natural pools in Madrid

The 12 best natural pools to cool off in Madrid

Despite being landlocked in the heart of the Iberian Peninsula, Madrid offers genuine freshwater havens where you can escape the summer heat. These natural spots are ideal for a refreshing dip surrounded by nature, without the need for a long journey.
Best wild swimming in Spain

Wild swimming in Spain: where to take the plunge in 2025

Ask around in Spain’s wild swimming community and you’ll quickly learn that this country is about more than just its sun-drenched coast. Spain's rich mix of emerald-green rivers, sparkling mountain gorges and hidden lagoon-like pools means wild swimming isn't just a summer escape.
The best olive oil in Spain

A guide to the best olive oil in Spain

Olive oil is an essential part of Spanish cuisine and culture. Spain is the world's leading producer of olive oil, accounting for around one-third of global production, and the country has a long history of olive cultivation and oil production, dating back to ancient times.
coastal mountain range

The 8 best hiking trails near Barcelona

Barcelona is renowned for its stunning architecture and vibrant cosmopolitan atmosphere, but the areas surrounding the Catalan capital have plenty to offer as well. The province of Barcelona is home to numerous natural spaces, perfect for exploring without venturing too far from the city.
Rural property for sale in Spain

Cheap country houses for sale in Spain

If you're looking to escape the stress of city life, purchasing a country house in rural Spain is the perfect way to enjoy peace and tranquillity surrounded by nature.
The smallest village in Spain

Discover Spain's smallest village, with just 3 inhabitants

In the vast and varied landscape of Spain, filled with bustling cities and charming towns, there is one tiny corner that stands out for its distinctive character.Nestled in the province of Toledo, this village holds the title of Spain’s smallest village by population.
ebro delta

Explore the Ebro Delta: Catalonia's largest and most unique wetland

The Ebro Delta, in the south of Catalonia, is the largest wetland in the autonomous community and a unique destination known for its rich biodiversity and landscapes.  With several unique species and interesting flora and fauna, it is an unmissable destination that will help you get to know th
Towns to repopulate in Spain

Repopulating rural Spain: housing grants for young people

Spain's villages and rural areas have been suffering depopulation for decades, threatening to leave their streets and houses deserted and empty. This is why this problem has been aptly named: "Empty Spain".  Around 40% of villages are at risk of depopulation.
Living outside of Spain's big cities

Home buyers flock to Spain's villages and small towns

The Alfa Inmobiliaria network assures that in the last two years the number of people interested in purchasing a home outside of large cities has doubled, caused by factors such as the difficulty of accessing property and the greater facilities for working remotely.
Peaks of Europe

Visiting Picos de Europa National Park with children

Located in the heart of northern Spain, the Picos de Europa National Park is the ideal opportunity to disconnect from everyday life. Lovers of nature and outdoor activities will find in this gem the perfect option to spend a few days with their family, as a couple, or even alone.
Girona City Council

Catalonia offers €40,000 to renovate an old house in small villages

If you've ever dreamed of taking the plunge, leaving the big city, buying an old village house and renovating it, now is your time (as long as you live in Catalonia). The Generalitat has just launched a grant for renovating homes located in small villages. Its aim is to encourage residents or families who want to move in permanently to live in the area by renovating old, often vacant or dilapidated buildings. Grants can be up to €40,000.
Four years after the covid, interest in buying or renting in municipalities with less than 5,000 inhabitants declines

Pandemic village living in Spain: four years on

Four years have passed since Covid fully hit our lives and began a long period of lockdowns and limited mobility, which awakened a desire in many Spaniards to leave the city behind and move to live in the countryside. This phenomenon reached its peak in the spring of 2021, when 5.8% of all contact with advertisers on idealista was for properties in towns with less than 5,000 inhabitants.
Cottage

5 things to consider when buying and renovating a farmhouse in Spain

This article recommends 5 things you should keep in mind when renovating a farmhouse. Fundamentally, look at the property's condition and rescue all the original elements you can. First of all, it's important not to throw anything away, as the best thing about farmhouses is their rustic essence, and you'll find somewhere to put the elements.
8 tips on buying rural property in Spain

8 tips on buying rural property in Spain

I feel compelled to preface this article by stressing that buying rural property in Spain has associated higher legal risks as opposed to buying urban property; specifically when it comes to buying a dwelling.
Spain and Portugal to "revitalise and restore" border villages

Spain and Portugal to "revitalise and recover" border villages

Portugal and Spain are gaining ground at the Iberian summit, which kicked off on Tuesday, 14 March 2023 in Lanzarote, in the Canary Islands, on a joint project to "revitalise and recover" border towns, according to the Portuguese Minister for Territorial Cohesion, Ana Abrunhosa. "The idea is to rev