Expats looking for the real Spain have plenty of choice

If you’ve decided not to wait to see Brexit’s effect on the UK, you’ve basically got a year to move your home to a lesser known corner of Spain.

With the recent publicity of gang warfare and biblical floods wrecking expat lives in Spain’s most popular retirement destinations, it’s no surprise savyy Brits are looking further afield for a home from home. As in most European countries, familiarity has its Spanish attractions, with most expats tending to congregate in well-known Spanish coastal cities, but the Costa del Sol has many unique, varied resorts and small towns which relate strongly to the country’s rich history.

Benhavis, situated to the west of Marbella, is known as one of Spain’s richest villages per capita, but the wealth of its residents doesn’t define its picturesque character. Fine dining, stunning mountain scenery and a selection of golf courses pale in comparison with its architectural beauty, winding streets and charming squares.

If beach life is a must, it doesn’t get any better than in Manilva, backed by rising hills and fronted by a wide swathe of beach and ocean. Some 3,000 expats from 180 countries love their temperate lives here and the town’s great selection of locally caught seafood is served in its beachfront eateries.

The stunning hill town of Casares once hosted Julius Caesar, who dropped in some two millennia ago to bathe in its sulphurous waters, hoping they would cure an annoying itch. His visit was a success and led to the little hamlet being known as the Roman Oasis. Another joy of living in this unique village is the numbers of majestic birds of prey which soar over the village on their way to and from their feeding grounds.

If Andalusia is your dream destination, Mijas is the place. This whitewashed hill town is as picturesque as any expat could wish, is located close by the Costa del Sol and was a meeting place for bohemian writers and artists during the 50’s and 60’s. Spectacular views of the coastline come as standard, as do museums, classic squares and a rocky hermitage once home to a 17th century monk. The open-air auditorium is perfect for summer concerts, and the tiny squares and cobbled alleyways complete the picture.