spain

The change has just come into place for the peninsula, and Brits flying to the area will need to make sure their travel documents meet the new requirements, or could find themselves stranded at the airport

Budget airline easyJet has issued a warning to Brits flying on any of its four routes from the UK to a popular holiday hotspot visited by approximately 1.3million Brits every year, as new entry requirements came into force earlier this month.

In a statement, easyJet said: “From 15 July 2026, Gibraltar will align with Schengen entry requirements. If you’re travelling to Gibraltar, please check that your travel documents meet the new rules before you fly.”

The airline operates four routes from the UK to Gibraltar International Airport from Birmingham, Bristol, London-Gatwick, and Manchester. The only other airline that operates from the hub is British Airways, which has a London-Heathrow service.

The airline set out the key changes, saying: “UK visas and UK residence permits/share codes will no longer be accepted for entry to Gibraltar.” It also clarified: “Passports for travellers from non-Schengen countries (except Ireland and Cyprus) must have been issued within the last 10 years, and be valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Gibraltar.”

The requirements are now aligned with what Brits can expect at the other 29 countries in the Schengen area. This means they’ll need to go through registration under the Entry/Exit System (EES). EasyJet added: “Before travelling, please make sure you have the correct documents for your journey to avoid any issues at the airport, you can check the government website.”

While Gibraltar remains a a self-governing British Overseas Territory, as of July 15 a post-Brexit deal has allowed the border with Spain to be removed, getting rid of border controls and customs checks for those passing between Spain and Gibraltar.

Historically, the border has caused hold-ups and long queues for locals as it has had to handle an average of 15,000 people passing through it each day for work, education, and social purposes.

But the change means that, while Gibraltar still has autonomy, it’s now a de facto part of the Schengen free-movement area, which is why Brits will notice a change when visiting the territory. The EES system will involve the same fingerprint and face scans as the EU requires at every airport.

The FCDO added: “On arrival at Joshua Hassan Gibraltar International Airport, you should expect two sets of checks which will satisfy entry into Gibraltar and the Schengen Area: Gibraltar entry immigration controls performed by the Gibraltar authorities and Schengen entry immigration controls performed by the Spanish authorities as the authorities of the neighbouring Schengen State

“This includes registration under the Entry/Exit System (EES) where it applies. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will also apply once it is operational. Once you have cleared these checks, you can move freely across the land border from Gibraltar into Spain and the wider Schengen Area.”

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

A British tourist visiting the Canary Islands has shared a great-value restaurant find in Tenerife, where a pizza and Aperol Spritz lunch came to much less than viewers were expecting

While planning holidays to the Canary Islands, or any other popular tourist destination, many holidaymakers will outline an itinerary to plan out their days. This often includes the various activities they want to do, places to visit, and when to schedule in time to relax by a pool or a beach.

But with the rise of social media, people can now also plan out which restaurants and cafes they want to visit, as many holidaymakers will take to platforms like Instagram and TikTok to rave about their favourite eateries in different locations, which sometimes leads to the restaurants in question going viral.

One of the many people who have shared where they’ve eaten is British tourist Beth Yeandle, who often takes to her TikTok to share her travel vlogs and recommendations to her followers. During a recent holiday to Tenerife with her friends, Beth went on to document her pizza lunch at a restaurant called La Spezia, raving about both the food and the prices.

“Okay, you need to save this for your next trip to Costa Adeje,” Beth said at the start of her video, as she was seen tucking into a cheesy-looking pizza.

People amazed by value of Tenerife restaurant

Panning to the outside of the restaurant, she revealed that she and her friends had stumbled upon the eatery one afternoon during their holiday, drawn in by menus advertising a €6 (£5) pizza and pasta deal, alongside a happy hour offering half-price drinks between 2pm and 5pm.

“We were so buzzing with this little find,” Beth said, as she shared footage from inside the restaurant, which was decked out in a minimalist Mediterranean style.

Beth and her two companions each ordered a pizza, all with different toppings, yet each looking equally mouth-watering.

“The pizzas were huge, and you can’t beat a good Aperol at lunchtime,” Beth said. “We enjoyed it so much that we actually ended up going twice.”

Although she didn’t disclose the total bill, assuming she took advantage of the deal, her food would have come to just €6.

As for the drink, the typical price in Tenerife ranges between €7.50 (£6) and €8.50 (£7), meaning her entire lunch set her back less than £10 with the half price offer.

Viewers were quick to flock to the comments section to voice their opinions, with many desperate to visit the eatery themselves after watching Beth’s clip.

“Ohhhhh I love Tenerife,” one person wrote, while someone else commented: “The best restaurant! !”.

“I’d be there every day,” a third person said.

Another user pointed out: “It’s worth noting that this is in Callao Salvaje and not Costa Adeje.”

Wildfires are rampaging through vast areas of land in southwestern Europe, forcing France and Spain to evacuate more than 325,000 people from their homes.

Some of the worst fires in France since World War II come just weeks after record-breaking heatwaves scorched Europe. Authorities have deployed thousands of firefighters to battle the blazes.

On Sunday, France’s Interior Minister, Laurent Nunez, said about “115,000 hectares (284,171 acres) have burned in wildfires in France since the start of the year”. In Spain, 119,458 hectares (295,187 acres) of land have been burnt as of July 22 , according to data from the Copernicus European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).

More than 150,000 hectares have burned across Spain since January, said Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez – that’s six times the area destroyed during the same period last year.

Wildfires destroyed 2.2 million hectares (5.4 million acres) of land in Europe in 2025 – up from 1.4 million hectares (3.5 million acres) in 2022, according to the United Nations.

What is the main cause of the wildfires and why are authorities struggling to contain them?

What has happened?

Since early July, wildfires have been burning across southern and western Europe, with France and Spain being the worst hit.

About 220,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in France, about 75,000 people in Spain, and around 30,000 others there ordered to shelter in place, according to authorities.

In Spain, a fast-moving wildfire in the Andalusia region killed at least 12 people on July 10 . By July 20 , the fires had spread hundreds of kilometres to the capital, Madrid. At least 10,000 people have been evacuated following wildfires in the central region of Madrid. On July 24 , Spanish authorities declared a national emergency, saying two major blazes were “out of control”.

Over the weekend, a separate blaze in Spain’s eastern Castellon province ravaged more than 4,300 hectares (10,625 acres), regional authorities said.

“The fire is out of control, it’s very difficult to extinguish from a technical standpoint, especially because of the adverse weather conditions that will continue throughout the day,” the regional leader of Valencia, Juanfran Perez, told reporters near the site.

The wildfire in Spain has now entered the Sierra de Espadan natural park, containing large forests of pine trees and cork oaks.

In France, the wildfires are among the country’s worst since World War II and have particularly ravaged the Cap Ferret peninsula, an exclusive holiday destination on France’s southern Atlantic coast about 70km (43 miles) from Bordeaux.

Reporting from Maubec, near Toulouse, Al Jazeera’s Nina Montagu-Smith said: “When I visited Arcachon, a seaside town just across the bay from Cap Ferret on Thursday last week, we could see the fires on the peninsula. Within hours, the sky had blackened and the smoke was thick over Arcachon town.”

“All trains from Arcachon were cancelled, apparently due to an ‘electrical fault’,” she added. “Fire engines were lining the A63 from Bordeaux towards Arcachon on Thursday evening as I drove eastwards to Libourne, which is 100km from the fires in the Gironde region,” she said.

Our correspondent noted that after the wind picked up on Thursday evening, smoke from the blaze reached Libourne, where ash was falling from the sky.

“We have since relocated further east in France towards Toulouse, where the sky is very grey and we could still smell the smoke on Sunday night,” she added.

The wildfires have now spread through areas surrounding Bordeaux, where firefighters were trying to prevent the flames from reaching the regional capital.

Bordeaux Mayor Thomas Cazenave said the fire was just 15km (nine miles) from entrances to the main city.

“We have a fire that is not under control and which is moving in the direction of the city area,” Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told France 2 TV on Sunday evening. “The overall situation is very unfavourable, we are in a situation that is unprecedented.”

So far, authorities have moved 197,000 people from areas around Bordeaux – including popular holiday spots which are generally crowded at this time of the year.

The Bordeaux region is famed for its vineyards and the ‌‌city is one of the main transport hubs for tourists visiting nearby holiday resorts on the Atlantic coast.

Cazenave said earlier on Sunday that there were no plans yet to evacuate Bordeaux, whose wider metropolitan area has a population of about 850,000. Nunez said authorities would continue to assess the situation calmly and realistically, and the government has warned against road or rail travel to the area.

The wildfires disrupted Sunday’s Tour de France finale in Paris, which organisers shortened from 133 to 89 kilometres (83 to 55 miles) after security forces originally assigned to the race were redeployed to fight the fires instead.

Why are these fires so bad?

Scientists are warning that pyrocumulonimbus clouds – unprecedented in southwest Europe – are forming.

According to the British Royal Meteorological Society, these are thunder clouds “created by intense heat from the Earth’s surface”. They can make conditions almost impossible for firefighters.

They are formed similarly to normal clouds, but “the intense heat that results in the vigorous updraft comes from fire, either large wildfires or volcanic eruptions”, the society said. It explained that there may be a burst of rain because of them but warned that this rain “can then carry embers from the fire, igniting spot fires away from the source. In some cases, dry lightning from these storms can strike without rain, further spreading the wildfire”.

A spokesman for France’s National Firefighters Federation of France (FNSPF) told the AFP news agency: “Lightning forms within the cloud, striking the embers on the ground and further fuelling the fire … It produces a low, rumbling sound. While this type of fire occurs regularly in Canada and Australia, it is unprecedented in France,” he said on Sunday.

“We have reached a point of ‘operational impossibility’ that requires us to accept the need for strategic retreat – to understand and acknowledge a natural force beyond our control,” he said.

“It calls for … knowing what can be done and, above all, what cannot. The situation on the ground is defensive rather than offensive; it is a war-like scenario where we are under constant bombardment and must get everyone to safety,” he added.

What are authorities doing now?

Spanish and French authorities say firefighters alone cannot fight the blaze and have appealed for international help.

On Sunday, Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez visited fire-hit areas in Avila, one of three central provinces affected by major blazes alongside Madrid and Toledo, where more than 45,000 hectares (111,000 acres) have burned.

“We have a window of opportunity this weekend to fight the wildfire and, therefore, to protect lives, protect population centres and, ultimately, to bring this very serious wildfire under control as far as possible,” he said.

Sanchez said his government will declare a civil protection emergency for the central provinces plagued by the wildfires on Tuesday, unlocking additional recovery funding.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu wrote on X ⁠⁠on Saturday: “The fires which ⁠⁠are hitting our country have reached a level that has never been seen before”.

Lecornu called another government crisis meeting on Saturday for ministers to discuss the response to the emergency, the second such meeting in as many days.

French President Emmanuel Macron was holding a cabinet crisis meeting on Monday.

The European Union’s civil protection mechanism is monitoring the situation and has been assisting. Under the mechanism so far, Greece and Italy have sent firefighting aircraft to Spain, while Portugal has deployed more than 100 military personnel, along with equipment.

Two more aircraft will arrive “as soon as possible” from Turkey, the Spanish interior ministry added on X.

Why are these fires becoming so much harder to contain?

Wildfires have been a common occurrence in Europe in recent years, but authorities have increasingly been struggling to contain them.

Sanchez said the growing scale of the fires and their intensity, fuelled by increasingly extreme weather such as the heatwaves this summer, require policies grounded in climate science.

Eduardo Rojas, chairman of the Board at the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification told Al Jazeera’s Inside Story programme on Sunday that there are multiple factors causing the wildfires which also need attention.

He said the fires in the wild lands of the country have occurred where the “urban interface is extraordinarily complex”. He noted that some areas were “built up in the 60s, 70s and 80s without a proper city plan and with lack of infrastructure, lack of water availability…and with a lack of knowledge of the neighbourhoods.” When a fire occurs, therefore, there is a “lack of knowledge” about how to deal with them.

“The fire in west Madrid is a kind of fire that doesn’t burn a huge area but creates a lot of hesitation,” he said.

“We also have farms where cereals are harvested and even [with] a small lightning [strike], the cereal can start to burn and at the end a big agricultural area ends up burning which is a big damage for farmers,” he noted.

“These kinds of fires need to be tackled in a totally different way because their cause and their environment and conditions are incomparable with one another,” he added.

Laurie Laybourn, executive director of Strategic Climate Risks Initiative, a non-partisan thinktank told Al Jazeera that governments across the continent are unable to cope with the pace at which climate change is occurring.

“All governments develop what are called reasonable worst-case scenarios to inform their planning and in many instances the events that we’re seeing are going beyond even those. So what that tells us is that the tools that we’ve got, the analysis that is informing government planning is a step behind how fast climate change and its supercharging of disasters is,” he said.

So is this all mainly because of climate change?

According to the European Forest Institute, a wildfire “is a chemical reaction of combustion, which requires a source of heat (lightning, an agricultural “burn” which escapes, or a spark originating in an electric line), oxygen and fuel (forests, shrubs or pastures) to get started.”

“Wildfire risks are increasing worldwide because of climate change and land use change,” the institute added in a July 9 report.

In a recent report, the World Health Organization’s regional director for Europe issued a warning about climate change, saying it is directly responsible for intensifying wildfires and their increasing frequency.

There are clear indications that climate change is “supercharging” incidents such as wildfires, Laybourn told Al Jazeera.

“Any disaster is very complex. The causes are multilayered, including how we build and how we use land…But climate change is supercharging the conditions that make us vulnerable to things like wildfires and that has been something that’s been predicted now for many decades and tragically becoming true in front of our eyes,” he said.

According to Copernicus, the European Union’s climate change service, Europe is now the fastest warming continent on Earth, with temperatures increasing twice as fast as the global average since 1980.

Laybourn explained that this summer’s heatwaves were also caused by climate change.

He warned and stressed that governments need to prioritise tackling the issue.

“This should be a moment of profound alarm and reflection, particularly for governments.”

British holidaymakers travelling to and from a popular Spanish destination have been warned about planned strikes that could cause delays and disruptions during the summer holidays

Brits jetting off abroad to a major holiday hotspot are being warned about travel disruptions due to planned strikes set to start this week.

Holidaymakers travelling through Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) could face significant delays as Swissport workers are due to strike on Tuesday, 28 July, with TUI one of the affected airlines. Further walk-outs in the Swissport ground handling strike are planned for the summer holidays, including on August 1, 4, and 8 from 7am to 12pm and 7pm to 10pm.

To make matters worse, full 24-hour daily walkouts are also set to take place this week, starting from today (Monday, 27 July) until Thursday (30 July). This industrial action, known as the metal sector strike, has been planned by three unions and covers 39,000 workers across the Balearic Islands who are demanding “fair wage increases and protection against inflation”, Palma Airport outlined.

However, Palma Airport warned that there is a “crucial overlap date” for Tuesday, 28 July, as the two strikes coincide. This could result in the worst-impacted day for travellers passing through the airport with delays and disruptions, as various airlines could be affected.

Palma Airport explained that Swissport provides essential passenger, baggage handling and ramp services to a specific group of international carriers, including TUI, Condor, TAP Air Portugal, Air Canada, Etihad Airways, Albastar and DAT. While other airlines at Palma use different ground handling providers, such as Ryanair, EasyJet, or Jet2, the airport warned that “large-scale airport strikes can occasionally create a minor knock-on effect”, but Swissport passengers are expected to be the worst affected.

Meanwhile, the airport warned that the regional metal sector strike “covers technical personnel across the entire airport”, meaning that its impact will “stretch beyond Swissport-handled airlines to affect all carriers operating at Palma, Ibiza, and Menorca.” They added that “passengers on any airline could face localised delays” on those specific dates (July 27 to 30).

The airport warned that during the strikes, passengers could face “longer waiting times” and “potential operational bottlenecks.” In addition, travellers could face delays when checking in or dropping off their bags before departure, when at the boarding gate, and at the baggage carousels after landing in Mallorca, during the Swissport strikes.

In advice to holidaymakers set to travel to or from Palma, the airport advised the following:

• Check in online: Complete your check-in online before heading to the airport to minimise time spent in queues.
• Travel light if possible: Travelling with hand luggage only allows you to bypass potential check-in and baggage carousel delays.
• Monitor your airline’s app: Keep a close eye on text alerts or app notifications from your airline for real-time schedule updates.
• Arrive on time (but not too early): Stick to the standard arrival window recommended by your carrier (usually two to three hours before departure). Arriving half a day early can worsen airport congestion.

Palma Airport, also known as Son Sant Joan Airport, is one of the biggest Spanish airports, connecting Brits to the capital of Mallorca (Majorca), and beyond. In July last year, a whopping 1.8 million tourists travelled through Palma Airport in favour of that Spanish sun-soaked summer getaway.

The airport strikes planned for this week follow protests against overtourism in Palma on Sunday, 26 July. According to the police, around 25,000 people were involved, while the organisers, Menys Turisme, Mes Vida (Less Tourism, More Life), estimate that 70,000 took part in the protest.

For more information on the planned strikes during the summer, visit the Palma Airport website.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

AS WILDFIRES continue to spread across France and Spain major travel advice has been issued for tourists heading abroad for the summer.

Thousands of excited Brits are gearing up to go on holiday in the coming days but “monster” flames tearing across Europe are beginning to cast doubt over travel plans.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has urged Brit holidaymakers to take care when travelling to the south-west of France where the two main wildfires are spreading.

The Gironde wildfire has been scorching huge swathes of land as it continues to grow as the Biscarrosse fires also rage on.

The FCDO has told travellers to follow instructions and updates from local authorities and emergency services at all times and to call 112 for the emergency services if people are in danger.

They make it clear that “no travel can be guaranteed safe” and that precautions must be taken ahead of time.

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Having appropriate travel insurance is also a necessity if you want a refund.

Experts say if you’ve booked a package holiday and the company you’ve booked with cancels because of wildfires, you should be offered a refund or have alternative arrangements offered to you.

If you’ve booked your flights and accommodation separately, you will need to speak to your airline and the company you booked your hotel, apartment or villa with separately to see if they will refund you.

Make sure to keep a record of any official warnings, cancellation notices, emails from your airline and screenshots of travel advice.

Similar guidance has been issued for people heading to Spain with the UK government advising people to avoid travelling through the two main affected areas of Madrid and Avila.

Both Spanish regions are already under a national emergency as thousands of hectares of land are being ravaged by multiple fires.

French officials have also urged holidaymakers to stay away from wildfire zones and told tourists already in active areas to pack their bags and make plans to leave.

Sophie Brocas, the prefect for Nouvelle-Aquitaine, said: “We urge tourists not to come to this region, at least until the situation is under control.

“I encourage tourists who are already here to consider another destination.”

Authorities have already evacuated campsites, tourist accommodation and some residential areas across the south-west.

French President Emmanuel Macron is due to convene a crisis meeting later today to discuss the wildfires as they near the tourist city of Bordeaux.

Flames are now just seven miles away from the ancient French city centre with hundreds of thousands of people in Gironde already being evacuated from their homes.

Your rights if your holiday is cancelled due to wildfires

EXPERTS are warning any Brit families who have holidays booked to Spain or France to check the official advice, and make sure you are covered by your travel insurance.

Rhys Jones, travel insurance expert at Go.Compare, said the FCDO should always be the main place to check.

He said: “Wildfires can move quickly and cause serious disruption, so if you’re due to travel to an affected destination, the first thing to do is check the latest FCDO advice for that country and your specific resort or region.

“If they advise against travel, your holiday provider or travel insurer may be able to support you, depending on how you booked and what your policy includes.”

You should also check your travel insurance policy before you go to see what it covers.

“Some include cover for natural disasters under ‘catastrophe cover’, but this is not always included as standard and not every insurer will define wildfires in the same way,” Rhys added.

“Look at whether your policy covers cancellation, travel disruption, alternative accommodation, emergency medical treatment and repatriation, and contact the insurer directly if anything is unclear.”

He adds: “Don’t wait until you are in the middle of an emergency to understand your cover.

“Check your policy wording before you go, know your insurer’s emergency contact details, and make sure your documents are easy to access online and offline.”

Your travel insurance could help you get back any costs your accommodation provider or airline won’t refund you for, if it covers cancellation or “catastrophe”.

Sitting even closer to the fires is Bordeaux Airport with the hotel nearby being evacuated overnight.

Flights are yet to be impacted despite a cloud of smoke beginning to choke the city.

The latest update from Bordeaux Airport came on Sunday as they said: “The airport is currently operational and is doing everything it can to provide the region with all the necessary support in the ongoing fight against the fires. 

“Commercial flights are operating as normal.”

Anyone travelling should contact their holiday provider and airline before jetting off.

For information on the wildfires, the French Prefecture has opened a public information line from 9am to 5pm which can be accessed by calling +33 (0)9 70 80 90 40 (select option 1 for Gironde).

Across in Spain, temperatures are on track to reach above 40C – sparking concerns that the heat will only help fuel the wildfires.

Officials have said due to the volatile nature of fires, the situation is being reassessed day-by-day so tourists should continue to check the latest guidance.

The raging inferno around Madrid was described as being “at its peak” over the weekend and  “beyond the capacity” of firefighters to control.

He leaves behind a seven-year-old daughter

A devoted father described as an “incredible” dad and an “honest giant of a man” died in a tragedy while on holiday in Spain. Former UK champion powerlifter Jeremy Paynter, from Seabrook, near Hythe, was in Alcudia, Mallorca, on June 28.

An opening hearing at Oakwood House in Maidstone was told the 45-year-old had been out on a personal water craft, commonly known as a jet ski, with his partner, Emily Hill, when the craft overturned while stationary. Coroner Patricia Harding said: “The information before the court is that he was on a trip, on a stationary vehicle with his partner, wearing life jackets, when it tipped and they fell into the water.

Coroner Patricia Harding said: “The information before the court is that he was on a jet ski trip, on a stationary jet ski with his partner, wearing life jackets, when it tipped and they fell into the water. He pushed his partner back onto the jet ski but struggled to get on himself.”

The hearing was told Mr Paynter, who was born in New Zealand, was eventually pulled from the water onto nearby rocks as an air ambulance was called to the scene. Despite the efforts of emergency services, he could not be revived. A preliminary post-mortem examination carried out in Spain recorded the cause of Mr Paynter’s death as asphyxia.

The senior finance manager leaves behind a seven-year-old daughter and has been remembered by friends, family and former colleagues as a loving father whose warmth and generosity touched countless lives. His ex-wife, Cathrine Spencer, a former England rugby player, paid tribute to him in a heartfelt LinkedIn post.

She wrote: “Jeremy was an incredible Dad to our amazing daughter. Jeremy was larger than life in every way. He made such an incredible, positive impact on everyone he met. I hope that he is looking down now and finally understands how much he is loved by so many people.”

Tributes have continued to pour in from those who knew him professionally and personally. Jo Hobbs wrote: “Such shocking and sad news. I have many fond memories from the time I worked with Jeremy, it was an honour to have met him. An amazing character who I will forever remember and I feel privileged to have known him.”

Former colleague Kenneth Louis Juan said: “He was a constant source of encouragement, always pushing us to strive for greater things and assuring us of his unwavering support in achieving our dreams. He was not only a leader who cared deeply for his team as colleagues, but also as family. Jeremy, you will truly be missed.

“My deepest condolences to his bereaved family. May you find comfort in the legacy of kindness, guidance, and care he has left behind.”

Others described Mr Paynter as an “honest giant of a man” and “an amazing person with such incredible knowledge, empathy and compassion”. The inquest was adjourned for a full hearing at a date yet to be fixed, when the circumstances surrounding Mr Paynter’s death will be examined in greater detail.

Wildfires are ravaging many parts of western and southern Europe, with France and Spain among the hardest hit.

The World Health Organization has warned that climate change is contributing to the frequency and intensity of the fires. This is clear in the record temperatures and successive heatwaves seen across the continent since May. France and Spain have deployed thousands of firefighters, and neighbouring countries have sent assistance. Authorities say the situation is unprecedented.

So, what will it take to extinguish the flames?

Presenter: Per Nyberg

Guests:

Eduardo Rojas – chairman of the board at the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification

Soraya Fettih – global campaigns coordinator at 350.org, an international environmental organisation focused on addressing the climate crisis

Laurie Laybourn – executive director of Strategic Climate Risks Initiative, a non-partisan think tank

TUCKED away in the mountains of Malaga is a tiny village that was abandoned for five decades.

El Acebuchal was only rediscovered in the late 90s and brought back to life.

The little white-washed village was once used by travelling merchants for hundreds of years as a place to meet and transport goods between the Costa del Sol and Granada.

The village was small and home to around 200 people.

But in 1949, the village was officially closed by the Spanish leader at the time, Francisco Franco.

He believed that those who lived there opposed his regime, so he sent officials in to disperse the village residents.

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It remained a ghost town until 1998 when Antonio Sanchez or ‘El Zumbo’, who once had ancestors in the village, moved there.

He and his family began to rebuild houses where everything was restored by hand.

The village didn’t even have running water or electricity until 2003.

Now, the village has around 30 homes, a chapel and restaurant called Bar El Acebuchal which is actually run by Antonio Sanchez himself.

It’s slightly off the beaten track according to diners, but well-worth it for the food.

Lots of the homes are holiday rentals – there’s also a B&B in the village called ‘The Lost Village el Acebuchal’ which is highly-rated on Tripadvisor.

It has just three rooms along with a roof terrace, seasonal outdoor pool and there are even spa services.

One visitor described it as “a 1950s movie scene” and another described it as a “hideaway”.

The village isn’t overly modern with limited phone signal.

A popular hiking route is between Acebuchal and Frigiliana which stretches on for about eight miles.

Frigiliana is another place to add to the list, as it is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Spain.

It has white-washed buildings, bright blue accents, terracotta tiled rooftops and mosaic streets.

The steep paths are lined with colourful plant pots full of greenery with blooming flowers like the classic Mediterranean pink bougainvillea.

The town was built on top of a hill so it has incredible views of the Costa del Sol and Mediterranean Sea.

Lee Kang-In makes the switch to Atletico after helping Paris Saint-Germain to consecutive Champions League titles.

South Korea midfielder Lee Kang-In has agreed to join Atletico Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain, the Spanish club.

Atletico said on Saturday the player would sign a contract through June 2031. The transfer fee was undisclosed, but it is reportedly between 35 and 40 million euros ($39.8m and $45.5m).

The 25-year-old Lee played all three group-stage games at the World Cup, where South Korea failed to advance after losing twice.

Born in Incheon, Lee moved to Spain when he was 10 to join Valencia’s training academy and ended up playing 62 games for the club. After a stint with Mallorca, he joined PSG in 2023, scoring 16 goals in 124 appearances.

He will now play for an Atletico side that finished La Liga in fourth place and reached the Copa del Rey final last season. Lee will help fill the creative void left by Antoine Griezmann, who has left for the MLS as Atletico’s all-time top scorer.

In south-west France, authorities have evacuated around 200,000 people after wildfires ripped through the Gironde and Landes regions.

In the early hours of Saturday, four towns near Bordeaux were evacuated “as a precaution”.

The towns were Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, Saint-Jean d’Illac, Martignas-sur-Jalles, and Saint-Aubin de Médoc, which Le Monde reported had a total population of 58,400 residents.

The Gironde blaze, described by local prefect Sophie Brocas as an “XXL fire”, has burned through more than 19,000 hectares (46,000 acres) of forest and destroyed about 80 homes.

Officials evacuated the entire Cap Ferret peninsula on the south-west coast, with hundreds escaping by boat after flames swept through the popular tourist destination.

The area has a year-round population of just under 8,000 people, but numbers can increase 10 fold during the summer holiday season.

Fire and rescue chief Marc Vermeulen said conditions were more severe than during the devastating fires that hit the region in 2022, with drought enabling the blaze to continue spreading through the night.

“We have never seen a convective fire of this magnitude,” France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez told French broadcaster TF1, adding that around 50 firefighters had been injured.

He said the blaze was “self-sustaining” and changing direction, with the fire moving east towards Bordeaux on Friday evening.

“We are going to reorganise our response so we can fight it from the ground and prevent it from advancing toward Bordeaux,” he said.

July 24 (UPI) — More than 200,000 people fled their homes on Friday in fear of powerful wildfires tearing through Spain and France.

Spanish authorities declared a national emergency as three blazes burning near Madrid merged into one, forcing some 60,000 people from their homes.

In France, 141,000 people were evacuated from the regions of Gironde and Landes.

“This is the worst wildfire in our region’s history,” Madrid’s regional leader, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, told reporters.

France’s Interior Minister, Laurent Nunez, said 50 firefighters had been injured fighting the wildfire.

“We have never seen a convective fire of this magnitude,” Nunez told TF1.

“We are going to reorganize our response so we can fight it from the ground and prevent it from advancing toward Bordeaux,” he added.

In Madrid, firefighters said the blaze is beyond their control, BBC reported.

“The wildfire is at its peak and is currently beyond the capacity of firefighters to contain,” Carlos Novillo, emergency management chief in Madrid, told reporters.

“It’s not possible to attack the fire in that area, so defensive measures are being taken,” he added.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the country requested support from the European Union.

“We will soon be able to count on reinforcements from two Croatian Canadair aircraft, two Portuguese Air Tractor planes, as well as two heavy Black Hawk helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia,” Macron wrote on X. “This concrete, swift, and operational solidarity is a precious strength in the ordeal.”

The president said the situation remains “under very high tension.”

“My thoughts go out to our firefighters and the rescue forces who are battling relentlessly on the fire front,” Macron added. “Their courage commands respect.”

In his first news conference since succeeding Pep Guardiola last month, Marseca found himself fielding questions about the Catalan, who won 20 trophies in his 10 years at the club.

The 46-year-old knows only too well the tough act he has to follow having worked as Guardiola’s assistant during the 2022-23 Treble winning season.

“I want to say it is a privilege because it’s the reason why the club decided to go for me, that is a privilege,” he said.

“I have said many times, I consider Pep the best coach in the world in the last 20-25 years. It is a challenge [to replace him].”

Maresca, who called time on his time at Chelsea in January after 18 months, acknowledged the challenge of arriving at a club who have had just three managers in 16 years.

“That is not normal and has not happened often,” he said. “I am confident that we can continue to do a great job and continue to do the job that has been done in the last 14, 15 years since Roberto Mancini was here.

“I know the organisation quite well and the people inside the club from years ago. The structure understands to give time for everything.

“Since Manchester City contacted me, I had no doubt about joining this fantastic club.”

Maresca hinted that there were “a few things to do” in the transfer window but would not be drawn on the futures of players including goalkeeper James Trafford, who has been linked with a move away from the club, and returning midfielder Jack Grealish, who spent last season on loan at Everton but is back in training with City.

Brits heading out to Spain may want to rethink their travel plans ahead of soaring temperatures, as they experience a different kind of holiday without a safe trip to the beach

Tourists hoping to catch a tan on the beach in Spain may be disappointed to learn that close to 27 beaches so far will in fact be a tourist-free zone as the scorching heat takes a hold.

The Costa Blanca is set to see a huge beach ban this week amidst dangerous weather warnings to protect locals’ and tourists’ safety.

Spain’s national weather agency, AEMET, has predicted strong storms and gusts of wind, which have the potential to cause thermal blowouts. As a result, local councils are forcing shutdowns as Alicante is set to see its most dangerous weather days of the summer in the final week of July.

Thermal bursts, or blowouts, are a phenomenon in which precipitation evaporates as it crosses dry air in warm environments. This phenomenon causes a sudden spike in temperature and strong winds.

Inland temperatures are forecast to reach up to 45 degrees, and the province remains under a yellow weather warning, as thunderstorms could bring hazardous conditions to the area.

Three municipalities in total, including Alicante, Guardamar del Segura, and Orihuela, have decided to raise red flags on their beaches to prevent the potential risks caused by the extreme shift in weather, Mercia Today suggests.

Orihulea City Council confirmed that all beaches along the coast will be closed from 5pm, July 23, with the red flags banning all swimming activity.

This restriction affects the likes of Punta Prima Beach, Cala Mosca, Cala Estaca, Cala Bosque, Cala Capitan and Cala Cerrada, as well as any coves in the area.

Meanwhile, Alicante City Council has also activated emergency measures, where all municipal beaches will be closed for visitors, along with parks, gardens and wooded areas.

The ban affects popular tourist beaches such as Postiguet, San Juan Beach, Urbanova-El Saladar, Aguamarga, La Almadraba and Albufereta, according to the Olive Press.

All three councils have supposedly asked that beachgoers remove the likes of umbrellas and any other objects that have the potential to be thrown around by the strong gusts of wind.

Authorities are advising tourists to avoid unnecessary travel and steer clear of beaches and exposed coastal areas for their own safety. Although, as things stand, there is no official statement that advises against travel to any parts of Spain due to the heatwave.

If you are someone travelling out to Spain amidst these extreme temperatures or travelling around the country during the hottest days, you should take general precautions to avoid the sun.

Typically, the hottest hours are from 11am to 3pm, so it’s best to avoid this time if possible, all while staying hydrated and wearing sunscreen and light, breathable clothing.

As for your villa, holiday home or hotel space, be sure to bring inside any parasols, outdoor furniture, plant pots and loose objects that live on any balconies or terraces. If the thunderstorms develop, it is best to stay indoors where possible and most definitely avoid walking near exposed costal spots.

The adjoining municipalities of Santa Pola and Torrevieja have yet to make a statement over their beaches, but this could change.

IF YOU are looking for your next holiday, then you can head to a brand new waterpark in Europe.

Coral Bay, La Leyenda Perdida has opened at PortAventura World’s waterpark in Spain.

The entire land is inspired by an ancient sunken pirate land, that has risen from the ocean floor.

Overall, the new land spans 5,000sqm and has several different attractions for visitors to explore.

There’s Cyclone, for example, which is the world’s second water coaster and the first in Europe.

And then there’s The Crab – a multi-slide tower, with five different slides suitable for all ages.

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The little ones aren’t left out either, with Splash Port – an interactive water play zone.

However, the ultimate star of the show is Pirate Bay, which is the world’s first multi-adventure pool.

In the pool you can expect different obstacles to tackle, as well as a swimming area.

The land also has a new dining area called El Bucanero, along with rest zones.

Day tickets to the Caribe Aquatic Park cost from €35 (£29.93) per adult and €31 (£26.51) per child.

If you stay at one of PortAventura World’s hotels, you will get discounted entry to the waterpark.

For example you could stay at Hotel Roulette as a family of four for two nights in September, for £272.24, which works out at £34.03 per person per night.

While you’re there, you should head to the main theme park too.

One mum who recently visited said: “In under an hour we had been left rattled racing each other on wooden coaster Stampida, cooled off in the Grand Canyon Rapids and been blown away by multi-dimensional dark ride Uncharted and eight-loop coaster Dragon Khan.

“Luckily the park is not just bold, it’s also beautiful, with lush landscaping across the six themed lands of Mexico, Polynesia, China, Far West, Mediterranea and SesamoAventura, where we could recover from the adrenaline rush and soaring temperatures.”

It also has Ferrari Land, which has the tallest and fastest rollercoaster in Europe.

So what is the project Codina sees at West Ham?

Guarino, who led Juventus to four successive Serie A titles, took over from Rehanne Skinner at West Ham midway through last season.

She stated in January that “step by step” they would improve their style of play, but it was clear that organisation and a focus on defensive stability was the priority.

But that could change this season.

“Honestly, I think that we’re going to see a West Ham that the fans will be proud of, and that’s the main thing for me,” said Codina.

“It will be a recognisable West Ham – a team that can play football, and that will try to have the ball as much as possible.

“With Rita, you could see their main characteristic was to defend, but I think that this season we’re going to try to improve on the ball.”

Codina says she already feels at home, having begun pre-season training this week, but it helps that she is still living in London.

The centre-back moved to England in 2023 after nine years at Barcelona, where she progressed from the club’s academy and into the first team.

Now she wants to give back to the community and is already giving up her time to help West Ham’s foundation work with young children in east London.

“I’m enjoying the life here. I love to learn new cultures. London has something special. I’m trying to enjoy it as much as possible,” said Codina.

“Football gives me this opportunity and I’m going to try to use it as good as possible.

“I tell [the children] that it’s not only about winning. It’s not only about going to WSL. It’s not only playing for the national team. It’s all the other things.”

It feels like there’s a world class beach at the end of almost every coastal road on this Mediterranean island.

When you picture the world’s best beaches, it may well be places like the Maldives or Barbados that spring to mind. But there’s one large Mediterranean island, easily accessible from the UK, that can stake as strong a claim to the world’s best beaches as anywhere on the planet — and it’s not in Spain or Greece.

And what’s more, you can enjoy it without the crowds of tourists that descend on Spanish and Greek islands. Majorca was recently described as “overrun with tourists” after figures showed tourists outnumbered residents on the island. The same study described Zakynthos as the “capital of over-tourism”. The Canary Islands of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote were also high on the list of most visited places in Europe.

Official UK government figures show that the number of British tourists visiting Spain dwarfs the number visiting Italy, which is where you’ll find this magical island packed with world-class beaches. In the most recent list of Europe’s 50 best beaches, the island of Sardinia has two beaches in the top 10. In 2024, one of its beaches was named the best on Earth.

But Sardinia offers tourists way more than beaches. It is the second largest island in the Mediterranean so there is lots to explore, including its inland countryside, coastal villages, luxury resorts and exceptional food and drink. Given Sardinia is less overwhelmed by tourists than the likes of Tenerife, you’ll find that many of its restaurants still cater mainly for locals and the quality of food is high. It also has a large city, Cagliari, which offers all the culture and nightlife you’d expect from a large European city with a vibrant student population.

But despite its size, Sardinia, which lies around halfway between the coasts of Italy and Spain, is easily navigable and you can drive its coastal roads stopping off at the stunning beaches that seem to be dotted every few miles. And all of this is just a short flight from the UK. The weather is perfect too, with temperatures reaching 30C in summer and still hitting up to 23C even in October.

The best beaches in Sardinia

It’s not an easy task to compile a list of the best beaches in Sardinia because there are so many of them. I’ve been lucky enough to visit several times, reaching nearly all four corners and sampling its wonderful beaches, which are almost never crowded despite their natural beauty and easy access.

This year, Cala Dei Gabbiani on the island’s east coast, and La Pelosa, on its northwestern tip, were both named among Europe’s top 10 beaches. In 2024, Cala Goloritzé was named the best on Earth, with those who compiled the list for The World’s 50 Best Beaches saying: “Cala Goloritzé feels like more than just a beach — its raw beauty has a way of touching you emotionally the moment you lay eyes on it. Whether you’re looking down from the viewpoint above or standing at the shore with your feet in the water, the scene is truly breath-taking.”

Meanwhile, Poetto is the city of Cagliari’s “in-house” beach. Just a 20-minute bus ride from the city centre it has 8km of sand and is packed with bars and places to eat.

Here are a selection of Sardinia beaches you shouldn’t miss:

1. Cala Mariolu: clear water, with shades ranging from turquoise to deep blue, white limestone pebbles, dramatic cliffs and rich marine life.

2. La Pelosa: powdery white sand and shallow, crystal-clear waters, it is widely considered one of Europe’s most spectacular beaches, with an iconic 16th-century watchtower on a nearby rocky islet.

3. Cala Dei Gabbiani: clear waters and few crowds

4. Spiaggia del Pirata: just 100 metres long and good for snorkelling in shallow waters

5. Spiaggia Rena Bianca: pale, fine sand, shallow, clear water and views towards Corsica

6. Cala Corsara: in the La Maddalena archipelago just off Sardinia’s north-eastern coast, it has crystal-clear water, soft golden sands and dramatic rock formations

7. Spiaggia del Poetto: a huge 8km-long beach on the outskirts of Cagliari

8. Liscia Ruja: a mix of unspoilt nature and exclusive beach clubs

A celebrity hotspot

Bradley Cooper, Gigi Hadid, Beyoncé, Sir Elton John, Leonardo DiCpario and Cristiano Ronaldo have all enjoyed holidays in Sardinia over the years. The destination of choice for the stars is the Costa Smeralda region and its main hub, Porto Cervo, where you will see vast superyachts worth hundreds of millions of pounds moored with security keeping wide-eyed tourists at bay.

Just down the road from Porto Cervo is the celebrity’s beach of choice, Spiagga del Principe, which Lonely Planet describes as a “magnificent crescent of white sand… bound by unspoiled macchia and startlingly clear blue waters”.

Food and drink in Sardinia

You have so many options. All the major towns and cities have lots of authentic options which are still mostly aimed at Italians more than tourists and many beaches will have pop-up style places to grab a salad, wine or piadini (a type of sandwich). Sardinia has a famously long-living population thanks to its healthy diet based on fish, fruit, vegetables and olive oil.

One eating experience not to be missed is the agriturismo. This is an Italian concept which has seen traditional farms adapt to cater for visitors who want to eat or stay (or both). The menus can be extensive and fantastic, and you will find yourself very full of the most excellent locally-produced food. There’s nothing like it.

Where to stay in Sardinia

Deciding where to stay largely comes down to the sort of holiday you want. Cagliari, on the south coast, is a bustling city with lots of places to stay, eat and drink. It’s not really a tourist city so you’ll have an authentically Italian experience. It’s easy enough to get out of the city by car to nearby beaches, especially Poetto, which is essentially on its doorstep.

At the opposite end of the island is Alghero, a medieval town also within a short drive of world-beating beaches like La Pelosa. and while Costa Smeralda, in the north-east of the island, is popular among wealthier visitors, you can find affordable places in the region, like Cannigione.

Flying to Sardinia

The main airports in Sardinia are at Cagliari on the south coast, Olbia on the north-eastern coast and Alghero on the north-western coast. They are served by several UK airports with deals starting from around £40.

Spain is in the grip of a major heatwave in summer 2026, with temperatures forecast to reach up to 47C in some parts of the country as UK tourists on holiday in Spain are warned to take precautions against the ‘brutal’ heat

Spain is currently in the grip of an intense, official heatwave. The country’s State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has issued strict weather warnings as its third significant heatwave of the summer builds across the Iberian Peninsula. The extreme weather event officially commenced on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, and is predicted to reach its peak on Thursday, 23 July 2026. Some respite is anticipated from Friday (24 July) onwards, with milder weekend conditions expected.

Temperatures are forecast to locally hit or surpass 44C to 45C (and possibly reach 47C) across southern and southeastern mainland Spain. A comprehensive network of weather warnings has been issued nationwide. Red Alerts (extreme danger) remain in force for the worst-affected areas in Andalusia and Extremadura, while Orange Alerts blanket major regions including Madrid, Aragon, Catalonia, and Castile-La Mancha.

The heatwave is being fuelled by an enormous “heat dome” drawing dry, scorching air straight from the Sahara Desert. This has triggered a severe Calima (Saharan dust storm), producing murky skies, locking in elevated temperatures overnight (“tropical nights”), and substantially degrading local air quality.

TikTok user Leanne, from Belfast, recently documented her experience in the sweltering conditions during her holiday to Majorca.

The DJ, who has amassed more than 19,000 followers, informed them in a video: “So, if you’re coming to Majorca on holiday in the next few days, you might be thinking, ‘What’s the weather like?’.

“We arrived on Monday and the last two days were really overcast, but very, very warm. It’s 8:35pm and it’s 34C.”

Leanne, who was perched on her hotel balcony at the time, explained she was beside the sea, yet even with the coastal breeze, it’s “still boiling”.

Nevertheless, she pointed out that all the hotels have excellent air conditioning, so you can always retreat indoors if you’re concerned about the outdoor temperatures being too intense.

She also revealed that she’s been “drinking loads of iced cocktails” to help stay refreshed.

Leanne continued: “So yeah, if you’re coming out in the next few days, be prepared – it is hot – but you can cool down, and enjoy your holiday.”

Other holidaymakers currently in Spain confessed they were finding the heat challenging in the comments section.

One person posted: “We are here now too and never felt anything like it! The strawberry daiquiris are medicinal at this point.”

While another shared: “I left on Sunday, it was so hot we were in Alcudia and there was no air. Was 34C but feels like 41C. Could only wear factor 50.”

A third remarked: “Got back from Cala Bona yesterday, the humidity has been brutal.”

With parched and scorching conditions taking hold, authorities have issued urgent warnings about an extreme risk of wildfires, with blazes already breaking out in areas including Zaragoza and Guadalajara.

Safety guidance for tourists and locals

Health officials are strongly urging people to take immediate steps to protect themselves:

• Avoid direct sun exposure during peak afternoon hours (12pm to 5pm).
• Drink plenty of water continuously to avoid heat exhaustion.
• Shelter in air-conditioned public spaces or indoor cultural venues during peak heat hours.

SPAIN is set to implement stricter rules when it comes to smoking and vaping – and it will affect all holidaymakers.

The list of smoke-free places that already exists could be expanded to beaches and national parks under new law.

This week, Spain approved a draft law to extend the list of smoke-free places.

It will be forbidden to smoke or vape on the terraces of bars and restaurants as well as on beaches, riverside beaches, national parks and swimming pools.

Health Minister Mónica García said: “Anyone who wants to have a coffee or enjoy their leisure time freely on a terrace should be able to do so without the smoke from nearby tables becoming part of the menu.”

Also affected are outdoor performance spaces, university campuses and work vehicles such as delivery vans.

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It’s not just a ban directly in these areas – Spain is also hoping to introduce ‘enhanced protection zones’

This is where smoking and vaping will be banned within a 15-metre perimeter around them in certain places like museums and children’s parks and playgrounds.

The amount people can be fined could also change.

According to local media, those breaking these rules could be be fined between €200-€600 (£170-£511).

The law will also ban the use of tobacco-related products by those under the age of 18.

Until now, the law only prohibited the sale and supply to under 18s.

For minors who break the ban on consuming tobacco or vapes, fines for minor offences will start at €200 (£170).

Athough this could be replaced by community service.

These rules aren’t in effect yet as the changes will only be made if the bill is approved by Spanish parliament.

It’s not the only rule that could see you fined in Spain – some areas ban sunlounger hogging, with £216 fines.

So we’ve rounded up all of the Spain travel rules you need to know about.

And don’t try and drink at these French beaches either – that’s banned too.

Arsenal have brought in Spain goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez on a free transfer – their sixth signing of the summer.

The 27-year-old joins the Women’s Super League side after leaving Real Madrid at the end of last season.

Rodriguez will wear the number 16 shirt and will compete for minutes with Daphne van Domselaar and Anneke Borbe, both of whom struggled with injuries last season.

“I’m so proud to join this great club. Arsenal is one of the top clubs in the world and I’m really excited to be part of the team and take on this new challenge,” said Rodriguez.

“I want to help us compete for trophies and make more history, together with our supporters.”

In six years at Real Madrid, Rodriguez made 215 appearances – a club record – and was made captain last year.

Since making her senior international debut in 2021, she has earned 34 caps for Spain including three as her side won the 2023 Women’s World Cup, though she has since lost her starting role to Barcelona’s Cata Coll.

Arsenal have had a busy transfer window as they prepare for the 2026-27 Women’s Super League season, with Georgia Stanway, Ona Batlle, Selina Cerci, Geraldine Reuteler and Lisa Baum all reinforcing Renee Slegers’ squad.

Last season, they finished second in the WSL and reached the semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League.

The price of resale housing in Spain ended the second quarter of 2026 with a year-on-year increase of 17.2%, according to the Fotocasa Real Estate Index.

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Between April and June, prices also rose by 4%, bringing the average to €3,133 per square metre in June. Spain’s resale home prices have hit new record highs in four of the first six months of the year and are now at their highest level in the past 21 years.

Fotocasa’s head of research and spokesperson, María Matos, attributes this trend to a sharp imbalance between strong demand and limited supply. She explains that the shortage of available properties, financing conditions and demographic pressure in the main markets are driving prices up and making it more difficult to access housing.

According to Matos, “the result is ever faster price growth that makes it harder to access housing and widens the affordability gap for a large proportion of households.”

Fotocasa’s data is in line with the trend shown by statistics from the National Statistics Institute (INE), although the two use different methodologies.

While the property portal analyses the asking prices of advertised listings, the INE measures the prices of homes that are ultimately sold. According to the institute, the overall price of housing rose by 12.9% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, while second-hand homes became 13.5% more expensive.

Murcia leads the increases

Prices rose during the second quarter in 16 autonomous communities.

The Region of Murcia recorded the largest rise, at 8.6%, followed by Cantabria (6.3%), the Valencian Community (5.9%), Castile and León (5.6%) and La Rioja (5.1%). The Canary Islands was the only region where prices fell, with a drop of 0.7%.

On an annual basis, Murcia once again came out on top with an increase of 28%, ahead of Cantabria (20%), the Valencian Community (19.8%), Asturias (17%) and Andalusia (16.9%).

The report also highlights that “June 2026 ended with 14 autonomous communities posting double-digit year-on-year increases, compared with 11 in 2025, six in 2024 and seven in 2023”.

The Balearic Islands and Madrid remain the most expensive regions to buy a resale home, at €5,441 and €5,410 per square metre respectively.

They are followed by the Basque Country (€3,925), Catalonia (€3,418) and the Canary Islands (€3,374). At the opposite end of the scale are Extremadura (€1,352), Castile-La Mancha (€1,407) and Castile and León (€1,816).

Provinces, provincial capitals and major cities

Forty-six provinces recorded quarterly increases, with León (10.7%), Palencia (10.2%) and Murcia (8.6%) seeing the sharpest rises, while Cuenca, Huelva, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Ávila were the only ones where prices fell.

The Balearic Islands remains the most expensive province to buy a resale home, at €5,441 per square metre, followed by Madrid (€5,410), Guipúzcoa (€4,695) and Málaga (€4,690). Jaén continues to be the most affordable, at €1,112 per square metre.

Among provincial capitals, León recorded the largest quarterly increase, while Donostia-San Sebastián maintains the highest average price in Spain, at €7,158 per square metre, ahead of Madrid (€6,630), Barcelona (€5,368), Palma (€5,275), Málaga (€4,320) and Bilbao (€4,157).

At municipal level, Santa Eulària des Riu in Ibiza tops the national ranking with €8,491 per square metre, followed by Sant Antoni de Portmany (€8,284) and Eivissa (€7,441). In Madrid, the Salamanca district reaches €10,786 per square metre, while Sarrià-Sant Gervasi leads the way in Barcelona at €7,540 per square metre.

ROSARIO, Argentina — Lionel Messi arrived back in Argentina on Tuesday for a few days of rest following the World Cup final loss to Spain.

Messi’s private jet landed near his hometown of Rosario from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., at 6:27 a.m. Although many fans were waiting with signs and flags, he did not make a public appearance.

“The pain is immense, and this wound will take time to heal,” he posted on his Instagram account. “I cherish all the good moments, memories that will last forever — and the support of an entire nation which, combined with this group’s hard work and effort, propelled us once again into the ranks of the world’s best.”

Supporters only caught a brief glimpse of the SUV that met Messi on the tarmac to transport him and his family to the private neighborhood of Funes, roughly 185 miles north of Buenos Aires.

The Argentina captain reportedly traveled with his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their three children, all of whom had accompanied him throughout the tournament in North America. Waiting for him in Rosario was his 68-year-old father, Jorge, whose ongoing medical treatment for an undisclosed illness had been revealed by the family during the World Cup.

Fans had gathered at the airport as early as 3:30 a.m. hoping to catch a sight of the star. Among them were two young girls in La Albiceleste jerseys holding welcome signs, one of which read: “Messi: You’re a legend. Thank you for bringing joy to our hearts. A whole country loves you!”

Messi is expected to rejoin Inter Miami in late July or early August for the ongoing MLS season.

Fifteen members of Argentina’s 26-player World Cup roster, led by head coach Lionel Scaloni, landed at Buenos Aires’ Ezeiza Airport on Monday on a chartered flight.

The squad’s arrival followed Sunday’s 1–0 extra-time loss to Spain in the World Cup final in East Rutherford, N.J., decided by a Ferran Torres goal.

“It is hard to fully appreciate our achievement right now, but this group reached two consecutive World Cup finals. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for every greeting and message,” Messi added. “I also want to congratulate Spain on winning the championship.”

The match marked Messi’s third World Cup final appearance, following 2014 and 2022. He ended the tournament as the runner-up for the Golden Boot with eight goals, two behind France’s Kylian Mbappé.

Mbappé tops the all-time World Cup goal-scoring chart with 22, one more than Messi.

Álvarez writes for the Associated Press.