”

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

Baeza and Ubeda, at the pinnacle of Spain’s Renaissance attractions

By Dilip Kuner

ONE of the delights of Spain is visiting its unspoilt interior where historic buildings are often set in a landscape virtually unchanged for centuries. While the coastal regions of Andalucia and Valencia are well known and the famous cities of Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada too, a trip inland to the unfashionable province of Jaen is well worth the effort.

For lovers of history, architecture, and timeless beauty, it is full of hidden treasures. Among its crown jewels are the twin towns of Baeza and Ubeda, just five miles apart, which together have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003. Their streets, squares, and palaces have seen centuries of art, culture, and wealth – and they remain surprisingly unspoiled by mass tourism.

Baeza feels like a slice of Italy transplanted to southern Spain. Its wealth in the 1500s came from the booming textile trade, and with riches came a taste for Renaissance architecture.

The town’s University Building (1533) is a shining example of this style, while the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin and the Nativity showcases exquisite plateresque details – a Spanish tradition of ornate decoration inspired by silversmith work.

Wandering Baeza, you’ll stumble across the Fountain of the Lions, one of the town’s oldest

TWIN PEAKS

monuments. Its sculpted lions pay homage to local legend, with carvings said to depict Hannibal’s wife, the Carthaginian general famous for marching elephants on Rome. Every

make it a photographer’s dream. Just a short drive away, Ubeda claims

UNTOUCHED: Both towns are a warren of ancient streets

QUICK GUIDE: Baeza & Ubeda

Top Sights in Baeza:

● University Building (1533): Stunning Renaissance architecture and a must for history buffs

● Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin and the Nativity: Plateresque details and centuries of history in one magnificent building

● Fountain of the Lions: One of Spain’s oldest fountains, with sculpted lions said to depict Hannibal’s wife

● Plaza del Populo: Picturesque square perfect for cafés and people-watching

● Palacio de Jabalquinto: A Gothic-Renaissance gem with intricate stonework

Top Sights in Ubeda:

● Vazquez de Molina Square: A monumental Renaissance plaza surrounded by palaces

● Parador of Ubeda: Sleep like a 16th-century aristocrat in this former churchman’s palace

● Water Synagogue: Medieval Jewish architecture, including ritual baths and a Women’s Gallery

● Palacio del Dean Ortega: A stunning example of Renaissance urban palace design.

to be even older than Baeza, and some historians suggest it is one of the oldest continuous settlements in western Europe. Conquered by the Romans in 206 BC, it became the colony of Betula During the early

Middle Ages, while England was under Norman rule, Ubeda thrived as a Muslim community – until 1212, when Christian crusaders seized the city.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

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The 16th century brought new prosperity as aristocrats flocked to Ubeda, commissioning grand stone and marble buildings that define the town’s

PADDLE POWER!

Charity surf race makes big splash in Sotogrande

IT was sun, smiles and serious splash as dozens took to the water for Sotogrande’s feel-good event of the summer - the Charity Paddle Surf Race.

Held at the glamorous La Reserva Club, the event wasn’t just about fun in the sun - it was all in aid of Asociacion Tiles, a local organisation helping people with disabilities take part in sport and social life.

From kids to pensioners, around 50 paddlers grabbed their boards to glide across the crystal-clear lagoon - with many wobbling, laughing, and splashing their way through a 500-metre course.

Kicking off just after 10am, the morning was full of energy - and a little chaos - especially during a hilarious six-person paddleboard race, where families and friends joined forces to row to glory (or just try not to fall in).

The awards ceremony at lunchtime handed

out prizes, but it was all smiles regardless of who won - because everyone knew they were paddling for a great cause.

Marketing boss Rita Jordao from Sotogrande S.A. said the event ‘showed the true heart of Sotogrande -

character today. Its Vazquez de Molina Square is monumental, lined with Renaissance palaces, while the Water Synagogue remains a remarkable remnant of Ubeda’s medieval Jewish heritage, complete with ritual baths and a Women’s Gallery. And if you’ve ever heard the Spanish phrase andar por los cerros de Ubeda (‘to wander around the hills of Ubeda’), you’ll know the town even lent its name to a saying about going off at a tangent. The Parador of Ubeda, once a palace of a high-ranking churchman, offers visitors a chance to stay inside this Renaissance masterpiece.

bringing together sport, nature, and community to do some real good’.

And Micaela Company, a teacher and rep from Asociacion Tiles, praised the day as ‘a brilliant example of what it means to build

community’. She added: “Today, kids, parents and grandparents shared healthy, happy moments - and that’s something we all need more of.”

Tiles, founded in 2015, gives people with disabilities the chance to do things most take for granted - like paddle surfing, martial arts, mountain hiking and even the legendary Camino de Santiago. Over 400 people

GETTING THERE

By car, the easiest route from Granada is the A44 motorway, followed by the A316 road, which winds through both Baeza and Ubeda. Rail travellers can alight at Linares-Baeza station, just a 20-minute taxi ride from Baeza (taxis are available right outside). Buses are less convenient: while services run from Malaga, they are slow, often requiring one or two changes. For anyone seeking a journey through history, culture, and Renaissance splendour – all without the crowds of Sevilla or Granada – the twin jewels of Baeza and Ubeda are Andalucia at its most enchanting.

● Both towns are highly walkable – explore the narrow streets on foot

● Stop by local artisan shops for ceramics, lace, and olive oil

● Don’t miss a coffee or tapas in a sunny plaza – the perfect way to soak up the atmosphere

across the region have already joined their life-changing programmes - and thanks to events like this, that number’s only going up.

The race was put together by Sotogrande S.A., in partnership with the Real Club Maritimo de Sotogrande (RCMS) and Blua Blue Watersports, who made sure everything ran smoothly - and safely - for paddlers of all abilities.

Every single euro raised went straight to Tiles, making sure even more people can get involved in their inclusive sport and adventure projects.

This wasn’t just a one-day event - it’s part of Sotogrande’s year-round mission to mix sport, sustainability and social good.

Between La Reserva’s sparkling beach club, top-tier golf and endless activities, and local partners like Tiles, RCMS and Blua Blue Watersports, Sotogrande is fast becoming a hub for healthy living and giving back.

Because in this stylish slice of southern Spain, life really is better when everyone gets to join in.

CONSTRUCTION

CONSTRUCTION

LIVE-IN CARE

Bat advice

HEALTH authorities in Catalunya have issued an urgent warning urging residents to avoid all contact with bats following a spike in potentially dangerous encounters across the region.

Officials recorded 22 incidents in the first seven months of 2025 – a quarter of all animal attacks reported by July.

Rabies

While no human rabies cases have been detected in Spain, bats remain the main carriers of the European strain, capable of transmitting the fatal disease through bites or scratches.

Authorities urge residents never to touch bats, even if injured, and to seek immediate medical care after any contact.

Your health in their hands

Japanese company responsible for UK Post Office Horizon scandal to develop AI in healthcare

THE Japanese tech giant behind the UK Post Office’s notorious Horizon system – which saw hundreds of innocent subpostmasters wrongfully convicted – has struck a deal to provide AI software for Andalucia’s health service.

Fujitsu, whose faulty Horizon programme led to one of Britain’s worst miscarriages of

FOOD FACTS

SPAIN’S sweltering August temperatures may have you reaching for that ice-cold gazpacho, but don’t fall for the summer diet hype flooding social media.

Nutritionist Vanesa Cortes advises sticking to fresh, local Mediterranean foods – watermelon, melon, cucumbers, tomatoes, and cold legume salads – and listening to your body rather than following internet ‘cleanses’ and ‘detox diets’..

By Dilip Kuner

justice, will establish an AI research lab in the region as part of efforts to modernise public healthcare and improve disease diagnosis.

But its involvement has sparked alarm. The Horizon system misrepresented financial data,

Endocrinologist Belen Silveira warns that hydration is the real priority, especially for the over65s, whose sense of thirst declines. Plain water is sufficient, though fruit, mint or cucumber can add variety. Exercise is fine if timed sensibly, avoiding the 11am – 5pm sun.

Cortes sums it up: “Taking care of yourself is compatible with enjoying yourself. Eat well, hydrate, and trust your body – extremes aren’t necessary, even when temperatures soar above 40C.”

leading to over 700 subpostmasters being wrongly convicted of fraud, theft and false accounting. Many lost jobs, homes and even their freedom before the courts overturned their convictions.

A UK parliamentary inquiry condemned Fujitsu for failing to act sooner,

and although the company has apologised and pledged compensation, campaigners argue it has not done enough to repair the damage.

Alan Bates, founder of the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance, warned Spain to tread carefully. “Fujitsu’s involvement in public services should raise alarms,” he said. “They’ve caused immense harm here in the UK, and yet they seem to be moving forward with little accountability.”

Digital health experts have also voiced concern. Dr Peter Bradley said: “Fujitsu’s history with the Horizon system raises legitimate concerns about its ability to handle critical data like medical records. Trust is essential in healthcare, and given their past failures, there are serious questions about whether they are the right fit for this kind of work.” Fujitsu insists the Horizon errors were unintentional and says its technology is now more reliable.

A WARNING has been issued that killer mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile Virus will soon be the ‘new normal’ in southern Spain. Health chiefs at Europe’s ECDC say rising temperatures, longer summers and wetter winters are turning Andalucia into a breeding ground for tropical bugs.

Sevilla is the worst-hit hotspot, with Puebla del Rio and Coria del Rio plagued by repeated West Nile outbreaks. Cases have also spread to Cadiz, Huelva, Cordoba, Malaga and Jaen. Officials have urged people – especially kids, pensioners and the vulnerable – to slap on repellent, cover up with long sleeves and sleep under nets to avoid potentially fatal bites.

Little biters SCENT CLUE

WOMEN give off a more fragrant scent when they ovulate –and men can’t help but notice, a Japanese study reveals. Researchers at Tokyo University discovered three compounds in underarm sweat that spike during ovulation, turning the smell from ‘vinegary’ to downright alluring.

Men who sniffed the ovulatory scent rated photos of women as more attractive and feminine – and even relaxed more, with stress levels dropping in their saliva.

The ‘magic trio’ includes geranylacetone (floral-green aroma), tetradecanoic acid (linked to newborn feeding responses), and palmitoleic acid.

Quirónsalud Marbella - Avda. Severo Ochoa, 22 - 29603 Marbella Málaga

Phone return

CATALAN police have dismantled several Barcelona phone-snatching gangs, seizing 1,000 mobiles, and launched an online database where victims can enter their IMEI number to reclaim stolen devices.

At it again

JEREMY Clarkson has sparked outrage in Spain after branding A Coruna ‘one of the worst places’ he’s visited, despite the Galician city attracting nearly one million tourists in 2024.

Hook charge

AN Ibiza restaurant faces a watchdog complaint after allegedly adding a €12 ‘bag hook’ charge to diners’ bills, with consumer group FACUA slamming the undisclosed fee as illegal and outrageous.

A SPANISH influencer cou-

ple’s dream trip to Puerto Rico descended into chaos after they blindly trusted ChatGPT for travel advice –and ended up stranded at the airport.

In a viral TikTok clip, which has smashed past 6.1 million views, tearful Mery Caldass is seen sobbing while her partner Alejandro Cid tries to console her (right).

“I always do research, but I asked ChatGPT , and it said no,” Caldass wailed, referring to whether they needed a visa. “I don’t trust that

BLOW HERE: Test went horribly wrong for examiner

AI travel fail

Spanish influencer left crying at airport after blindly trusting ChatGPT visa advice anymore.”

BURNING

Here’s the kicker: Spanish citizens don’t need a visa for Puerto Rico, but they do need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ESTA) – a tiny but crucial detail the AI apparently forgot. The result?

Stranded influencers, online ridicule,

RAGE

A MAN has been arrested for allegedly dousing a bar in petrol and setting it ablaze because staff did not have mayonnaise for his sandwich.

The incident unfolded in the tiny town of Los Palacios y Villafranca, in the province of Sevilla.

According to police sources, the man first

By Dilip Kuner

and a stark warning about relying on robots for real-world travel planning.

TikTok users were ruthless.

“Natural selection, I guess,” one wrote. “If you’re taking a transoceanic trip and rely entirely on ChatGPT, you get what you deserve.” Others noted the couple may

asked for mayonnaise with his order but was told by a waiter the bar did not have any. Undeterred, he went to the terrace and asked a waitress who gave him the same answer. Enraged, he stormed out of the bar before returning minutes later clutching a bottle of petrol. He then allegedly doused the bar counter in the flammable liquid and lit it, setting the bar on fire.

The man, who was the only one hurt, was taken to a health centre to be treated for burns.

have phrased their question wrong, but the message is clear: AI is no substitute for official sources.

Adding insult to injury, Caldass joked the AI might be exacting revenge for her past insults: “Sometimes I call it useless – maybe this was payback.”

This isn’t an isolated case. A 60-year-old American was hospitalised for three weeks after ChatGPT told him to swap table salt for sodium bromide – a toxic chemical. Doctors confirmed the AI still recommends it without warnings.

Experts warn: “AI is only as reliable as the data it’s trained on,” said Dr Elena Torres, digital ethics researcher at NYU. “Blind trust can have real-world consequences.”

Despite the fiasco, Caldass and Cid eventually made it to Puerto Rico in time for a Bad Bunny concert – but one thing’s for sure: ChatGPT will never get their travel trust again.

WHAT should have been the most stressful day of their lives turned into a farce when a driving instructor was caught over the limit during his pupils’ test in Palma, Mallorca.

Three hopeful learners had just set off for their test when Guardia Civil officers stopped them at a checkpoint near the airport. To their shock, it wasn’t the rookie behind the wheel who failed – but the instructor in the passenger seat.

Alcohol

He blew over the legal alcohol limit, forcing the exam to be scrapped on the spot. Furious parents blasted him for ‘risking the kids’ lives all morning’. Learners claimed he’d been ‘laughing too much and touching people, and not being himself’ throughout the lesson. To make matters worse, the school is refusing to pay for retests, insisting families cover the fees again. Guardia Civil chiefs have launched a probe after similar boozy scandals rocked the island last summer.