Our Magazine

The Lotería de Navidad is one of the most popular and anticipated draws in Spain. The event takes place a few days before Christmas and has more than 200 years of tradition. The first draw was held on December 18, 1812, during the time of the Cortes of Cádiz. The Minister of the Chamber of the Indies, Ciriaco González Carvajal, created it as a strategy to increase the income of the public treasury, given the poor economic situation in Spain.The Lotería de Navidad continued to grow with the expulsion...

Dear guest, the twelve grapes or grapes of luck is the tradition of eating twelve grapes, one for each stroke, at 12 pm from December 31 (New Year's Eve) to January 1, because it supposedly brings good luck for the new year.There are several theories about the beginning of the tradition of eating twelve grapes on New Year's Eve in Spain, but two are the most powerful: the first theory says that the tradition of eating the 12 grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve was originated in 1909, due to an excess...

Dear guest, The Three Kings parade is a typical float parade that take place  in Spanish cities in which the Three Wise Men (Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar) and their pages and helpers throw candies and sweets to children on January 5, it is say on the eve of the feast of Epiphany.The first representation is the Cabalgata de Reyes Magos of Alcoy, which was documented in 1866. Due to circumstances of the time, it was not until 1885 that it is represented continuously to this day. In 1912, a parade...

Paella emerged in the rural areas of Valencia between the 15th and 16th centuries, due to the need of peasants and shepherds for an easy meal to prepare and with the ingredients they had on hand in the field. In its origins the ingredients of the paella were, poultries, the field rabbit or hare, the fresh vegetables that were available, rice, saffron and olive oil that were mixed in the paella with the water.It is possible that 'paella' is an Arabic word because rice was brought to Spain by the páramos...

Dear guest, in our daily life there is a possibility that an unfortunate incident happens to us or we witness it, this could force us to call the emergency number or put our first aid knowledge to test. But in the current time we live, thanks to 2.0 technology, calling 112 (911 in the case of the USA or the United Kingdom), although the fastest and safest way, is no longer the only way to provide, request or receive help in a possible risk situation. Now, thanks to smartphones and tablets, there are...

Dear Guest, besides of renting modern and luxury villas, Grandes Villas offers some services to make your stay as much comfortable as possible.Fridge filling serviceDear guest, especially when you arrive late at night, it is really comfortable to have the fridge full of food and drinks. Grandes Villas offers the service with the price of the shopping + 35€ (+ VAT).Airport transferTogether with our partner we offer you a transport from the airport to the villa or vice versa. The price depending on...

Dear guest, when you come to the Costa Tropical you obviously want to try dishes with explosive flavors. Shrimp-stuffed avocados won't disappoint. It is a tropical dish, tasty with an explosive mix of flavors that will make you try to cook this dish more than once, I assure you that. Let's go with the recipe:Ingredients for 4 people• 4 ripe avocados• 20 frozen prawns• ½ grapefruit, peeled and cut into wedges• 5 onions in vinegar• 4 sticks of surimi• 100 g of arugula leaves• Salt and...

Dear guest, when you come to enjoy your holidays in one of our wonderful villas, you might have medical problemsA few weeks ago we published a post about the emergency numbers. Now, besides of having the numbers, I will tell you some tricks of what to say when you need to call the medical emergency number because the person that you talk with might not speak English. Let’s start:The first thing to do in a medical emergency is to call 112 (this number is free, even if you come outside the EU area)Hola,...

Dear guest, below I will detail the main attractions during Christmas in Granada. If you are in one of our villas during these dates, I advise you to visit the city of Granada one day. There are several attractions during Christmas. CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN GRANADA Granada already has enough artisan markets throughout the year. That is why I recommend that you get lost in the streets of Granada to find many of these markets that will surely attract your attention.Where will we find Christmas...

Dear guest, Restaurante El Peñón was founded in 1954, when fishermen from Salobreña and La Caleta fished near the beach with small boats and sold fish on the same shore.When they finished they made some skewers on the beach to eat, and that was when the owner came up with the idea of ​​setting up a small "chambao", that is, the summer closing system, partial or total, of a terrace, patio or any other type of enclosure normally open and exposed to the excessive hot sun of the region, to sell...

Dear guest, the Quisquillas of Motril is part of the culture of this area. It is a product with a designation of origin, and an extraordinary quality. Next I will show you how to cook it so that it comes out exquisite.Ingredients•    Salt•    1 bay leaf•    Water•    IcePreparation1. In a pot, heat abundant water and the bay leaf over the fire.2. While the water starts to boil we are going to prepare a bowl with water and salt. We stir until the complete...

Dear guest, the coast of Granada has, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, 70 kilometers from the capital, one of the oldest towns in Andalusia. Almuñécar is not only an important tourist enclave due to the quality of its excellent beaches and rich gastronomy, but also an enclave with a historical past, which begins with its Islamic castle, today San Miguel.Sexi, the Phoenician cityNear its coast the Phoenicians established one of their most prolific factories, Sexi, 800 years before Christ....