Ley de Turismo de Andalucía

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Muchos propietarios de apartamentos nos preguntan sobre la legislación existente en España, y en particular en Andalucía. Desde veoapartment intentamos informarles de los hechos y de lo ocurrido. Por lo siguiente, nuestra valoración, en orden cronológico.

HASTA 2011
La ley de Turismo de Andalucía incluía la forma jurídica de la “vivienda turística vacacional”. Era obligatorio el registro de estas viviendas en el Registro de Turismo de Andalucía (RTA) para ejercer una actividad turística.

2012-2013
La época de un comportamiento desleal y hostil de la Junta de Andalucía, por los siguientes hechos:

  • La Junta deroga la ley antigua. En la nueva Ley de Turismo de Andalucía 13/2011  NO son mencionadas las anteriores viviendas turísticas vacacionales
  • La Junta NO informa a los propietarios anteriormente registrados
  • La Junta denuncia a muchos propietarios con amenaza de multa hasta 18.000 Euros
  • Por la situación de alegalidad y enfrentamientos con la Junta de Andalucía, los propietarios afectados crean la Asociación de Viviendas de Uso Turístico de Andalucía (APARTSUR) para defender sus derechos

2014
El día 2 de Febrero 2014, el consejero de Turismo de la Junta de Andalucía, Rafael Rodríguez, anuncia, a través de una entrevista en “El Mundo”, que “La Junta regulará la explotación turística de viviendas privadas” y que esto se hará “antes del próximo verano”.

Conclusiones
Desde veoapartment esperamos que este anuncio ponga fin a las denuncias soportadas por los propietarios, y que pronto podrán ejercer su actividad dentro de un marco legal. Recomendamos a los propietarios de Andalucía hacerse socio en Apartsur. Uno de los propósitos de la asociación es minimizar los esfuerzos burocráticos para poder ejercer la actividad, y que la regulación de las viviendas de uso turístico sea dentro del marco Europeo.

Recientemente, la incompatibilidad de una ley autonómica Española con la ley Europea, en el sector del alojamiento turístico, provocó un fallo del Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Canarias a favor de los propietarios de los establecimientos turísticos. Los jueces se basaron en la Directiva 2006/123/CE del Parlamento Europeo.

Directiva 2006/123/CE del Parlamento Europeo (también llamado “Directiva Bolkestein”)
Artículo 9
Regímenes de autorización
1. Los Estados miembros solo podrán supeditar el acceso a una actividad de servicios y su ejercicio a un régimen de autorización cuando se reúnan las siguientes condiciones:
…
c) el objetivo perseguido no se puede conseguir mediante una medida menos restrictiva, en concreto porque un control a posteriori se produciría demasiado tarde para ser realmente eficaz.

Valentine’s Day in Seville and Granada

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Friday week will be Saint Valentine’s Day, so unless you’re Al Capone and have other things on your mind, your thoughts should be turning to romance, a candlelit dinner, and maybe a nice bottle of wine. You could do all that at home of course, but there’s still time to organise a romantic getaway for two. And what could be sweeter than a long weekend in Seville or Granada in southern Spain, home of flamenco, exotic palaces and great food and wine?

becquer monumentdetail of monument dedicated to Gustav Bécquer in Maria Luisa Park, Seville

Explore the Palaces and Gardens of the Alhambra or Alcázar

The palaces of the Alhambra (Granada) and Alcázar (Seville) both date mainly from the 14th century, and though the first was built by the Moors, and the second by Christians, they share many of the same exotic features, with horseshoe arches, pools and fountains, and dazzling ceramic decoration. Be swept off your feet by this Arabian Nights visual feast.

Parks and Carriage Rides

Apart from the Palace Gardens, there are some other exceptional green spots. In Seville stroll through the Murillo Gardens over to the magnificent Plaza de España, but more especially go to the Parque Maria Luisa. It was laid out for the 1929 Expo and full of little grottoes and other surprises, such as the monument to Sevillano poet Gustav Becquer featuring the three stages of love. You can even take a carriage ride for two from the centre. In Granada visit the Carmen de los Martires, or take a walk along the picturesque River Darro.

Arab Baths and Massage

Go on, pamper yourself! Both Seville and Granada have their own Arab baths, the Baños Arabes in Seville and the Hammam baths in Granada, where you can enjoy the full bath and massage treatment at the hands of experts.

Eating Out

Few things beat taking some time out on a pavement terrace with a glass of wine and just watching the world go by, or having a bite at one of the great tapas bars in Seville, such as Las Teresas or Vineria San Telmo. Don’t miss the jamón and sherry, the taste of Spain. For a romantic evening dinner try Becerrita or Sevilla’s only Michelin star restaurant Abantal. In Granada La Tana wine bar is a cosy intimate spot to stop for a drink and a snack, perhaps finishing with a late dinner at the elegant Puerta del Carmen.

alegria flamencoflamenco performance at the Flamenco Museum in Seville

Flamenco

There are plenty of places where you can catch the passion of a flamenco performance, but beware. Not all of them are good. In Seville the shows we like best are at the Flamenco Dance Museum and Casa de la Guitarra. In Granada, head out to the famous Sacramonte Caves for a rather different style.

Cocktails

At the end of the day you’ll want to find somewhere special for that last drink and remembering the day. There are quite a few good rooftop bars around these days, but in Seville the Doña Maria Hotel bar with its view of the cathedral is still the place to go. In Granada, head up to El Huerto de Juan Ranas next to the San Nicolas lookout on the Albaicin hill for a spectacular view of the Alhambra across the valley.

Where to Stay

There are lots of great apartments at reasonable prices to choose from, but our favourite romantic getaway choices include, in Seville, the gorgeous view from Giralda Terrace, and Campanario Terrace for its unusual location. In Granada, Duplex Terrace overlooking the Plaza Nueva is unbeatable. For something more exotic try Sacramonte Cueva 2.

Malaga | Malaga Cathedral, “La Manquita”

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Malaga is one of my all time favourite cities, with a unique combination of sea, mountains, historic monuments, good food, and an indefinable feel-good factor. In recent years it has enjoyed something of a renaissance, with lots of new museums and restaurants, and a complete redevelopment of the old inner harbour as a shopping and recreational area. I love Málaga for the individuality and charm that this mix of old and new gives it, as well as some of its idiosyncracies and the stories behind them. On a recent photo-shoot trip I met up with Victor Garrido from We Love Malaga. Victor has a story for just about every street and street corner in town and one of his favourites is about La Manquita.

malaga cathedralview of the finished Cathedral tower and the unfinished La Manquita in front

If you look above the facade of Malaga Cathedral, you’ll see the cathedral’s north tower, which is 84 metres tall, making it the second highest in Andalucia. But the south tower was never completed, barely rising above the rest of the façade, giving the cathedral an uneven, lopsided appearance. The Malaguenos have a special affection for this “flaw” in the construction, and for this reason the cathedral is popularly referred to as “La Manquita”, the one-armed woman. And of course there is a story behind this. But first a bit of background.

Founded by the Phoenicians, Malaga became a Roman colony (you can see the amphitheatre near the cathedral), and then for more than 700 years it was ruled by the Islamic Moors from North Africa, whose legacy can still be seen in the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro fortresses. Finally, in 1487, it was conquered by the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabel. Such a major city naturally required a proper Christian cathedral to mark its new ownership, and Ferdinand and Isabel decreed that it should be built on the site of the Aljama Mosque. Like many cathedrals from those times it was intended to be the most important public building in the city and to show the prosperity and piety of its citizens.

malaga victorVictor Garrido and friend posing in front of La Manquita

In fact, since the necessary funds were not provided by the Crown, and had to be raised by local charitable subscription, work on the Holy Church Cathedral Basilica of the Incarnation (to give the cathedral it’s full proper name) did not actually begin until 1528, following plans laid down by the architect Diego de Siloé, and as with many privately funded major projects, progress was often slow. Construction lasted over 250 years, and when a halt was finally called in 1782, the south tower was still incomplete. Although sufficient funds had been collected to see the work through, it seems that moneys had been diverted from their original purpose.

The central figure in the story was one Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid, a native of the province of Málaga, who in the 1770s as the Spanish colonial administrator in Louisiana, was active in supplying arms and equipment to the American rebels fighting for independence from England, who were therefore regarded as natural allies by England’s continental rivals. By diplomatic necessity the funds had to be acquired “off the books”, and were siphoned off from the cathedral construction project. Gálvez is, in fact, one of the unsung heroes of American independence, although the town of Galveston in Texas is named after him, and Málaga is the only city in Spain that celebrates the 4th of July – it’s known as Bernardo de Galvez’s day.

In 1998 the city of Málaga received a delegation from Texas, who offered to return the money, as commemorated by a plaque at the bottom of the unfinished tower, but after being left “incomplete” for over 200 years, it was decided that it should stay that way, as the Malaguenos like it.

We have apartments available for your holiday in Malaga, including this one close to the Cathedral.

Apartsur – Asociación de Viviendas de Uso Turístico de Andalucía

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Información para propietarios en ANDALUCÍA, ESPAÑA:

Apartsur es la asociación de los propietarios de Viviendas de Uso Turístico (anteriormente denominadas “vtv”). La asociación fue creada en el 2013, con motivo del cambio de la Ley 13/2011 de Turismo de Andalucía. Veoapartment es socio de Apartsur, por ser agencia de alquileres turísticos en esta comunidad autónoma. Recomendamos hacerse socio a todos los propietarios de viviendas de uso turístico en Andalucía.

En el vídeo podéis ver tres socios hablando de los temas que nos preocupan: La omisión de las viviendas de uso turístico en la nueva ley, y la resultante situación de alegalidad en la cual se encuentran sus propietarios.

Para más información, y para solicitar el alta como socio, entrar en apartsur.es

Barcelona | 10 Things to Do in Barcelona

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Barcelona is Spain’s biggest city, with a long history stretching back to pre-Roman times. It’s also one of Spain’s economic powerhouses, and in the early 20th century the confidence of its wealthy citizens spawned the Modernista movement in architecture and city planning that created the modern city. As you might expect from this, there’s plenty to see and do in Barcelona, whatever your interests.

Sagrada Familia
Still under construction (it was started in 1882), the Church of the Holy Family is the astonishing masterwork of modernist architect Antoni Gaudi. A unique combination of gothic and modernist elements, especially its unusual spires, make it a stunning visual feast, and probably Barcelona’s number 1 attraction.

casa batlloinside the salon at Gaudí’s Casa Battló

The Gaudi Houses
After the Sagrada Familia, Casa Batllo (one of my all time favourite buildings) and Casa Mila (La Pedrera) in the Passeig de Gracia are the two most famous of Gaudi’s creations. Built in the Catalan modernista style of the early 20th century they are notable for being designed with almost no straight lines, and for the incredible detail of their decoration. They also give an insight into how the upper classes lived in the 1920s and 30s. Be prepared for queues, but trust me, it’s worth the wait.

Las Ramblas
Take a stroll down Las Ramblas, the busy, bustling main tourist street that runs from Plaça Catalunya down to the Columbus Monument by the port. It’s a wide, tree-lined avenue full of kiosks, cafes and street-performers of all kinds. Famous sights include the Canaletes Fountain, and the mosaic by Joan Miró. At the top end, between the old city and the 19th century Eixample district, is the grand open space of Plaça Catalunya, with its fountains and statues, the official city centre. Halfway down is the famous La Boqueria Market, one of the largest in Spain, and always full of people buying and selling a huge range of fresh produce. At the southern end is the Columbus Monument, built for the 1888 exhibition, with the statue of the great explorer pointing out to sea. The Avenue also serves to separate the neighbourhood of El Raval to the west from the oldest part of Barcelona, the Barri Gotic (Gothic quarter).

boqueria marketentrance to La Boqueria Market in Las Ramblas

Barri Gotic and El Born
The Barri Gotic is the oldest part of Barcelona, and still retains most of its medieval street layout and a number of medieval buildings, although two of its principle sights, the Plaça Real and the facade of the Cathedral (although the body of the building is 15th century), are more modern. The neighbourhood to the east, El Born, is another historic area that is worth visiting. It’s home to some of the city’s most interesting bars as well as the Caterina Market and new El Born Cultural Centre, housed in the renovated old market space.

Montjuic
Wherever you are in Barcelona, you can always see Montjuic hill looming over the city. If you’ve a head for heights take the cable car up to top from the port. The views over the city are fantastic, but there’s lots of other stuff up here, too, including the old castle, several important museums, and the Poble Espanyol, an architectural museum like you’ve never seen before with 117 buildings in various Spanish styles. On winter evenings go down by way of the Magic Fountains (presently closed for restoration) and watch one of the light and music shows.

Aquarium
If you have children take them to the Aquarium, which has underwater viewing tunnels through tanks with an abundant variety of marine life. The sight of shsrks and other large fish swimming so close by is quite awe-inspiring.

Ciutadella Park
Barcelona’s principal city centre park is both a zoological and botanical garden and includes a lake, a cascade and fountains, and several museums. Just the place for a stroll in the sunshine.

Nou Camp Stadium
Perhaps not everyone’s idea of a tourist attraction, but the home of Barcelona’s famous football team is up there with the Wembleys and San Siros, and the club’s museum is the second most visited in Catalonia.

Picasso Museum
The 3500 works by Spain’s most famous painter, spread through several former palaces, make this the largest Picasso collection anywhere in the world, and allow you to follow his artistic development from childhood to old age. An absolute must for all art lovers.

dragonthe Gaudí dragon in Parc Güell

Parc Güell
Parc Güell is a bit of a trek out into the northern suburb of La Gracia, but Gaudi’s gardens with their many fascinating architectural elements are well worth the time and effort (and nowadays, entrance fee). Here you can see, among other things, the famous mosaic “dragon” and the hypostyle hall with the mosaic seating area on its roof.

On top of all that, there is always the food, the beaches, and the weather, and our quality apartments will put you in the thick of the action.