On arrival at Malaga Airport and driving along the coastline this image can soon be shattered as one drives past the multitude of concrete jungles hugging the shoreline. BUT THIS IS NOT ANDALUCIA, drive just 15 minutes inland and you find yourself a million miles away, surrounded by astounding natural beauty, wildlife and history with Seville, Cadiz, Cordoba, Malaga, Jaen, Granada being the principal cities.The Romans first settled in the 3rd century BC and left behind a wealth of history and artefacts, Caesar was supposedly to have bathed in the Roman Baths near Casares, which are still used to this day. The Moorish period was the golden age of Andalucia. Agriculture, leather working, mining, pottery, textiles and trade were all fostered and brought great prosperity. Cordoba, Granada and Seville, embellished by the greatest Moorish monuments in Spain, the Mezquita, the Alcazar and the Alhambra Palace respectively were celebrated as centres of arts, culture and science. There is still a strong Moorish influence in the character, customs and language of the people. With its tradition of bull fights, flamenco music and dance it is one of Europe's most strikingly colourful regions.
The Andaluz way is very different from the Northern European and the peculiar custom of drinking without eating, especially in enormous quantities, is very puzzling – hence the wonderful world of tapas and their sometimes curious ingredients. In the rural towns and villages the whole gamut of society will wander around the parks, plazas and streets between about 9 and 11 in the evening, no Andaluz will dine before 10 pm and if a celebration (fiesta), of which there are many, is going to take place nothing begins until at least midnight. To the Andaluz, children are adored, and there is nowhere that they are not welcome. The family is extremely important to everyone, in fact in the rural villages and towns, the vast majority will spend their entire lives within a few kilometres of the place where they were born and just about everyone you meet appears to be related to everyone else in some way!
But more about the sheer beauty of rural Andalucia and varied wildlife, with rugged mountains where the famous picture postcard white villages cling to their sides, green rolling hills, gorges and rivers, cork forests and many National Parks; One is truly spoilt with the beauty and choice of it all. There is wildlife in abundance notably wild boar, vultures, deer and ibex. Goats, mules and horses graze on the roadside and one can buy cheese from the local goat farmer and bread directly from the wood-fired oven.
A wide variety of inland properties are on offer in this beautiful area of Spain including modern new built villas and apartments along with more traditional villas, country houses, fincas, cortijos and sometime ruins for sale to those wishing to renovate after buying . Geographical variety is probably the area's most distinct feature as property hunters will meet with dry plains, olive groves, fertile valleys, mountain areas, limestone cliffs and formations, wetland areas and even rural stretches of coastline. The roads are good and communication via internet, telephone etc is readily available.
Of course it is important to prepare for the purchase as much as possible in advance and choosing the right professionals to handle the sale is essential. World Properties and Land have extensive knowledge of purchasing property in Spain and would be pleased to advise you on all aspects of your purchase and also recommend independent legal advisors to assist you throughout your buying process.
If you are looking for a beautiful, peaceful and safe lifestyle, full of character and charm, then rural Andalucia is the place for you; With the coast and all the modern amenities being only a short distance away with easy accessibility to the rest of Europe.
