FORMER mayor of Santa Pola, Miguel Zaragoza, has been jailed for six and a half years for allowing a private health clinic to operate rent-free from a council-owned building, while hiring his sister under questionable circumstances.
Zaragoza, who led the town under the Partido Popular from 2003 to 2015, was convicted alongside former councillor Jorge Perello for fraud, bribery, and administrative misconduct. Two doctors who ran Clinica Gran Alacant SL also received identical sentences.
The court found that Zaragoza and Perello enabled the clinic to function without paying rent or utility bills and used their positions to ensure jobs went to politically aligned individuals, including Zaragoza’s sister Pilar, who was paid a full salary despite ceasing to work. Pilar, who is also Perello’s partner, received two years and three months for her role in the scheme. Three other councillors were acquitted.
The clinic has been banned from receiving public subsidies for four years and the court ordered a €109,370 compensation payment to the Santa Pola City Council, with €13,022 already repaid. All parties have the right to appeal.
FAKE POWER OF ATTORNEY STOLE MY HOME
A PREGNANT expat fears losing her baby after she discovered fraudsters had stolen her dream home with fake legal certificates.
The Scandinavian environmental scientist is now questioning how conmen could somehow create a bogus power of attorney (POA) to acquire the apartment in Spain.
The 32-year-old is now ‘terrified’ of leaving her flat, after someone started to send threatening notes, ordering her out.
“There was no verification, no phone call, no warning. We were completely blindsided,” she told the Olive Press, this week.
“How can the Spanish legal system allow this to happen?”
Alarmingly, a leading property lawyer, Diego Echavarria said it was ‘not uncommon’.
“It’s in fact the third example I’ve heard of in a year,” he said.
By Samantha Mythen & Dilip Kuner & Jon Clarke
tranquility after buying the 80m2 property worth €320,000 in April last year.
But what was meant to be a peaceful haven in the sun has turned into a living nightmare.
“It was my dream home with the most breathtaking sea view,” she continued, her voice clearly shaking.
“I used to sit on the terrace in the evening thinking, ‘this is where I’ll grow old’.
Then, in September, everything changed, when her house was broken into. She said the burglars stole golf clubs, branded perfumes, bags and keys to her car, and they installed two high security locks on her front door. She also believes they stole her identity documents, which were in easily accessible and named cartons in the apartment.
cate was created in her name.
The house sale was eventually completed back in Spain in December, by a notary in Sevilla.
“Apparently, I gave someone the legal right to sell my home,” she continued.
“But I never actually signed anything. I’ve never even been to Colombia,” she said.
“And yet, here I am, being told that my house belongs to a stranger.”
Fraud
Sara only discovered the fraud this month when property tax agency, the Catastro Hacienda, informed her the house was now registered under someone else’s name.
“I obviously thought it must be a mistake. But when I checked the registry, I felt like the ground had been pulled out from under me.
My name is gone.”
Asking not to be named for legal reasons, the Scandinavian buyer had moved to Mija on the Costa del Sol in search of us.
And then began a bizarre and terrifying journey, leading finally to Colombia - where, it emerged, a forged power of attorney certifi-
Even more disturbing was how easily the fraud went through.
Since hiring a lawyer to fight the fraudulent transfer, things have taken a darker turn. She stalking us. We don’t know who’s behind this or what they’re capable of. Every night, I sleep with one eye open.”
has received handwritten, threatening notes from someone claiming to be the new ‘owner’ of the apartment. They demanded she contact them via WhatsApp or face ‘violent consequences’.
“We’re being treated like criminals in our own home - like squatters,” she said.
“I’m scared to open the door and to even walk outside in case they are watching or
To make matters more complicated she is 23 weeks pregnant and was hospitalised this week with fears of a premature birth caused by the stress.
She now believes she is battling to save both her baby and her home.
“Spain was supposed to be our safe haven. But it feels like a jungle, where the strong prey on the unsuspecting,” she said.
“There’s a loophole in the system big enough for criminals to walk right through - with your home in their hands.”
Despite the ongoing legal battle, which she’s certain she will win, she insists she will sell up and return home, once it’s over.
“I don’t feel safe here anymore. It doesn’t feel like home. It feels like betrayal.”
EXCLUSIVE
JAILED: Miguel Zaragoza
Costly tantrum
THE president of a La Manga homeowners’ association will pay €14,000 in compensation to a resident after biting off part of his left cheek during a row over water damage.
Beach thieves
THREE men were arrested after stealing two phones and a gold chain belonging to people enjoying a swim at El Campello’s Muchavista beach on Sunday.
Banner fine
A PROTEST group has been fined €1,500 for hanging a banner over a turret of Novelda Castle calling for the resignation of Valencia president Carlos Mazon.
New shoots
BENIDORM is replanting around 400 trees around the city that had to be removed due to disease or vandalism.
A GANG who stole luxury watches from people at gunpoint in the Alicante and Valencia areas has been arrested by the Policia Nacional. Five people were detained in Madrid plus one in Cuenca, with two of the accused being remanded in custody ahead of their trial.
Watch snatchers
Investigations started in February after a violent robbery outside an Alicante nightclub. The victim left the premises and was struck over the head by the butt of a
gun, as two men snatched his watch and drove off on a motorbike.
The probe uncovered two identical robberies in Alginet, a fortnight later.
Once again, victims were threatened with a gun and their watches snatched, with the thieves escaping on a motorcycle.
Saved from squalor
Horses and donkey freed after months of misery - as Brit man’s rescue plea melts hearts
A FOAL, two horses and a donkey have finally been rescued from filthy, neglectful conditions in Cartagena - after five months of complaints from worried locals. The animals were found starving, standing in faeces in a muddy field near the Bahia Bella development, with no proper food, water or shelter.
Locals Jacqueline Collins and Lisa Jones began reporting the abuse in December, but were met with months of bureaucratic delays and silence from both
By Dilip Kuner
Cartagena and Los Alcazares councils.
“It was heartbreaking,” said Collins. “We kept shouting, but no one listened.”
Frustration boiled over when Podemos Cartagena’s Leli García visited in April, accusing officials of ‘washing their hands’ of the problem. A vet later confirmed the animals were abandoned, finally prompting Councillor Gonzalo Lopez Pretel to order their seizure
Residency scam
A VISA scam has been uncovered in Alfaz del Pi, where migrants paid up to €4,000 to fake relationships with Spanish women to gain residency.
Eight people were arrested, including two fake partners and three foreign men who
last weekend.
Collins and Jones say they are ‘thrilled’ the animals are safe at last.
Meanwhile, still in Murcia, a British man has gone vi-
used a single address - registered eight times - to claim common-law status.
The scam involved submitting false civil union documents using the same property, despite only one person living there.
The ruse was exposed when police investigated the repeated use of the address. Authorities say further arrests may follow as the probe continues.
A BRITISH woman accused of sexual assault against children in the UK has been arrested in Valencia.
The 42-year-old fugitive was detained by the Policia Nacional in the La Punta district of the city.
Extradition
She was the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by Interpol on behalf of police in Manchester.
The Brit was arrested after police were tipped off that she could be hiding in Valencia.
Madrid’s National Court will handle extradition proceedings.
ral on TikTok for rescuing donkeys from similar abuse - and running his sanctuary entirely alone.
Dan from Yorkshire posted an emotional video revealing how floods hit his sanctuary, and how he works 15-hour days with no funding or help.
“I’m not directly asking for money,” he said. “I just want to raise awareness.”
To his shock, the video blew up - earning over 20,000 likes and a wave of support.
“I’m speechless,” Dan said. “I just want to rest - and keep helping these animals.”
A DRONE owner faces sanctions after flying his unit over a nuclear power plant in Valencia province. Flight detection equipment at the Cofrentes plant spotted the drone, which had infringed protected airspace. The Guardia Civil were given the exact coordinates from where the drone had been operated.
Officers went to Jalance - south of the plant - and found a man carrying the drone and its remote control unit.
NEWS HOUNDS
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KEEN to discover how investigative journalism works in Spain? The Rest is Spain podcast offers an insider’s look at the major stories impacting expats and tourists each week.
Hosted by Costa del Sol resident Caroline Lips, with Olive Press editor Jon Clarke and digital editor Walter Finch, the 30-minute show breaks down Spain’s most compelling headlines.
Shock
This week’s episode dives into the shock imprisonment of expat fashion designer Jody Smart and uncovers the growing scandal around Iberian Funeral Plans SL, which could leave thousands out of pocket. From natural disasters like the Valencia floods to national crises such as the
By Jon Clarke
power blackout, no subject is off-limits. The team also investigates the strange and scandalous behavior of Estepona’s popular mayor, including allegations of employing a woman for €3,300 a month to ‘inspect lampposts’. The Rest is Spain doesn’t just report the news - it explores how journalists uncover it. Listeners get a rare glimpse into the challenges investigative reporters face, including sourcing stories, verifying facts, and making tough ethical decisions. Whether you’re an expat, a frequent visitor, or just curious about life behind the headlines in Spain, this podcast offers something for everyone.
LISTEN: To our new podcast
MULLINS IT OVER
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE IN THE UK AND LIFE IN SPAIN, WRITES CHARLIE
Hurry up and wait!
From delayed footpaths to Brexit border queues, life in the sun runs on its own clock
SPAIN as a nation, is famously inefficient - where getting anything done feels like a miracle, and when it does happen, it takes 10 times longer than it should.
There’s definitely a north-south cultural divide in Europe, and in this regard, it couldn’t be more obvious.
But I don’t think it’s because the locals don’t care or lack the will to make things happen. It’s more like an evolutionary coping mechanism - a built-in safety valve to manage expectations.
If something’s promised in a year, just assume five. That way, you’re never too disappointed.
Einstein and Stephen Hawking said time isn’t a fixed thing, and honestly, life in Spain might just be the best real-world proof of that theory.
What’s prompted this little rant, you ask?
Well, down in my neck of the woods, it’s taken three years just to award a contract for a pedestrian path between La Cala and Fuengirola. At this rate, we might see it finished by 2030 - if we’re lucky.
Speaking of things finally getting done, I see common sense has at last prevailed: Brits will soon be allowed to use the automatic immigration gates at Spanish (and other EU) airports. I won’t dig up the whole Brexit mess, but it’s taken nearly a decade of posturing for a bit of practicality to shine through.
I’m sure EU citizens had a bit of a chuckle watching the long queues of Brits winding their way through Malaga airport, waiting for a passport stamp - all after we told them exactly where they could shove their club membership. Personally, I won’t miss being treated like a second-class citizen by puffed-up border officials. Meanwhile, over in the Canaries, the locals are kicking off - again - about there being too many tourists. Which, frankly, seems a bit rich.
Most of what makes those islands such great places to live is thanks to the vast amount of tourist money flowing in every year.
And as for the original inhabitants of the Canaries? We’ll never know what they’d think, since the Spanish wiped them out 500 years ago when they showed up and took the islands for themselves.
Sure, Spain has its own issues with illegal immigration. But honestly, people booking hotels, eating out, employing
in.
Dua’s Spanish duo
POP queen Dua Lipa thrilled fans in Madrid by belting out Spanish songs on stage.
MULLINS
AGREEMENT: Britihs passport holders will be able to use automatic passport gates - at last!
locals - that seems a far cry from what’s happening back in the UK, where we’re apparently under siege from asylum seekers chasing a free ride.
Maybe Keir Starmer could install e-gates on the south coast that issue work visas, spending money, and a hotel address all in one go?
And finally - though I’m no massive football fan - I expected at least one Spanish side to make it into one of the two big European finals. But no such luck. My first year living in what was once the epicentre of world football, and we’ve got a French team playing an Italian one for the Champions League, and two of the worst Premier League sides in Manchester United and Spurs scrapping it out for the Europa League.
Kicking off her Radical Optimism tour with two soldout shows, Dua stunned crowds with a sultry cover of Enrique Iglesias’ Hero, fully en Español. “I’m nervous,” she giggled, “but sing along if you know it!” The crowd roared “¡Reina!” as she followed up the next night with Manu Chao’s Me Gustas Tu Between shows, she hit the Prado Museum (pictured) and fan-girled over Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights. Even film icon Pedro Almodovar showed up – no wonder, she’s his latest muse!
OSCAR-winning actor Jeremy Irons got the red carpet treatment at Sevilla’s famous Feria de Abril. The Lion King star, 76, was all smiles as Mayor Jose Luis Sanz pinned a badge on him at the city’s official marquee (pictured). “It’s an honour,” beamed Irons, rocking a spotty scarf, red flower, and sipping local tipple rebujito This marks his fourth visit to the city - but first at the
fair. The Brit mingled with celebs, took in horse parades, and posed for thrilled fans.
“Sevilla always opens its arms to culture,” said the mayor. “This time, it hugged a legend.”
IRONS TREATMENT
Available now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts , Spotify , and via the Olive Press
website. Just search for the Olive Press Podcast and tune
LUCKY ESCAPE
A BRITISH family sailing around the world suffered a hitch when their yacht anchored off the Alicante coast got struck by lightning.
The Wandering Blue catamaran had been anchored for several days in the Cabo de la Huerta area.
Four members of the Fearn family were on board when lightning hit the mast - knocking out the electronics on the 14 metre-long catamaran.
Navigational systems could not function and a distress call was sent out. A Maritime Rescue rescue boat was sent out and towed the yacht to Alicante.
Scooter spotlight
BENIDORM will fine electric scooter riders up to €500 if they are caught using them to deliver goods.
The local police officers are already checking on speeds, pavement riding, and the use of helmets.
Now clandestine home deliveries of food and other items are coming under the spotlight.
A grace period will see police inform transgressors they are breaking the law, before starting to impose sanctions of between €80 and €500, and in extreme cases, even seizing the scooter.
Population explosion
ALICANTE province's registered non-Spanish population has broken the half-a-million mark for the first time.
Figures from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) for the first quarter of 2025 confirmed there were 501,684 foreign residents in the area.
That’s an annual rise of 30,539 people and nearly 9,000 more than in the last three months of 2024.
It means that almost a quarter of the population comes from outside Spain with the total figure being 2,038,784. In terms of foreign resident numbers, it is only behind the Barcelona and Madrid areas.
Calp News
BUZZED OFF
VALENCIA firefighters were called in to deal with a swarm of bees attached to a car’s door mirror. Specialists in dealing with bees and wasps were brought in to go through an established procedure. They firstly found the queen bee and put her into a special container. The box was then placed next to the mirror and the swarm buzzed in-
side to join the queen thanks to her pheromone trail. A reminder was made for nobody to deal with any swarm but simply to keep a safe distance and phone emergency services.
Clifftop drama
POLICE officers have stopped a woman, 48, from driving off the top of an Alicante cliff. Her son called emergency services to report she had gone missing and was in a vulnerable mental state.
OPEN SESAME!
Brits heading to Spain 'will be able to use e-gates and skip queues’ as part of new UK-EU deal
BRITISH passport holders will soon be able to use e-gates at airports across Spain and other EU countries, following a new agreement reached at the first UK-EU summit since Brexit. The change, confirmed on Monday, aims to ease airport queues and improve travel ahead of the busy summer season.
Nick Thomas-Symonds, the UK’s Minister for EU Relations, previously said the government was pushing for faster border processing for British travellers. “I am certainly pushing for people to go through [passport control] more quickly,” he told the BBC Since Brexit, UK citizens
By Samantha Mythen
have faced manual checks and long queues, and are no longer eligible to use e-gates previously reserved for EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals. While access to e-gates will now be restored, travellers will still be subject to the 90-day rule within any 180day period in the Schengen Zone.
The agreement was reached at a London summit hosted by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, attended by senior EU officials including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “It’s time to look forward - to move on from the old
Smartening up
DELAY: These Brits queued for hours at Barcelona airport passport control
political fights and to find common sense, practical solutions,” Starmer said on X. “We will close a deal in the national interest.”
Passport stamping for UK travellers remains in place until the EU launches its biometric Entry/Exit System (EES).
Tunnel closure
AN inferno that killed a lorry driver in the AP-7 Pilar de la Horadada tunnel has closed the southbound carriageway for up to two months.
Major damage was caused to the 800-metre-long tunnel infrastructure after a truck carrying steel pipes suffered a tyre blowout and overturned earlier this month.
The vehicle caught fire and the 55-year-old driver from Valencia
Calp pushes ahead with smart tourist destination plans through irrigation, lighting and environmental monitoring projects
Calp Town Council is stepping up efforts to transform the coastal municipality into a Smart Tourist Destination, launching a series of technology-driven projects aimed at improving sustainability and operational efficiency.
The initiatives form part of the Sustainable Tourism in Destinations Plan (PSTD), aligned with Spain’s national Recovery, Transformation and Resilience strategy, and funded through the European Union’s Next Generation programme.
Key to the council’s plans is the installation of smart irrigation systems, energy-efficient street lighting, and environmental monitoring stations. Contracts for irrigation sensor systems and the integration of these services into the town’s municipal SmartCity platform are currently out to tender, with further contracts for smart lighting and air quality monitoring due to follow.
The smart irrigation scheme will allow green spaces across the town to be managed remotely via a network of sensors measuring temperature,
soil moisture, wind and solar radiation. Officials say the technology will help cut costs, reduce water usage, and improve overall resource management. The project has a base budget of €72,126 and is expected to be completed within a year.
Plans for intelligent lighting include the installation of low-consumption lampposts fitted with a real-time monitoring system. The lighting will be adjusted to match seasonal tourist demand and the flow of people in public areas.
Environmental monitoring, meanwhile, will be carried out
died.
Lights, ventilation, fire protection systems and security cameras were all damaged in the tunnel.
Now engineers say it will take another two months to repair the tunnel.
Users are being diverted for around four kilometres via the N-332 through Pilar de la Horadada with delays inevitable at peak times.
The Policia Nacional found her car - with its engine running - close to the edge of a cliff at an unnamed beach. Officers saw a clearly distressed woman inside and pulled out the woman, despite her offering strong resistance and screaming.
Booming airports
A NEW April passenger record has been set at Alicante-Elche airport with over 1.7 million travellers. Over a third of the total came from the United Kingdom. The April figure was the highest for the month since the airport opened in 1967. Passenger numbers are up by 12.7% across the first four months of the year compared to 2024. Valencia airport passed the one million mark in April for the first time with an annual increase of 10%.
Murcia’s Corvera airport handled just 92,004 passengers last month - a tiny rise of 0.2% on April 2024.
Newlook port
CALPE'S new €9.3 million Puerto Blanco marina will be partially opened in mid-June. Some 80 mooring points for sports boats and 60 for jet skis will be available along with toilets and a beach bar. Work will pause for the summer holiday season before phase two construction starts this autumn. That will feature four restaurants and a shopping area with various outlets.
via weather stations that provide real-time data on air quality, pollution levels and UV radiation. All data will be fed into the town’s SmartCity platform, allowing for centralised management and decision-making based on live information. The contract for this element of the programme has an estimated budget of €60,000.
Speaking about the plans, Calp’s councillor for tourism planning, Mireia Ripoll, said the projects demonstrated the town’s ongoing commitment to ‘a more innovative, sustainable and efficient tourism model’.
Chemical blaze
A MASSIVE explosion at a chemical warehouse in Alcala de Guadaíra, near Sevilla, has raised serious environmental concerns after sending toxic black smoke into the sky.
The plume was visible from over 80km away and captured by satellite.
The blast at Plainsur, a chemical distribution facility, ignited a fire that burned for hours, releasing potentially hazardous fumes.
Authorities warned 25,000 residents to stay indoors, shut windows, and wear masks.
Two people were injured, and over 100 emergency personnel were deployed.
The fire, reportedly sparked by a flammable solvent, prompted evacuation of nearby businesses in the industrial estate.
Environmental groups are urging a thorough investigation into chemical storage practices and long-term air quality impacts in the affected area.
THE Valencia Community once again has the most Blue Flag beach awards of any Spanish region. Some 143 flags have been won this year and within
NEW AWARD: Ortigues
By Yzabelle Bostyn
that total, Alicante leads the country’s provincial table with 89 flags.
TIDAL WAVE
care of the environment.
Three Alicante province beaches have been given their first-ever Blue Flag. They are El Bol (Altea); Punta Negra (Denia) and Ortigues Campo (Guardamar del Segura).
There have been some losses - mainly because councils did not nominate some beaches due to infrastructure work.
That’s the case for Benidorm’s Mal Pas beach and also for Finestrat which made no application for the second successive year.
flag for El Bol, it lost the award for Espigo.
The authority’s infrastructures councillor, Aurora Serrat, said it was a surprise over Espigo but it was down to a June 2024 rupture of a water collector going into a ravine.
The awards from the Association of Environmental and Consumer Education recognise beach quality including de la Horadada, and Villajoyosa.
Though Altea picked up a
CHANGING WEATHER
EXPERTS say unusual jet stream behavior is behind Spain’s heavy rain as well as the UK’s dry spring. Normally bringing storms to northern Europe, the jet stream has shifted, creating high pressure over the UK and pushing rain south to Spain. France has seen its driest February–April since 1959 and its fifth hottest April.
Elsewhere, Orihuela has the most flags with 10, followed by Denia with seven, and six each for Torrevieja, Pilar
The UK is experiencing its driest spring in 69 years, with farmers already irrigating fields. Though not at drought levels yet, experts warn that future heat waves could escalate risks. While climate change links remain unconfirmed, scientists say changing patterns suggest a shift toward a warmer, more erratic climate.
Blue flag awards for area’s best beaches
Valencia province has 38 flags including new ones at Guardamar de la Safor beach and Sagunt’s Malvarosa beach.
The Murcia region gained three new flags to take the total to 36.
Cartagena now has 10 flags with the addition of Calblanque and Cala del Barco beaches plus there’s one for El Arenal at La Manga.
CEREMONY: The winners were announced at an
S U M M E R S C H O O L
Campo beach has joined the Blue Flag list
event in Javea
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OPINION
Don’t let the trust die
WHEN 32-year-old Sara moved to Mijas from Scandinavia, she dreamed of sun-soaked evenings and peace by the sea.
Instead, she was plunged into a legal and emotional nightmare - her home stolen through a forged power of attorney.
Her story is not just shocking, it’s a glaring warning. Someone impersonated her, created a fake power of attorney in Colombia, and sold her property in Spain. And the Spanish legal system allowed it to happen.
A notary in Sevilla approved the transaction without any verification call or in-person check. No one raised a red flag.
In 2025, how can this still be possible? How can someone lose a home without knowing it’s even being sold?
Sara’s trauma is profound. She is pregnant, frightened, and receiving threats from someone claiming to be the ‘new owner’.
She’s been hospitalised due to stress. And yet, she is the one fighting to prove her innocence, while the criminals remain untouched.
This isn’t just one woman’s misfortune - it’s a systemic failure. Spain’s property laws are riddled with loopholes that allow fraudsters to exploit bureaucratic blind spots.
Expats are especially vulnerable, often unaware of how easily such crimes can occur.
It’s time for reform. Power of attorney rules must be modernised, remote document authentication strengthened, and notaries held to stricter accountability.
A real-time alert system should notify owners of any changes to their property records. And cross-border document verification must become standard.
Spain cannot afford to let trust in its legal and property systems erode any further. If homeowners can’t rely on basic protections, what hope is there for anyone’s dream of a safe home?
PUBLISHER / EDITOR
Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es
Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es
Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es
Samantha Mythen samantha@theolivepress.es
Tom Ewart Smith tom@theolivepress.es
Victoria Humenyuk Makarova (+34) 951 154 841 admin@theolivepress.es
AS Spain’s National Court gears up for one of the most high-profile money laundering trials in its recent history, the spotlight has turned to the sprawling financial empire allegedly built by Rifaat al-Assad.
The infamous uncle of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - known as the ‘Butcher of Hama’ - and his extensive investments across Spain and Gibraltar are in the crosshairs of the public prosecutor.
The case is centered on the alleged laundering
of over €700 million stolen from Syrian state coffers. And he and his family are thought to have pillaged as much as €4 BILLION in total.
The case has drawn in six of Rifaat’s
How the ‘Butcher of Hama’ and his family allegedly laundered a fortune through Spain and Gibraltar
By Dilip Kuner
relatives and two close associates, all accused of being central players in a network of shell companies, shady deals, and offshore assets.
At the heart of the scandal is not just the astonishing amount of wealth involved, but also the political and ethical questions it raises for European governments - particularly in Gibraltar and Spain.
In particular, the court has been looking at how such a notorious figure was allowed to embed himself so deeply in the real estate and financial systems of both
Especially as Rifaat earned his gruesome nickname over the 1982 Hama massacre, where he led a military operation that killed an estimated 25,000 people.
Syria’s then Vice President, Rifaat fell from grace following a failed coup attempt against his brother, then-President Hafez
al-Assad, in 1984.
Exiled soon after, he began amassing property and influence abroad, particularly in France, Spain, and Gibraltar. European investigators now believe he was syphoning off billions from the Syrian treasury even as Syria descended into poverty and civil war.
French prosecutors in 2020 sentenced him in absentia to four years in prison for money laundering and embezzlement, and seized €90 million in assets.
Now, Spanish authorities are following suit, even though the case has temporarily been sent back to Marbella court, over an administrative issue (see below).
The Marbella empire
The scale of Rifaat al-Assad’s real estate holdings in Spain is staggering. Prosecutors allege he purchased over 500 properties - including luxury hotels such as the Park Plaza Suites and Plaza Beach Banus in Marbella - and a vast estate in Benahavis.
Many of these acquisitions were made through shell companies registered in
Gibraltar, often with the help of disgraced accountancy firm Marrache & Co.
The financial structure behind these purchases was labyrinthine. At its centre was High Mountain Estates Ltd, a company registered in the Bahamas but owned by the Alhambra Trust, controlled by Rifaat.
IN a dazzling display of irony, the UK has announced that skilled workers and immigrants wanting to settle there must now speak English to B2 standard - a level so advanced it practically requires you to quote Hamlet before you are handed your residency permit.
Meanwhile, in Spain, tens of thousands of British and other northern European expats are still pointing at menus, mouthing words like mime artists, and calling every waiter ‘amigo’, despite living here for years.
“Fluent English?” scoffed a barman in Marbella. “Tell that to the man who’s been ordering a ‘pint-o beer-o’ since 2013!” Social media erupted with Spanish delight.
Deposito Legal MA: 498-2019
One post teased, “So, do all Brits in Benidorm have to take GCSE Spanish now?” Another suggested the ultimate punishment: “Ban fish and chips for anyone who cannot say pescado.” Which brings us neatly to the linguistic tragedy of Sid the guppy.
YOU SPEAKY ENGLISH?
Brits Demand B2 English from immigrants – while still asking for a ‘pint-o beer-o’ in Spain
By Dilip Kuner
In English, fish is fish. Alive, dead, battered, grilled. It swims and it fries under the same name.
But in Spanish, there’s ‘pez’ (the swimming kind) and ‘pescado’ (the vinegar-soaked dinner kind).
If it moves, it’s a pez. If you shake salt on it, it’s a pescado. Simple? Not for Karen. Ah, Karen. She has lived in Andalucia for 25
years and still greets neighbours with the linguistic finesse of someone shouting into Google Translate. When a kindly local woman knocked on her door with a homemade cake, decorated with ‘Bienvenidos a Espana’ (welcome to Spain), Karen was politely baffled. The woman kept saying, “Yo, Milagros. Milagros, yo!” Karen smiled and nodded, then later told a friend: “Very kind of her, but I do not know who this ‘Jo’ is.”
This, friends, is what happens when we study a language system that teaches us to conjugate ‘avoir’ at 13, then forgets to mention that real people might one day talk back.
Blame the education system if you must. But maybe it’s deeper - an imperial ‘resaca’ (that is hangover, not a tapas dish).
Brits abroad often operate under the noble assumption that if they just shout English slowly
and loudly enough, people will understand. Take a stroll around any Spanish market town, and you will hear it in action - a baffled cashier asked: “DO... YOU... HAVE... MILK?”, as if volume alone might bridge centuries of linguistic and cultural difference. Case in point: in Spain, if your bar bill is €19 and you say ‘bote’ as you hand over 20, the place erupts in smiles and bell-ringing. In Britain, that same bell is a passive-aggressive death knell telling you to finish your pint and leave.
Cultural nuance? Linguistic sensitivity? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves - there are still entire expat communities in Spain who think gracias’ is pronounced ‘grassy-arse’. And yet, while Britain tightens its rules and
BUTCHER: A bread queue in Halfaya was the scene of disaster when it was bombed on Assad’s orders
High Mountain owned 99% of 29 separate Gibraltar companies, with the remaining 1% held by Groove Limited, itself owned largely by Hiba Development SA. This complex ownership structure, facilitated by the Marrache brothers, Isaac and Benjamin - who were later jailed for fraud - was designed to obscure the Assad family’s involvement.
Through these offshore channels, millions of euros flowed into Spain to purchase property and business interests, effectively laundering Syrian national wealth, as well as alleged profits from drug smuggling, extortion, and the trafficking of archaeological treasures.
But in 2017 his Marbella property empire came crashing down when Magistrate Jose de la Mata ordered the confiscation of 503 properties including holiday homes, car parks, luxury apartments and rural estates worth €700 million.
Authorities also seized an estate with a market value of €60 million in Puerto Banus, and froze dozens of bank accounts.
Trial and evasion
While the trial in Spain targets eight individuals, including Rifaat’s sons and other family members, the patriarch himself is notably absent. His lawyers claim the now 87-year-old is hospitalised in Dubai, too ill to attend court.
demands near-poetic English from many new arrivals, there are pensioners in Alicante who believe ‘hola’ is something you say when answering the phone. Still, the double standards are rarely noticed by those enjoying roast dinners in 30-degree heat, surrounded by satellite dishes beaming in Coronation Street. They are, after all, ‘living the dream’ - just not the local one.
So while the UK gears up to enforce B2-level English from newcomers, Spaniards are laughing into their ‘jarras de cerveza’ at the irony. And somewhere in Benidorm, a British bar is already preparing its summer menu… in Comic Sans. In English. Naturally. ¡Viva la diferencia! Or should we say, long live the... difference-o?
SEIZED: A
in Puerto Banus under guard, while (right) former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has taken refuge in Russia
Our pledge, our appeal AND help us to win more media awards!
AS we approach our 20th year in Spain we would like to explain a few things.
The Olive Press is an award-winning newspaper covering the entire Iberian Peninsula with a team of NCTJ-trained journalists.
Set up to campaign and represent expats based here, it has now become the country’s Number One website for anyone interested in Spain.
Covering everything first hand on the ground from the recent power blackout to the Valencia floods and from the Catalunya independence riots to the Europa League final between Manchester United and Spurs this week.
Despite this, prosecutors are pressing for a sentence of eight years and a fine of €2.7 million against Rifaat, along with six years and €2.2 million fines for each of his relatives.
The defense has challenged the trial’s jurisdiction, demanding the case be moved to Malaga’s provincial court. Proceedings were suspended earlier this month, sent back to Marbella court to pend a judicial review. An Olive Press source revealed: “I understand this might take a year.”
The Gibraltar connection
A key part of the investigation is focused on Gibraltar, where Rifaat’s business dealings flourished for decades. One of the most controversial aspects involves his sale of a prestigious property at 6-9 Europort, an office complex in the heart of Gibraltar’s financial district.
In 2018, Rifaat sold his stake in the building for £17.5 million - a figure critics argue was well below market value.
What raised eyebrows wasn’t just the price, but the identity of the buyers: a company linked to the Isola family, including Gibraltar’s Financial Services Minister, Albert Isola.
The deal was facilitated by Fiduciary, a firm partly owned by the Isolas, who also managed Rifaat’s sale.
This led to allegations of conflicts of interest and prompted opposition parties in Gibraltar to demand full transparency.
Isola has always denied any wrongdoing.
Independent MP Marlene Hassan Nahon
Investigating everything from crime to corruption and politics to paedophile networks, we have a long track record of success.
Apart from locating three of the UK’s Most Wanted criminals, we have helped to expose dozens of frauds and scams.
accused the government of ‘burying the case under layers of legal jargon’, and called for a public explanation.
The opposition GSD party also called on the Attorney General to investigate whether any proceeds from the sale were frozen or distributed to Assad’s family.
Despite public pressure, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo defended the legality of the sale, stating that Gibraltar courts had approved it and they were cooperating fully with French investigators.
A matter of conscience
The Rifaat al-Assad case is not just about financial crimes - it’s about moral accountability. How could a man accused of mass murder and corruption build a property empire in democratic Europe?
Why were alarm bells not raised sooner, especially when Interpol warrants and international sanctions were in play?
Furthermore, the controversy has implications for Gibraltar and Spain’s financial credibility. With increasing global scrutiny on tax havens and offshore financial centers, the Assad case serves as a cautionary tale.
As Anonymous, hackers targeted Gibraltar’s government website shortly after the Europort sale was publicised, the symbolism wasn’t lost - this is a story about transparency, ethics, and the thin line between legality and complicity.
Looking ahead
Spanish prosecutors are expected to push ahead with asset seizures and verdicts later in 2025.
Whether Rifaat al-Assad will ever face justice in person remains unclear, but his family’s alleged financial web is rapidly unraveling.
In the end, the case is about more than one man. It is a story of how wealth stolen from a devastated nation found a safe haven in Europe’s sunny enclaves, shielded by legal structures, financial institutions, and at times, political silence. The outcome of the trial will not only affect the Assad family but could set a precedent for how Europe handles dirty money, offshore finance, and the legacy of authoritarian regimes hiding their loot in plain sight.
This year alone, we’ve covered the collapse of Iberian Funeral Plans and followed the long-running Continental Wealth Management case, which finally saw its boss sent to prison. We were at the recent anti-tourist protests and haven’t let up on stories that matter.
Our hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed. This year, Olive Press journalist Yzabelle Bostyn (above) was named Trainee Journalist of the Year in a fiercely competitive British media award, beating candidates from The Times and Express & Star. She joined us two years ago and, through mentoring from News Editor Dilip Kuner (ex-Sunday Mirror), Digital Editor Walter Finch (ex-Daily Mail) and Editor Jon Clarke (ex-Mail on Sunday), blossomed into a sharp, passionate investigative journalist.
We’re especially proud of her continued work on our long-running campaign against the dangerous drug Nolotil. Since we first reported on it in 2016, we’ve published over 60 stories, and thanks to Yzzy’s dedication, regulation is finally tightening - and expats are learning to steer clear.
Over the past two decades, we’ve trained many other exceptional journalists. Russian-born Anatoly Kumanaev recently had a New York Times front page; others have gone on to ITN and to win awards in documentary filmmaking, like Laura Balfour.
As we expand into Madrid and Barcelona, we’re committed to training even more. But here’s the thing - we need your help.
The Olive Press is a not-for-profit company. All profits are reinvested into journalism and investigations. Despite our huge growth - over 1,000% online since 2023, with seven million annual visitors - Google and Meta swallow most of the ad revenue. The pennies we earn from banners and videos barely cover basics.
So we’re asking for something small - less than one euro a week.
Your support helps train new journalists, keeps our stories flowing, and ensures we can keep investigating, informing, and campaigning - without drowning in pop-ups or selling out to clickbait.
It’s really so simple.
Scan the QR code, for an annual special deal, and join the growing independent media group that offers so much more than anyone else in the Iberian Peninsula in English. No OP, No comment
ON July 9, 2021, I sat through a grueling six-hour exam in a stuffy hotel conference room in central Madrid.
My 29 fellow examinees were all called Francisco or Javier and came from all corners of the peninsula. My name is Peter.
That’s the day I qualified to become one of just 1,015 European Financial Planners (EFPs) now officially registered in Spain.
It may come as a surprise, but in that entire list, you’ll find only three of us with foreign names: Milenka Ivanova, Zhanna Fenenko, and me, Peter Dougherty.
The three of us make up a mere 0.29% of the EFPs, the highest accreditation of the European Financial Planning Association of Spain (EFPA España).
My finance credentials don’t end there.
I also hold two master’s degrees – one in taxation in Spain and an MBA in finance in America, and worked for two decades at a trio of well-known investment banks on Wall Street.
I have also written two books explaining cross border financial issues between Spain and the US, one in English, the other in Spanish.
Yet, despite my extensive training in the field of finance, Spain’s financial sector remains unique and elusive to me.
Unique
How do we explain the stark contrast between the number of financial planners in Spain, on the one hand, and in the UK and the US on the other?
1,015 is a small number. Financial planners registered in the UK – counting Chartered Financial Planners, DipPFS, and Certified Financial Planners – total more than 43,000. While in the US, the number of Certified Financial Planners (CFP®) alone now exceeds 100,000.
One reason may be the head-start that both the US and the UK have had over Spain in
SPAM BAN
SPAIN'S government wants to ban companies from making spam calls to potential customers.
An amendment to the Consumer Care Services Act would force landline and mobile phone providers to block such calls from firms that don't use a specific phone prefix, which people could identify in advance.
An irony is that many current spam calls tend to come from telecoms companies.
Consumer Affairs minister, Pablo Bustinduy, said “Blocking unsolicited commercial calls would protect
Days of answering calls to telephone sales could soon be a thing of the past
By Alex Trelinski
the well-being and privacy of consumers.”
Commercial calls would be identified with ‘a specific code, a dedicated prefix’, according to Bustinduy.
“Phone companies would block calls from any firm not having a code,” he added.
A telecoms law passed in
Close encounter
2023 placed restrictions on spam calls but firms have looked at loopholes, including people having given consent by accepting cookies on a website, or an ex-customer that has not asked for their data to be removed.
Bustinduy also wants to void any contract resulting from spam calls and to oblige companies to renew consumer consent for commercial calls every two years.
A SPANISH start-up company will design and build a satellite to land on an asteroid that will fly close to Earth in 2029. The Elche firm Emxys has been chosen by the European Space Agency to construct the Cubesat satellite. It will be released by the Ramses spacecraft a few kilometres away from the Apophis asteroid. Cubesat hopes to glean important information about the structure and dynamics of a near-Earth asteroid to help plan future planetary defence missions.
SPAIN IS DIFFERENT
In a brand new money column, Pete Dougherty explains that, despite being one of just three officially regulated foreign financial planners, investing and saving in Spain is unique and elusive, like walking a tightrope
Pete Dougherty
•
• Author of two financial planning books
the financial planning field.
EFPA España certified its first EFPs in 2010, 38 years after America’s first CFP® recipients (1972) and 15 years after the first CFP® holders in the UK (1995).
Another possible explanation is that compared with its English-speaking expats, Spaniards typically do not discuss money. Often not even with close friends or family. It’s a cultural difference, one of the many that sometimes make living in Spain as a British or American expat both refreshing and frustrating at the same time.
Can you imagine the difficulty of being a Spanish financial planner working in a country where the culture of your compatriots is to not talk about money?
How do you even start conversations with
prospective clients?
Still others believe the answer lies in how Spain’s financial infrastructure has evolved.
To prepare for Spain’s entry into the European Union in the 1980’s, several Spanish banks consolidated and merged in an attempt to gain equal footing with the larger size and sophistication of their European rivals.
Later, they were able to grow in a way many rival banks couldn’t: by expanding in Latin America, where Spanish banks share a common language and culture.
The financial crisis of 2008 produced another strong wave of Spanish bank consolidations. Currently, the three largest banks (Santander, BBVA and CaixaBank) are what remains of what had been 29 separate banks or ‘savings’ banks at the start of 2008.
All of which puts decision-making in the hands of a few very big banks. And to date not one of these large banks has yet embraced financial planning in a meaningful way.
Elusive
As an expat, if we ask any three ‘experts’ the same question in Spain, we’re likely to hear four different answers.
That may be because far more ‘grey area’open to legal interpretation - exists in Span-
“We want to discourage this business model and make companies stop engaging in these practices that cause so much bother to citizens,” the minister said.
Unsolicited
According to a 2023 study carried out in 39 countries by US security company Hiya, 42% of calls in Spain in the third quarter of that year were unsolicited - the second-highest percentage in Europe. Bustinduy said the measures would be introduced via amendments to a consumer rights bill to be debated in Congress over the next few weeks.
He suggested that everything could be approved ‘before the summer’.
ish rules and laws than in the UK or the US.
Or it may be because Spanish law doesn’t explicitly address cross border financial or other circumstances that may arise.
The theory to explain this that I like best, though, is that Spain’s long-running tourism slogan was right all along.
‘Spain is Different’ it boldly claimed. They were certainly right.
FOOD, DRINK & TRAVEL
BENIDORM’S Voramar Hotel has been voted as the ‘Best Hotel in Spain 2024’ by users of the TripAdvisor travel portal.
The award comes from the annual ‘Best of the Best’ awards based on reviews and grades from the social media site. It recognises the hotel’s consistently good reviews and high ranking within the top
Hotel’s top honour
10% of properties on the portal.
The Hotel Voramur just a few metres from Poniente beach - is celebrating 60 years of trading after opening its doors on April 9, 1965.
SALUD!
By Tom Ewart Smith
SPAIN is toasting a rare win in the wine world.
As global drinking levels tumble, Spaniards are happily bucking the trend by sipping more of the good stuff.
According to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), global wine consumption in 2024 slumped to 214.2 million hectolitres – the lowest
DEFACED: Moorish walls have been targeted by spray paint vandals
Spaniards quaff
more vino as world wine consumption slumps
since 1961. But Spaniards bucked the trend by knocking back nearly 10 million hectolitres, a 1.2% rise on the year before. It’s one of the few nations where
May 22ndJune 4th 2025
The four-star establishment has 136 bedrooms.
“Receiving this award on our 60th anniversary is an immense honour and a tribute to all those who have been part of the history of Voramar: founders, workers, customers and collaborators,” a hotel spokesman said.
LAST ORDERS: Global wine drinking continues to slump - but not in Spain
wine is still flowing freely, nearing post-pandemic highs and putting it firmly back on the vino map. Portugal also raised a glass with a boozy boost, surpassing its pre-COVID levels. Meanwhile, the rest of the
PHILISTINES…
VANDALS have spray-painted more than 20 historic sites in Granada, including the world-famous Alhambra and the charming Albaicin quarter.
One tag, ‘borracho dot com’ (‘drunkard dot com’), was scrawled across a centuries-old Alhambra tower in what officials believe may be an anti-tourism protest. The UNESCO-listed landmarks, are now under urgent repair. Furious heritage bosses are calling for tighter security as fears grow over Granada’s image and its 2031 European Capital of Culture hopes.
Tourists can still visit, but expect scaffolding, cleaning crews, and stepped-up patrols as the city scrambles to undo the damage.
world is nursing a serious hangover. The US, still the biggest consumer by volume, saw a 5.8% drop. France fell 4%, Germany 2.7%, and the UK tippled 1% less. China’s wine affair continues to fade, plunging a sobering 19.3%.
Experts blame the global slide on changing social habits, inflation, and younger drinkers ditching the grape in favour of other options – or nothing at all. Post-pandemic lifestyle shifts and climate chaos haven’t helped, either.
To make matters worse, production also dipped to a 60-year low thanks to wild weather hammering vineyards worldwide.
John Barker, OIV’s boss, warned trade tensions and tariffs – particularly from the US – are adding uncertainty. “Any barrier creates a distraction,” he said.
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November 29th - LOOKING FOR MORE TRAVEL STORIES?
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101KM OF PAIN
RONDA is a place where dramatic landscapes, Moorish history, and whitewashed charm collide. Each spring, it becomes the unlikely setting for one of Europe’s most demanding and unique endurance events: the 101 Kilómetros de Ronda. Far more than just a race, this ultramarathon - organised with military precision by the Spanish Legion - draws thousands of participants from across the globe.
By Cristina Hodgson
Runners and mountain bikers descend on the town, ready to test their limits over 101 kilometres of steep trails, sun-baked hillsides, olive groves, and centuries-old villages.
Endurance racing has exploded in popularity worldwide, and the Ronda 101 has become a bucket-list
challenge for many adventure seekers - not only for its sheer diffi culty, but for the way it immerses participants in the rugged beauty and vibrant spirit of Andalucia. For me, it offered a different kind of travel experience. Swapping sightseeing for sweat, and tapas for energy gels, I chose to mark my birthday with an unforgettable journey - one that pushed my body to the brink, connected me with strangers, and revealed the untamed heart of the Spanish countryside, one punishing kilometre at a time.
THE day before the race was my birthday. Most people celebrate with cake, friends, maybe a glass of wine. For some reason - probably madness - I decided to ‘treat myself’ to a 101km ultramara-
thon through the Andalucian hills. It was a sort of birthday gift to prove to myself that, while I might be entering a new decade of life, I could still do something my younger self never dared to - or perhaps was just wise enough to avoid. A year older, but evidently not a year wiser.
Training? Minimal. Life had other ideas - work, children, general chaos. Psychologists say anyone over 35 who suddenly signs up for a half marathon is probably having a midlife crisis. So what does it say about someone who signs up for two and a half marathons in one go? It’s the fitness equivalent of buying a Ferrari. Honestly, the Ferrari would’ve been more comfortable - and made more sense.
I arrived the evening before the race and bunked down in a sports pavilion with about 500 other hopefuls. Between the chorus of snores and a concrete floor, sleep was
in short supply. I managed a few hours before being jolted awake at 6.45am by the Spanish Legion’s bugle call, blasting through the building. Subtle, it was not. Bleary-eyed and slightly traumatised by brass instruments before sunrise, I dragged myself into my kit and shuffled out with the rest of the early-morning zombies toward the football pitch. Out of nowhere, thousands of runners appeared. The Legion’s drummers were pounding away - not so much to stir motivation, but more like a final warning we all chose to ignore. The beat hit somewhere between fear and excitement, thudding into our slightly unhinged souls. The starting gun fired. The crowd roared. And we were off… at what can best be described as a dignified shuffle. We snaked through the streets of Ronda, past Spain’s oldest bullring, and into the
FOOD, DRINK & TRAVEL
wild beauty of the Serrania. Ahead of us: 100 kilometres of stunning scenery, excruciating climbs, and increasingly questionable decisions. The route was undeniably beautiful - rolling hills, olive groves, sweeping views—and somewhere along the way, strangers became companions. Stories were shared, and more Aquarius and Coca-Cola were consumed than I care to admit. The energy in Setenil de las Bodegas was electric: locals cheering, high-fives flying, and a few
faces that clearly questioned our sanity. (Frankly, at that point, I’d have traded my energy gel for a cold beer.)
Ten hours in, I reached kilometre 70. My body gently suggested, ‘maybe stop now’. But my brain, ever the overachiever, insisted we keep going. They’d saved the hardest for last - brutal climbs, cruel descents, and a bitterly cold stretch near the ermita. I stopped to throw on every layer
AMay 22ndJune 4th 2025
I had. Turning around, I saw a winding trail of headlamps in the mountains behind me - a surreal ribbon of light twisting through the darkness. Beautiful, in a masochistic kind of way. Seven hours later, I stumbled over the finish line. A medal was placed around my neck. My legs declared strike action. My face looked 20 years older than it had that morning. Around me, fellow finishers were crying, laughing,
Your funeral funds protected
T Compare Funerals, we understand the importance of ensuring that your funeral plan funds are protected.
That’s why payments made for funeral plans are placed into the Compare Funerals Purpose Trust — a secure and independent financial structure designed to safeguard your money until it is needed.
1. Independent and Secure Trust
The Compare Funerals Purpose Trust is a completely separate legal entity from Compare Funerals itself.
This means that even if Compare Funerals
were to go out of business, your money would remain safe and untouched in the trust.
2. How Funds Are Managed
Payments you make towards your funeral plan are deposited into the trust. These funds are held securely and can only be accessed under specific conditions to ensure they are used appropriately for their intended purpose.
3. Accessing the Funds
Once the money is placed into the trust, it cannot be withdrawn freely by Compare Fu-
nerals or anyone else.
The funds can only be released in two specific situations: UPON DEATH –PAYMENT TO THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR
and sometimes both at once. Everyone had run their own story - some to test limits, others to think, to escape, or simply because they could.
I send a huge thanks to the Legion and the volunteers. The organisation was flawless, the support along the course unforgettable. And the people? Incredible. Would I do it again? Ask me once I can feel my toes again.
Our mission is to make the process of planning a funeral, in Spain, as easy and stress-free as possible. We are committed to providing affordable funeral plans with the highest quality of care and support.
CANCELLATION BY THE CLIENT
If a client chooses to cancel their funeral plan in writing, the funds will be refunded directly to them, minus any applicable fees.
4. What Happens if Compare Funerals Goes Out of Business?
When the time comes, the funeral funds will be paid directly to the nominated funeral director to cover the cost of the services.
To authorise this payment, an invoice from the tanatorio (funeral home) along with the client’s death certificate must be provided.
Our team of experienced professionals will be there to answer any questions you may have and guide you through the entire process. Planning Ahead With a Funeral Plan in Spain
Because the trust is independent of Compare Funerals, the funds remain protected.
In such a case:
The client can choose to transfer the money to another funeral plan provider or their chosen funeral director. Alternatively, they can receive the funds back so they can make their own funeral arrangements.
5. Peace of Mind for Clients
The purpose of the Compare Funerals Purpose Trust is to ensure that your money is always available when you or your family need it most.
By placing your funds in a regulated and protected trust, we provide full transparency and security, giving you confidence that your funeral costs are covered, no matter what happens. This structure ensures that your investment in a funeral plan is safe, protected, and used solely for the purpose it was intended - honouring your final wishes.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH
TREK: Cristina (left) had time to enjoy the stunning scenery, while (far right) before and, exhausted, after the race
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
NOSTALGIA ROAD
IT may not stretch 4,000 kilometres like America’s Route 66, but Spain has its own road trip into the past.
A cracked ribbon of tarmac called the N-VI, winding from the Puerta del Sol at the heart of Madrid to the wind-battered cliffs of Galicia, finishing at the Torre de Hercules in A Coruña. And though time has left it behind, its villages, valleys and voices are still waiting to be heard. Before dual carriageways and by-
CHANGED: The old route to Galicia still has many vestiges of a bygone era
Spain’s Forgotten Route 66: The old N-VI from Madrid to Galicia is a fading treasure trove of castles, ghost towns and stories lost in time
By Dylan Wagemans
passes, before the high-speed AVE and four-lane highways, there was the N-VI.
Laid down in 1939, it was once one of
Spain’s most important roads - a vital artery connecting the capital with the rugged Atlantic coast, stretching over 600 kilometres from kilometre
zero in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol to A Coruna.
Today, it’s been largely replaced by the N-6 and modern highways.
But the old N-VI still runs through forgotten towns, over ancient bridges, past peeling petrol stations and weather-beaten inns.
To some, it’s just an outdated road. But to others, it’s a living museum of 20th-century Spain.
Just like Radiator Springs in the Pixar film Cars, many of the once-thriving villages along the N-VI have seen their lifeblood diverted, bypassed by faster, newer roads.
The route crosses three autonomous communities: Madrid, Castilla y Leon, and Galicia, and passes through around 70 municipalities.
Among them are some of the country’s most beautiful villages. There are crumbling castles, endless
wheat fields, eerie gas stations frozen in time, and even a ghost town near Valladolid.
As you drive, nature quietly reclaims the road. Wild grass grows through cracks in the asphalt. Signs fade.
Shops gather dust behind closed shutters.
doned, like drifting islands, kilometres of asphalt that begin and end nowhere. And with them, the villages and towns they crossed.”
For those willing to slow down, the N-VI offers a different kind of travel.
Michelin trail North
WHILE the traffi c moved on from the NVI, something remarkable took root along slower, older route: a constellation of Michelin-starred restaurants offering one of the most underrated gastronomic journeys in Europe. The 600-kilometre road has quietly become a paradise for serious food lovers, with celebrated chefs turning rural kitchens into destinations. Welcome to the Ruta N-VI Gastronomica – Spain’s slow road to haute cuisine.
MONTIA – EL ESCORIAL, MADRID
1 Michelin Star
2 Repsol Soletes
A
gourmet journey along the forgotten N-VI
ers. Wild mushrooms, mountain herbs, and biodynamic wines set the tone.
And yet, for those who take the time to wander off the motorway, there’s wonder waiting: locals with stories to tell, old churches with bells that still ring, and stretches of untouched countryside.
The road’s importance, and its slow disappearance, has been captured in an 86-minute documentary by Pela del Alamo.
His film explores the emotional and cultural toll of abandoning traditional routes in favour of modern efficiency.
“Some sections of the old N-VI have disappeared,” he explained.
“Others have been almost aban-
Depending on your pace and mode of transport, the journey can take between two and six days.
A project called rutanvi has even launched a special ‘passport’ to guide explorers along the way. Collect at least 15 stamps from key towns and you’ll receive a diploma when you finally reach the lighthouse at A Coruna as a souvenir.
So if you ever feel like getting lost, truly, purposefully lost, leave the highway behind. Take the road that winds and weaves. The road that remembers. Take the N-VI.
Not far from the start of Ruta NVI, a short detour near Guadarrama brings you to Montia, in the historic town of El Escorial. Head chef Daniel Ochoa’s philosophy is rooted in seasonality and sustainability, with tasting menus that shift depending on what’s foraged from nearby forests or sourced from small produc-
LA BOTICA – MATAPOZUELOS, VALLADOLID
1 Michelin Star (Red)
2 Repsol Soletes
Found in the small Castilian village of Matapozuelos, chef Miguel Ángel de la Cruz transforms humble ingredients - pinecones, roots, and wild plants - into something extraordinary. His cooking is deeply tied to the surrounding land, and the Michelin Guide has recognised not only the finesse of his food but also its ecological commitment.
The €80 tasting menu is inventive and deeply local. There are also a la carte options, which are surprisingly well priced for a Michelin-starred restaurant.
LERA – CASTROVERDE DE CAMPOS, ZAMORA
1 Michelin Star
Sitting in the wide plains of Zamora, Lera - named after Head Chef Luis Alberto Lera is a pilgrimage for lovers of game. Partridge consommé, venison tartare, and hare stew are hallmarks of the menu, elevated with precise technique and rustic elegance.
Lera isn’t just a restaurant –it’s a standard-bearer for the culinary traditions of the Spanish meseta.
TRIGO – VALLADOLID
1 Michelin Star
In Valladolid city – a slight detour off the N-VI – Trigo offers polished, contemporary Spanish cuisine in an elegant, minimalist setting. The tasting menu balances heritage and innovation, with dishes that showcase the best of Castile’s agricultural riches and chef Victor Martin’s modern sensibility.
ALQUIMIA - LABORATORIO – VALLADOLID
1 Michelin Star
More daring than its neighbour Trigo, Alquimia lives up to its ‘laboratory’ moniker. Molecular techniques and bold presentations make for a high-concept experience, though still fi rmly anchored in local produce. Priced between
€50 and €110 depending on the day, the tasting menus created by Alvar Hinojal - Spain’s answer to Heston Blumenthal - make it an ideal stop for the adventurous palate.
EL ERMITAÑO – BENAVENTE, ZAMORA
1 Michelin Star
A charming country manor turned fine-dining destination, El Ermitaño serves refined takes on Castilian classics in the capable hands of brothers Pedro Mario and Oscar Manuel Perez. Highlights include lechazo (suckling lamb) and canutillos de cecina (beef jerky rolls), prepared with balance and finesse. The building itself, with a historic 18th-century chapel on site, adds to the sense of occasion.
ÁRBORE DA VEIRA – A CORUÑA
1 Michelin Star
From its perch on Mount San Pedro overlooking the Atlantic, Árbore da Veira offers a dramatic end to the N-VI journey. Chef Luis Veira’s dishes play with textures and flavours while remaining deeply connected to Galician seafood traditions. The panoramic views are breathtaking; the food, even more so.
A STARRED ROAD LESS TRAVELLED
While the A-6 speeds you across the country in hours, the N-VI offers a richer reward: slow travel, full flavours, and the chance to see – and taste – Spain at its most soulful. A road less travelled, perhaps. But one well worth the journey.
LITTLE
END OF THE ROAD: Chef Luis Veira of Árbore da Veira
EXPERT CHEF: Luis Alberto Lera
HEALTH
Healthier stays
SPAIN'S government will impose minimum standards for healthy menus in hospitals and nursing homes.
A royal decree is being prepared to guarantee healthy and nutritious food is served to patients and elderly residents.
Social Rights Minister, Pablo Bustinduy, said the state regulation will follow the pat-
tern of one approved last month for schools. “Menus will be based on dietary recommendations in regard to healthy and sustainable eating, for all age groups and adjusting to different contexts,” Bustinduy stated. He added that he was responding to ‘many complaints’ made by citizens and groups about deficiencies found in some centres.
TB cash plea
SPANISH scientists have created a new, more effective vaccine against tuberculosis, the world’s most lethal illness - but they need €20 million to finish their life saving research.
Professor Carlos Martín, a microbiologist at the University of Zaragoza, has led the research for over 25 years.
The new vaccine, MTBVAC, is hoped to be ready for global use by 2029, pending final clinical trials on adults and children.
Funded in part by Spanish pharmaceutical firm Biofabri, the vaccine could be a game-changer, offering over 50% more protection than the century-old BCG jab.
Unlike BCG, which is less ef-
Life-saving vaccine research needs rescuing
By Yzabelle Bostyn
fective against pulmonary TB, MTBVAC targets the most dangerous strains and can be distributed as a single refrigerated dose - ideal for rural regions.
However, researchers are struggling to raise enough money to develop a version suitable for infants. “The EU funded half our baby project; we need the rest,” said Martín, who is now appealing to char-
LIGHT RELIEF
A BARCELONA-based research centre, Leitat, is exploring how light can be used to detect diseases and support innovation across industries like healthcare and biomedicine.
Based in the DFactory, the lab uses photonics - light-based technology - to enhance scientific and industrial efficiency.
ities rather than private investors to avoid market speculation and profiteering.
The vaccine will be manufactured in Spain, India and Brazil, with a focus on affordable distribution to low and middle-income countries where more than a million people die of TB annually.
Speaking at a recent Multi-Sector Plan Against Tuberculosis
One highlight is the PANACEA project, which developed an optical sensor that detects and measures legal drug levels in saliva using light biomarkers.
Visitors can view the sensor at DFactory Barcelona. Leitat also applies hyperspectral vision and optical simulation to analyse the chemical composition of objects, enabling detection of contaminants and hydration levels in food or skin.
BREAKTHROUGH: Spanish scientists develop new TB vaccine
meeting, Martin and Biofabri CEO Esteban Rodríguez said they remained optimistic - but warned the full impact of the vaccine may not be clear for another 20 years.
OP Puzzle solutions
Quick Crossword
Across: 7 Play the game, 8 Seer, 9 Answered, 10 Zurich, 12 Awards, 14 Medals, 16 In love, 17 Epidemic, 19 Pill, 20 Plus or minus.
Salamanca’s Iglesia de San Esteban presents a towering facade, a grand and religiously significant example of Plateresque architecture. Carved from sandstone, its intricate details cover the surface, creating a visually impressive display. Ornamentation blends religious iconography with characteristic floral and figurative motifs. This monumental church facade stands as a testament to the artistic and spiritual fervor of the Spanish Renaissance.
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SILVER LINING
SILVERWORK is delicate and it’s all about detail, so when an exclusively Spanish style of architecture flourished in the time of Cervantes and Philip II, it earned the nickname ‘silver smithery’. It’s now known today as the ‘Plateresque’ style.
Plateresque was an artistic movement, especially architectural, developed in Spain, between the late Gothic and early Renaissance periods in the late 15th century.
The ornate Plateresque style flourished during Spain’s Golden Age, leaving a legacy of intricate facades
By Michael Coy
Forget the concept of form following function, the wealthy aristocrats and conquistadores of Spain’s golden age were stamping down their power.
Casa de las Conchas, Salamanca
It carried on spreading for the next two hundred years, bringing joyful details to hundreds of grand buildings around the Iberian peninsula.
In architectural terms, Plateresque takes on from the Gothic style and is a heady blend of Mudejar and Flamboyant architecture with a touch of the Tuscan Renaissance movement.
Adorning some of Spain’s most celebrated buildings, it reached its apex during the reign of Charles V, with its epicentre in Salamanca.
However, it also flourished in many other Spanish cities and towns including Casares, Burgos, and Santiago de Compostela.
You can spot a Plateresque building from the ornate floral designs on its facades, as well as internal items such as its chandeliers, roofs and altars.
Above all, it was an artistic movement that responded to the demands of the ruling classes of the time.
It was a time of great optimism and wealth, coming as the Reconquest
against the Moors was completed - in Granada in 1492 - and the colonisation of the Caribbean and the Americas was beginning, led by Christopher Columbus.
The Spanish were rapidly acquiring wealth and power - as the gold and silver began to flow from the New World - and this was reflected in the money spent on a series of new grand buildings.
The decoration, at its best on the facades, featured motifs of plants, as well as shields, medallions and even animals and insects.
You could often tell the owner of the building from the types of decoration, be they military shields for soldiers or laurels for lawyers.
And when we think of the word ‘ideals’, we need to pause and think.
The owners and builders of these structures wanted to ‘send a message’.
In an age when passers-by in the street were illiterate and clueless about aesthetics, the way to impose a sense of power and authority over them could be conveyed in the building’s look.
It didn’t matter the extraordinary cost of creating wonderful ornate stone forms on their buildings. They had the money and they wanted to spend it. Here, the Olive Press picks its favourite Top 10 Platareque masterpieces
Salamanca’s Casa de las Conchas presents a unique facade, instantly recognisable for its distinctive shell-covered exterior. This curious and eye-catching design creates a textured surface, studded with hundreds of sandstone shells. Delicate ironwork details around the windows further enhance its ornamental character. Blending Gothic and Renaissance influences within the Plateresque style, this urban palace offers a fascinating and memorable example of Spanish architectural individuality.
Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso, Alcala de Henares
Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso showcases the grandeur of Plateresque design with its imposing facade. A layered structure, incorporating brickwork and arched elements, exudes classical elegance and historical importance. Intricate detailing frames windows and doorways, while heraldic symbols and sculpted ornamentation add to its dignified appearance. This monumental facade reflects the prestige of this significant university and refined artistic sensibilities.
By P OO LVILLAS
DÉNIA
Convent of San Marcos, Leon
The Convent of San Marcos boasts a grandiose facade, an expansive and elaborate display of Plateresque artistry. Its symmetrical design features intricate sculpted details flowing across the sandstone surface. This
monumental structure exudes a regal and dignified presence, reflecting the power and wealth of the era. Refined ornamentation and impressive scale make it a significant cultural and artistic landmark in Spain.
GET INLAND!
SPRING is the perfect time to explore the Requena-Utiel region of inland Valencia. With mild weather, blooming wildflowers, and a laid-back wine-country vibe, the area offers countless ways to enjoy the great outdoors. Whether you’re an expat, a retiree, or a couple looking for a weekend adventure, here are five springtime activities that showcase the natural beauty of Requena-Utieljust a short drive from Valencia.
1. Horseback Riding in Requena
One of the most scenic ways to take in the gorgeous landscapes of Utiel-Requena is on horseback. Local tour providers, such as Ekiaventura, offer guided rides along picturesque trails. Even beginners are welcome, as routes along the gentle plains require no prior riding experience. Some excursions even pair horseback riding with wine tastingyou might spend 45 minutes trotting through the hills before relaxing at a bodega to sample Utiel-Requena’s renowned wines. It’s a perfect spring activity: enjoy the fresh air and green scenery from the
saddle, then toast the experience with a glass of Bobal wine.
2. Rafting and Water Adventures on the Cabriel River
For a shot of adrenaline, head to the Hoces del Cabriel area for rafting or kayaking. The Cabriel River - considered one of the cleanest in Europe - runs turquoise and clear through a dramatic canyon, making it ideal for water sports. Spring is the perfect season, with the river running high and the sun not yet too intense. Choose from guided white-water rafting trips or a gentler open-kayak outing to enjoy the gorge at your own pace. Several adventure companies, such as Hocesventura and Avensport, operate in the area, catering to beginners, families, and thrill-seekers alike. They provide the gear and expertise to ensure a safe and unforgettable day on the water.
3. Hiking in Hoces del Cabriel Natural Park
Hospital Real, Santiago de Compostela
Santiago’s Hospital Real - today the parador hotel - features an imposing and symmetrical facade, exemplifying the grand scale often associated with Plateresque architecture. Detailed ornamentation and sculpted elements reflect Renaissance ideals embraced by the style. This historical building, once a royal hospital, now a parador, stands as a majestic and dignified landmark, showcasing intricate craftsmanship and artistic sophistication.
Hoces del Cabriel Natural Park offers hiking routes for all ages and
fitness levels. Its varied terrain - from deep river gorges to dense forests and open meadows - makes for stunning spring walks. Easy trails like the 3.8 km Cuchillares de Contreras loop or the Peñas Blancas viewpoint route take around 1.5 hours and reward you with breathtaking panoramic views. For more experienced hikers, the 18 km Contreras Reservoir circular route takes you deeper into the park, offering canyon vistas and the chance to spot wildlife such as wild goats or birds of prey. Guided hikes are also available through local accommodations like Hotel Raïmblanc. Whatever you choose, lace up your boots, pack a picnic, and hit the well-marked trails to enjoy spring in full bloom.
4. Vineyard Walks and Wine Tastings
Requena-Utiel is wine country, and spring is a wonderful time for a leisurely vineyard walk. The
region boasts nearly 3,000 years of winemaking history, and the rolling hills come alive with fresh green growth this time of year. Many bodegas welcome visitors for tours, some even offering ‘hike & wine’ experiences that pair a short nature walk with tastings of signature wines made from local grapes like Bobal and Tempranillo. You can also follow parts of the official Requena-Utiel Wine Route, which connects winery towns via scenic backroads. Imagine strolling between vineyards under the warm spring sun, then pausing on a winery patio with a glass of vino. The mix of light exercise, gorgeous landscapes, and rich wine culture makes for a perfect day outdoors.
5. Birdwatching in the Hoces del Cabriel Canyons
Nature lovers and bird enthusiasts will find much to admire in and around Hoces del Cabriel Natural Park. This protected area is a sanctuary for wildlife and especially known for its birds of prey. Spring is a prime season
for birdwatching: the blooming flora draws insects, making birds more active and visible. From the park’s trails or miradores (lookout points), you might spot griffon vultures soaring above the cliffs, or Bonelli’s eagles and peregrine falcons hunting along the ridges. Lucky birders may even hear the call of an eagle-owl at dusk. Several park trails double as birding routes, offering a chance to combine a scenic hike with birdwatching. Be sure to bring a camera and a field guide—the sight of these majestic birds against the canyon backdrop is a spring highlight.
From horseback riding through budding vineyards to rafting down crystal-clear rapids, the Requena-Utiel region offers a treasure trove of unique springtime adventures. And the best part?
All of this is within about an hour’s drive from Valencia. Whether you’re after high-energy thrills or peaceful strolls with spectacular views (and perhaps a glass of wine in hand), Requena-Utiel has something for everyone this spring. So embrace the sunshine and happy exploring!
For a hassle-free visit to Requena-Utiel, try Hotel Raïmblanc where all your excursions can be arranged so you can focus on savouring the experience.
Lazarus plant
AN ‘extinct’ plant has been found alive and well in Andalucia’s Sierra Morena park. Dubbed ‘nomeves’Spanish for ‘you can’t see me’ - over 100 of the plants have been found.
Touchdown!
SPAIN will host its first NFL American football game on November 16, as the Miami Dolphins face the Washington Commanders at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium in a historic International Series clash.
Legal backing
SUPREME Court judge Jose Antonio Montero has criticised the tax agency’s conduct, backing expats’ claims of unfair targeting under the Beckham Law and calling fiscal penalties excessive.
The madcap English rush to get to Spain for Spurs v Manchester United in Bilbao – and avoid the price gouging
ENGLISH football fans descended on Spain - and even Portugal and France - in chaotic fashion for this week’s all-Premier League Europa League final in Bilbao. With direct flights to the Basque city costing upwards of €600 one way, fans of Spurs and Manchester United resorted to creative, often convoluted travel plans. Some flew into cities like Valencia, Faro, and Malaga before connecting onwards, often via multiple legs. Return flights from Manchester were hitting €1,400.
At least a quarter of those on a Monday
The Mummy returns
PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES
By Jon Clarke in Bilbao
CROWDS are flocking to see the jaw-dropping remains of St Teresa of Avila, whose 440-year-old corpse has gone on display in Spain for the first time in over a century. The 16th-century nun, mystic, and reformer may have died in 1582, but parts of her body, including her face, foot, heart, hand, and arm, are still well preserved. Experts are calling it nothing short of miraculous, with skin and muscles still intact after four centuries. Unveiled at the Basilica of Alba de Tormes, the display has left visitors stunned. Her remains revealed health struggles like painful foot spurs from endless walking in devotion.
morning Malaga-Bilbao flight were heading to last night’s match. “I’ve had two flights this morning,” said Pete Jones, 24, a Spurs fan from Essex. “It was the only vaguely affordable way.” Others flew to Biarritz or Nice and drove five hours to reach Bilbao.
Manchester United fan Leo Doran flew to Malaga on Sunday and will return via Tenerife. “It was only 50 quid - and we get a night out in Tenerife,” he said. Accommodation was
another battle. Even basic hotels were charging over €1,000 per night. A two-star hotel hit €2,138 for two nights; a fourstar soared to €3,665. Some fans stayed as far as Santander, returning to Bilbao just for the game.
Up to 25,000 fans were expected to arrive without tickets. Official allocations were limited to
15,000 per club, while 20,000 were set aside for UEFA and sponsors. Ticket prices online soared from €40 to up to €2,000.
This game not only promised Champions League qualification - it also marked the first European final between two sides in the Premier League’s bottom quarter.
TWO nude German tourists, 23 and 27, shocked Murcia drivers by performing wild sex acts beside a van near Nueva Condominia. One used a sex toy while the other filmed - all in plain sight. When cops rocked up, the randy pair sped off down the A-7, sparking a wild chase. Four patrol cars boxed them in, but the saucy fugitives kicked off, resisting arrest.
