| For decades, there has been a steady increase in | | | | Fallas Festival (12th - 19th March), La Tomatina (end of |
| people travelling to Spain. Be it for business or | | | | August) and the annual food fight. Its main tourist |
| pleasure, the attractive lure of holiday costas appears | | | | attractions are al Mercado Central de Valencia - a |
| to be too tempting for the average Briton. And, at a | | | | central indoor market measuring 8000 square meters, |
| glance, the reason is immediately apparent: the rich | | | | and the Llotja de la Seda (Silk Exchange) in Placa del |
| cultural diversity of its native population, the dazzling | | | | Mercat. |
| arrays of modern architecture and the endless | | | | For a beach holiday, Alicante is a firm favourite |
| stretches of white sandy beaches merging with the | | | | amongst tourists. Positioned on the east coast and well |
| bluest waters in Europe are only a few positives as to | | | | known for its sandy white beaches, turquoise sea and |
| why Spain is the first choice for many. | | | | excellent weather, it's no surprise that it received the |
| But in a country of over a dozen regions and a | | | | most blue flags in 2006 for its beaches and has a |
| hundred cities, how do you choose the perfect | | | | regular ferry service to the Balearic Islands. |
| location? Most people would consider the nation's | | | | Approximately 370 km to the south of Alicante lays |
| capital, Madrid, as the obvious choice. However, a look | | | | another popular destination. Malaga, - the capital of |
| towards the further reaches of Spain reveals a host | | | | Costa de Sol and the birthplace of Pablo Picasso |
| of possibilities when considering an ideal holiday | | | | includes the Gibralfaro castle, Alcazaba and the Plaza |
| destination. | | | | de Toros among its list of popular attractions. |
| Barcelona, for instance, is a lively cosmopolitan city | | | | Whilst some maybe content with several days of |
| containing a wealth of historic architecture, a wide | | | | lounging by the beach or venturing through the cities |
| variety of food and a vibrant nightlife - all wrapped up | | | | and tourist hotspots, others aspire to feel the full |
| in a Mediterranean climate. Tourist highlights include the | | | | Spanish effect on a more permanent level, by looking |
| La Rambla Boulevard, Picasso Museum and Parc Guell | | | | at a property in Spain as a future investment. |
| to mention but a few. The best times to visit the city | | | | However, the decision to move abroad is not one that |
| are generally when its primary festivals occur: the | | | | can be made lightly. Whether you're relocating to be |
| Festes de la Merce (24th September) is Barcelona's | | | | close to a loved one, or as a result of a business |
| main festival, while the festival of Sant Jordi (23rd April) | | | | promotion or even for a relaxing retirement, relocation |
| holds similar connotations to St. Valentines Day. At | | | | can sometimes see an ephemeral dream quickly turn |
| Christmas time, the Fira de Santa Llúcia (2nd/3rd - | | | | into a nightmarish reality for an unfortunate few. |
| 23rd Dec) can be found in the little square in front of | | | | However, the large number of Britons that have |
| the Cathedral and is an ideal opportunity to grab those | | | | relocated to Spain in recent decades reflects the fact |
| Christmas decorations and trinkets. | | | | that, once you've got to grips with the new culture and |
| Alternatively, consider a trip to Valencia. Situated in the | | | | picked up some Spanish, this can be done with a great |
| centre of the Mediterranean coastline, Valencia is the | | | | degree of success. |
| administrative capital of the Valencian community - the | | | | Elisha Burberry is a freelance writer who loves her job |
| centre of the L'Horta region and the birthplace of | | | | and the occasional glass of red wine. |
| paella. Major events to keep in mind include the Las | | | | |