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Moving to Spain? Basic checklist

Raymundo Larraín Nesbitt, June, 1. 2023

Marbella-based Larraín Nesbitt Lawyers has over 20 years' taxation & conveyancing experience at your service. We offer a wide range of 50 legal and corporate services. Our team of native English-speaking lawyers and economists have a long track record successfully assisting expats all over Spain. You can review here our client’s testimonials.

On moving to Spain, you should tick the below basic checklist to avoid you any future problems.

1. Residency or visa permit. Most people don’t realise that living in Spain for over 90 consecutive days entails you apply for a permit. Depending on whether you are a EU national, or not, you will have to apply for residency or else a visa.

If European resident: If you plan to spend over 90 consecutive days in Spain, you must apply for a residency permit, even if you are a national from an EU country. Attaining residency in Spain is fairly straightforward, fast and cheap procedure for all EU residents. Residency permits are fast-tracked and streamlined for all nationals of Member states of the EU by law. Normally achieved in under 30 days.
If non-European resident: If you plan to spend over 3 consecutive months in Spain, and reside outside of the Union, you are normally required to apply for a visa to live and work in Spain legally. There are many different Spanish visas available to pick from, ranging form tax-free visas (Digital Nomad Visa), to Golden Visas (which don’t require you to live in Spain for renewal purposes). You may not spend in Spain over 90 days in every rolling 180 days if you have not attained a visa permit (known as the 90/180-day rule). Depending on which visa you choose, it can take under 30 days or well over half a year.

2. Bank account. For almost any activity in Spain, you will be required to open a bank account. Spanish banks take money-laundering very seriously (understatement). Unless you can clearly prove where your money comes from, they will not open an account for you. The following documents are required:

Passport in force
Payslips or tax returns
Your international tax code
Reference letter
Other.

3. NIE number. A NIE number is ad administrative number required to pay taxes in Spain. Almost everyone in Spain will ask you for this number. It is required, for example, for the following activities:

Buying/selling/renting property.
Inheriting assets in Spain.
Importing/buying/selling a car.
Importing/buying/selling a boat.
Taking out insurance.
Working in Spain (only short-term jobs <3 months).
Obtaining a mortgage loan.
·Paying import tariffs on importing goods to Spain at customs (aduanas) in airports.
Some private foreign schools require a NIE number from parents and/or new (foreign) pupils to enrol them!

4. Work. If you are an EU-resident, you won’t have issues. But nationals of countries from outside the EU require a work permit to find a job in Spain. Otherwise, they will be barred from working in Spain and subject to heavy fines, including the employer.

5. Taxes. If you are a freelancer (self-employed) you need to ensure that you are correctly registered with the Spanish Social Security and filing your quarterly tax returns (for both personal income tax and VAT). If you are employed, your employer will enrol you in Spain’s Social Security. Depending on your wage, you will be required to file annual tax returns.

6. Accommodation: buying, investing or renting property in Spain. The best advice we can give you is that taking advice from a lawyer before committing to any route will pre-empt most of the problems. At LNA, we have over two decades experience dealing with conveyance and rentals.

To close, if you spend over 183 days a year in Spain, you become tax resident. Speak to one of our lawyers to better understand the full legal and tax implications of making this decision.

At LNA, we can assist you with all six points above. LNA can be your legal partner in Spain, assisting you and your family with relocation services. Give us a call and speak to one of our friendly staff. We act nationwide.

At Larrain Nesbitt Abogados we have over 20 years’ of experience buying, selling, and renting properties. We are also specialized in immigration & residency visas. You can contact us by e-mail at info@larrainnesbitt.com, by telephone on (+34) 952 19 22 88, or by completing our contact form to book an appointment.

Larraín Nesbitt Abogados, small on fees, BIG on service.

Please note the information provided in this blog post is of general interest only and is not to be construed or intended as substitute for professional legal advice. This article may be posted freely in websites or other social media so long as the author is duly credited. Plagiarizing, whether in whole or in part, this article without crediting the author may result in criminal prosecution. VOV.

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Squatters in Spain: Spanish Government slams its fist on the table, and vows to clamp down (with jail terms!) on all individuals that… evict squatters!

Raymundo Larraín Nesbitt, May, 21. 2023

You really couldn’t make it up.

Yep, you read it right. Spain’s Communist Government has brought forward a new draft law with proposed jail terms for all those individuals and companies that abet evicting squatters. These companies have proved invaluable recovering the possession of thousands of properties for their aggrieved owners.

The proposed jail terms are up to 4 years. You would think the Spanish Government is going out of its way to protect owners and private property to instil confidence in a besieged property market, right? Wrong! If anything, Spain’s Communist Government is hell bent on pursuing all those individuals and companies which are assisting aggrieved property owners to recover the possession of their squatted properties.

It is very clear on whose side the government is on.

But if you have been following our articles and blog posts, it should come as no surprise. You would think that if the housing problem is so great (which in fact it is) they would be bending over backward building thousands of new public subsidized dwellings at affordable prices, right? Nope, not the case. Spain’s Government has been in power for almost 6 years now, and in this time they have built ZERO social housing, nada.

Spain’s Communist Government is basically carrying out a social housing policy using other people’s private property. It’s always a lofty goal to assist those who cannot afford houses, but this should never come at the expense of other people’s private property.

The effect of this new proposed bill, once approved, is that it will massively encourage squatters to occupy other people’s private property, specifically second homes. If to this, we add the pernicious effects of the new Housing Act (which also greatly protects squatters rights, pushing back evictions for years) you have a recipe for disaster. These type of measures scare away investors and second home owners.

If anyone still naively thinks that squatters are poor young people, you are sorely mistaken. Today’s squatters are modern, well-organised mafias that squat building and homes professionally. They then ‘re-sell’ the possession ‘right’ to other people (for around €1,500) who then live at the occupied properties (normally for many years). Someone is making a lot of money out of this ‘squatting industry’.

Needless to say, the proposed new law will prove hugely counterproductive and detrimental in the fight against squatters; a movement which is gathering pace, increasing by two digits year on year abetted by Spain’s Communist Government.

Related articles

Squatters in Spain – 8^th June 2012
Squatters overrun Spanish properties – 1^st August 2020
Squatters: Why you need a house alarm – 11^th May 2022
The region of Madrid approves new emergency squatter number: 900 205 112 - 15th July 2022
Squatters in Spain: when a Telepizza ticket is more valuable than a Title Deed! - May 2nd 2023

Larraín Nesbitt Abogados, small on fees, BIG on service.

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Golden Visa: Spanish Government planning to either scrap it, or raise the cap to €1mn

Raymundo Larraín Nesbitt, May, 11. 2023

Lawyer Raymundo Larraín gives us a heads up on the changes brewing with Spain’s popular Golden Visas.

Marbella-based Larraín Nesbitt Abogados (LNA) has over 20 years’ taxation & conveyancing experience at your service. We offer a wide range of 50 legal and corporate services. Our team of native English-speaking lawyers and economists have a long track record successfully assisting expats all over Spain.

You can review here our client’s testimonials.

Introduction

The Spanish Golden Visa is a success story.

Spain has become the number one Golden Visa provider in the European Union since it was introduced in 2013, attracting billions of euros which have contributed to creating countless jobs and improving the productive economy.

Out of all the visas available in Spain, it is hands down the one that offers the best perks, along with the new Digital Nomad Visa (known popularly as the tax-free visa), including one which is exclusive to it (explained below) and which strongly appeals to affluent investors.

Podemos, the pro-Russian, hard-left (read communist) junior partner of the socialist government is applying inordinate piles of pressure on the Spanish Government to either scrap it or else to raise the bar.

Almost on a weekly basis, El Pais newspaper (which is basically the Government’s spokesperson) publishes articles and thoughtful editorials raising voices against Spain’s popular Golden Visa programme, aimed at HNWIs. The unhidden discontent, which oozes from them, is now gaining traction, especially given how we have entered an electorate phase, and garnering the political support of Podemos is key to ensuring the survival of this government. Attacking the evil rich always attracts votes on poll day for left wing parties, especially on attacking foreigners who are banned from voting on national elections: win-win.

This new trend follows on the back of other Union countries which have scrapped Golden Visas (Ireland, and Portugal). It’s no secret the European Commission regularly nudges all EU Member states, including Spain, to eliminate Golden Visas as they are seen as a privileged gateway for affluent applicants to bypass stringent migration rules to attain a blue-ribbon free pass.

As a result of this ongoing (unjustified) hate campaign against Golden Visas, the government has now officially announced this week through Pravda El Pais that it is now studying on whether to scrap it, in line with other Union countries and with what its junior (communist) partner demands, or else to raise the bar and make it (yet) more difficult (read onerous) for applicants to access it.

The Spanish Government seems to be gravitating towards the latter, increasing the residential requirement to €1mn euros (was €500,000, a 100% increase). There are multiple ways to attain a Golden Visa in Spain, but the one that is by far the most popular (and cheapest) option is to invest €500,000 in real estate. All other Golden Visa options require investing a minimum of €1,000,000, or more, to attain it. The government is now arguing that all it is really doing with the residential option (buying real estate) is bringing it in line with the remaining options (investments, bank deposits, development, etc), which are far less popular amongst investors.

This change is clearly a wake-up call for all those investors who had been sitting on the line for a number of years expecting Golden Visa requirements to be lowered (sic). This is not going to happen; furthermore, it is all too clear now that, if anything, they will be sharply increased.

My advice to all would-be applicants is to apply for a Golden Visa now, as soon as possible, as in the best case scenario the investment requirement on residential properties is going to doubled shortly (likely ahead of the national elections this year’s fall to make a nice newspaper headline to attract yet more votes). In the worst case scenario, it is going to be scrapped in line with fellow Union countries.

Either way, investors mulling this option, should make a decision soon or risk losing the GV train.

10 Reasons to apply for a Golden Visa

A Golden Visa does not automatically make you tax resident in Spain, unlike every other visa in Spain. This is a unique advantage exclusive only to GVs. No other visa in Spain shares this unique trait. Only for this reason, affluent investors will find it most appealing if they do not fancy paying taxes in Spain.
Allows you to override the 90/180-day that limits stay in Spain (and by extension in the Schengen Area/EU).
You can work in Spain (optional). Unlike other visas, which ban you from working in Spain, a GV allows you, and your family, to work in Spain if you wish.
Allows you unfettered access to Spain. You can enter and leave the country as you please, even overriding Covid flight bans, as you will hold a select residency permit that few people have.
No minimum stay is required. Fancy staying one night only? A Golden Visa has you covered. You can spend as little as one day, or the full year round in Spain, at your choice.
Fast-tracked. Golden visa applications are greatly expedited by rapport to other visa applications. Golden visas are granted in under one month.
Streamlined. Golden Visa applications are (greatly) streamlined, removing all the unnecessary red tape which taints other visa applications.
The whole family is included as dependents, even ascendants (grandparents)* (*subject to criteria)
Leads to permanent residency (optional).
Leads to Spanish citizenship (optional).

Did you know that Golden Visas apply retrospectively? If you have invested in Spain €500,000 in real estate on or after the 28^th of September 2013, you may already pre-qualify for one!

Interested? Come and speak to Larraín Nesbitt Abogados friendly staff who will be pleased to guide you through Spain’s Golden Visa programme. On applying for a Golden Visa, we assign you one of our immigration lawyers, who will be assisted by one of our in-house visa specialists, guiding and hand holding you through the whole procedure.

At Larrain Nesbitt Abogados, we have made true the dreams of hundreds of non-EU investors, and their families, assisting them to attain a Golden Visa since its inception in 2013. You can browse our clients’ visa testimonials here.

Apply for the keys to your Golden Visa through Larraín Nesbitt Abogados’ Golden Visa Service.

Your family’s success is only one call away: (+34) 952 19 22 88

Larraín Nesbitt Lawyers, small on fees, BIG on service.

Larraín Nesbitt Lawyers is a law firm specialized in conveyancing, residency, inheritance, taxation, and litigation. You can contact us by e-mail at info@larrainnesbitt.com, by completing our contact form, or by telephone on (+34) 952 19 22 88.

Residency services available from LNA:

Golden Visa Service (Investor Visa)
Digital Nomad Visa (tax-free visa)
Non-Lucrative Visa (Pensioner’s Visa)
Lucrative Visa (Business Visa)
EU-Family Regroupment (Marriage Visa)
Spanish Residency permit for EU nationals

Golden Visa related articles

Investor Guide to Spain’s Golden Visa Law – 8th November 2013
Golden Visa Spain – 8th June 2017
Golden Visa Spain – 8/8/18
Golden Visa Spain: 10 frequently asked questions – 8th October 2019
Golden Visa for British – 21^st January 2021
Golden Visa: 8 Reasons to apply – 21^st March 2022

Please note the information provided in this article is of general interest only and is not to be construed or intended as substitute for professional legal advice. This article may be posted freely in websites or other social media so long as the author is duly credited. Plagiarizing, whether in whole or in part, this article without crediting the author may result in criminal prosecution. Ní neart go cur le chéile. VOV.

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Squatters in Spain: when a Telepizza ticket is more valuable than a Title Deed!

Raymundo Larraín Nesbitt, May, 2. 2023

Copyrighted © 2023. Plagiarism will be criminally prosecuted.

It’s no secret the Spanish social-communist government goes out of its way to protect the rights of squatters, and then some more.

In the latest entry of this budding war between squatters and property owners, the police are now accepting fast-food delivery tickets as proof of ‘ownership’! Let us explain this madness.

In Spain, owners are protected within the next 48 hours of squatters breaking into the property. If within those 48 hours the owner reports the incident, the police may kick out the squatters. Well, so goes the theory anyway. The devil is in the details.

What is now happening is that industrious squatters are ordering pizzas to the house they want to squat, but just outside the property as if they had popped out for a minute to collect the order. The fast-food ticket has the property address and the delivery date. The squatters then wait it out for the next 48 hours before breaking into the property. Basically what they are doing is pre-constituting legal evidence that they actually live at the place - madness!

Once the police are called in and arrive at the crime scene, the squatters are quick to pull out a fast-food delivery ticket (i.e. telepizza) from a couple of days before, or more, to justify they have been occupying the property “for over 48 hours” (the truth is that they broke into the property half an hour ago). The police are no longer allowed by law to vacate them by force and the owner is forced to instigate a winded procedure at the law courts to recover possession, which could take well over a year. However, with the newly approved Housing bill from last week (pro-squatter), it could now take years.

The way to avoid these shenanigans, is to follow my advice and hire a house alarm, as detailed in my blog post: Squatters: Why you need a house alarm

This should come as no surprise really, as Podemos, the pro-Russian, hard-left (read communist) junior partner of the socialist government was a political party that was founded by communists to defend and uphold the rights of… squatters. Communists doing communists things, move along.

It is confirmed, the lunatics have (finally) taken over the asylum under the sun.

You really couldn’t make it up.

Related articles

Squatters in Spain – 8^th June 2012
Squatters overrun Spanish properties – 1^st August 2020
Squatters: Why you need a house alarm – 11^th May 2022
The region of Madrid approves new emergency squatter number: 900 205 112 - 15th July 2022

Larraín Nesbitt Abogados, small on fees, BIG on service.

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The fact that a house appears in a nota simple DOES NOT make it legal

Raymundo Larraín Nesbitt, April, 21. 2023

A common mistake buyers, estate agents (and even some lawyers) make is that they take for granted that a rustic villa that appears at the land registry is fully legal, when it is simply not the case.

It is important to note the Spanish land registry does not carry out any planning controls on a property – that is not their job. What the land registry does is lodge the content of a deed witnessed by a notary public, that is all. The notary also does not carry our any planning control whatsoever on a property - it is also not their job.

So frequently, people who own rustic plots, build a house on it illegally. To give it semblance of legality, they involve a notary and the land registry. The notary witnesses a new build deed, which is then lodged at the land registry to update the property description. When one applies for a property report, the property does in fact give an appearance of legality. But it is only that, an appearance, enough to fool most people, except a lawyer that digs deeper.

Only a lawyer knows how to verify a property is in fact legal.

This is not an example, this is a true case that happened to us a few months back. On running a due diligence on a rustic title, we verified the lavish villa that had been built breached local and regional planning laws and was in fact illegal. Moreover, there was a ruling to demolish it. The seller was pushing the property at a huge discount for 'health reasons'. Whoever becomes the new owner ‘inherits’ the planning illegalities. Had our client bought it, she would now face a demolition order- at her own expense - besides losing hundreds of thousands of euros in her failed investment. But it doesn’t end there, she would also have had to face criminal action on the planning breach, as she would now be the new owner taking on the mantle of legal responsibility.

The Spanish Land Registry (and notaries) have their own limitations; they are not lawyers and at no time one should (mistakenly) assume they do a lawyer's job. This is when a seasoned conveyance lawyer steps in, saving the day. We saved our client from making a very costly mistake and even facing criminal charges (on owning an illegal construction in protected land).

Don’t take chances with your life savings, hire a lawyer on buying or selling property in Spain.

Lawyer’s fees are 100% tax-deductible anyway.

At Larrain Nesbitt Abogados we have over 20 years’ experience buying, selling, and renting properties. We are also specialized in immigration & residency visas. You can contact us by e-mail at info@larrainnesbitt.com, by telephone on (+34) 952 19 22 88, or by completing our contact form to book an appointment.

Larraín Nesbitt Abogados, small on fees, BIG on service.

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Random controls on applying for a Tourism Licence in Andalusia!

Raymundo Larraín Nesbitt, April, 17. 2023

Copyrighted © 2023. Plagiarism will be criminally prosecuted.

The Andalusian Tourism Registration Authority has changed its modus operandi, and are now carrying out random controls upon registration. Whereas before some properties would be subject to random controls several months after attaining a tourism licence, they have now brought this control forward.

Meaning shortly after registering successfully for a TL you may find they land you with a legal notice requesting a series of additional documents from you (i.e. a Licence of First Occupation) justifying what you have just claimed. The significance of this is that failure to comply within 10 days will automatically land you with a huge fine (in the thousands of euros). Non-payment will lead them to place a legal charge against your property. You need a digital certificate to reply in due form and time to this legal notice.

That is why we strongly advise you to hire a law firm like ours to register you and avoid you humongous fines for non-compliance. We also register holding companies.

We offer this service: Registration of Holiday Homes (only Andalusia)

We register your holiday accommodation and attain a Tourist Licence in 24 working hours (a specific POA is required).

Larraín Nesbitt Abogados, small on fees, BIG on service.

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Reminder - Q1 2023 Non-Resident Income Tax filing (NRIT)

Raymundo Larraín Nesbitt, April, 1. 2023

Marbella-based Larraín Nesbitt Lawyers has over 20 years' taxation & conveyancing experience at your service. We offer a wide range of over 50 legal and corporate services. Our team of native English-speaking lawyers and economists have a long track record successfully assisting expats all over Spain. You can review here our client’s testimonials.

Just a gentle reminder to all non-residents, who own property in Spain and rent it out (whether long or short-term i.e. holiday home); you must file your Q1 2023 quarterly tax return now in April 2023. You are being taxed on your rental income for the previous three months: January, February, and March.

For 2023, the non-resident tax calendar is as follows:

Q1 January – March. Filed on the first 15 days of April
Q2 April – June. Filed on the first 15 days of July
Q3 July – September. Filed on the first 15 days of October
Q4 October – December. Filed on the first 15 days of January 2024

Our cut-off date to accept filing Q1 2023 non-resident tax returns is Friday the 14th of April 2023.

Please do not wait until the last moment to submit your quarterly tax return. We file this tax online all over Spain within 24 working hours.

We can offer you this tax service for a very competitive fee:

EU resident: 125 euros*
Non-EU resident: 75 euros*

*_{The quoted fee is plus vat, per property and per tax quarter, it includes up to two joint owners i.e. husband & wife.}

Our fees are 100% tax-deductible from the tax to pay.

The main highlight of our tax service is that we reduce your income tax by 70%, or more, on applying for lenient landlord tax relief on all your property-related expenses.

Related tax service

Holiday Rental Accounting Service (HRAS)

Related taxation articles

Holiday Rental Laws in Spain – 8th of March 2015
Non-Resident Taxes in Spain – 8th December 2015
Holiday Rental Laws in Andalusia (Decree 28/2016) – 8th of February 2016
Renting in Spain - Landlord´s Taxation – 8th of January 2017
Holiday Home Taxation in Spain – 8th of July 2017
Holiday Rentals in Andalusia Made Easy – 3^rd July 2017
Non-Resident Income Tax – 8^th December 2017
Holiday Rental Accounting Service (HRAS) – 16^th January 2018
Holiday Rental Taxation in Spain – 8th July 2018
Renting in Spain: are you still overpaying income tax every quarter? – 16^th October 2018
You are taxed at source on renting out in Spain – 30^th November 2018
Did you get an email from AirBnb over your Spanish tax details? – 21st December 2018
Important information from the Spanish Ministry of Finance – 7^th January 2019
Property portals and rental platforms to pass on landlord details to the Spanish Tax Authorities. Are you prepared? - 12th January 2019
Holiday lettings: VAT invoice dissected – 11th February 2019
Requerimiento - Spanish tax agency's summons – 7th March 2019
Save 70% on your landlord tax bill – 8th March 2019
Spain's new rental law in 2019 – 8^th March 2019
8 Tips for Buy-To-Let Success in Spain – 21^st October 2019
Rentals climb for the fifth consecutive year in Spain! – 12^th February 2020
Spanish Government caps rent hikes to 2% in 2022 – 1^st April 2022
Spanish Government extends the 2% rental cap a further 3 months – 21^st June 2022

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Portugal to scrap Golden Visa permits and ban holiday rentals

Raymundo Larraín Nesbitt, March, 23. 2023

For years, I have praised and commended in my articles the economic policies adopted by Portuguese Socialist politicians. These economic and housing measures have greatly contributed to attract vast foreign investments (over 6 billion euros in Golden Visas alone), have created thousands of well-paid jobs, improved the country’s overall business reputation, and in effect boosted Portugal’s GDP. Portugal was the leader, the example to follow by other countries, including Spain.

Alas, times move on, and the winds of change blow. A majority left-wing is now in power, and they wish to change things. Their majority will confidently allow them to pass new radical laws in parliament more in line with their electorate. A draft bill has been submitted to parliament that would in effect break the existing status quo in Portugal on foreign investments and visas introducing major changes I collate below (source):

Scrap Golden Visa permits, following a budding trend in other EU countries i.e. Ireland
Ban outright new holiday rentals
Not renew existing holiday rental permits when they expire
State-imposed, planned rental prices (no longer determined by private individuals/landlords), on rental agreements. This means rental prices will be capped and determined by the government
Increase the duration of rental agreements to a mandatory 5 years
Town halls will be empowered to seize empty homes (defined as unoccupied for over 100 days) and offer them as ‘social housing’ to the locals
Local Authorities will be able to request property owners to contribute towards (imposed) property improvements
Etc.

You don’t need a degree in economics to realize how bad the new proposed measures are for Portugal, the economy, and ultimately for its society in general. These new measures are what communist elements in the Spanish government (Podemos) have wet dreams of doing in Spain.

It’s a real shame what the Portuguese government is bound to approve and, in my humble opinion, I think it will greatly deter and discourage foreign investments in Portugal. I foresee a sharp drop in pastéis de nata consumption and a spike on gazpacho demand.

However, as the saying goes, one man’s meat is another man’s poison. The silver lining is that these foreign investors will look elsewhere and may be attracted by Spain’s free market low taxation areas, such as Madrid and Andalucia. These two regions in Spain have suppressed Wealth Tax and Inheritance Tax (besides tweaking a myriad of other taxes, including personal income tax, toning them down; some even go as far as speaking of ‘Spanish tax havens’). Not to mention that Golden Visa residency permits are more than welcome by the Spanish Government, which rolls a red carpet for them. Perhaps I should apologize for my schadenfreude. I make a mental note to add it to my to-do list.

Larraín Nesbitt Abogados, small on fees, BIG on service.

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Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Raymundo Larraín Nesbitt, March, 17. 2023

Ní neart go cur le chéile.

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Madrid, capital splendour

Raymundo Larraín Nesbitt, March, 10. 2023

Inset photo: Debod temple at dusk. It’s a two-thousand-year-old Egyptian temple gifted to Spain at the time of building the Aswan Dam in the 60’s. It can be found close to Plaza de España, Madrid.

By Raymundo Larrain Nesbitt

21^st March 2023

Today I continue with my running series on top places to buy and live in Spain. I need to preface this article by admitting I have a soft spot for Madrid, having studied and worked there for almost decade. Madrid is like a second home to me, along with Marbella and Edinburgh.

Introduction

The earliest historical record we have was that it was founded by Arabs as early as 865 A.D. The Emir Muhammad I of Cordoba commanded a citadel to be built in the village of Mayrit (which means abundance of water in Arabic), next to the Manzanares river. The grounds of the current Royal Palace are built upon this citadel which gave birth to the city as we know it.

Over time Madrid would grow in size and importance, favoured by its central position in the Iberian Peninsula. In 1561, King Philip II would name Madrid as the capital city of the burgeoning Kingdom of Spain. Madrid would go on to rule the Spanish Empire (1500 - 1800), and most of the known world, over the next two and a half centuries, finally yielding its power to the British Empire.

Madrid, a city that never sleeps

During daytime you will see its inhabitants rushing to work in the wee hours of the morning, with its roads and avenues brimming with busy traffic listening to prime talk radio hosts rambling on politics and football. At dusk, it springs to life with a nightlife second to none. Madrid epitomizes the best of Spanish culture and spirit. Very few people can actually claim to trace back their ancestors to Madrid natives, but most newcomers quickly fall in line (and in love) with the city’s unique spirit becoming Madrileños, which is a lifestyle.

Madrid blends like no other city a discipline for hard work and a passion to live life at its fullest. It’s hard to befriend a madrileño, but if you manage it, they become friends for life.

Madrid will leave an indelible mark upon you.

Madrid’s districts

Madrid de los Austrias: This is an old quarter that now houses countless bars and restaurants. The city majors have wisely turned into a pedestrian walk – mostly – making it highly accessible. A nice selection of Irish pubs can be found there.
Paseo de la Castellana: This wide avenue sports Madrid’s most important and prestigious companies and multinationals.
Gran Vía: I have a soft spot for it as I lived nearby for almost 10 years. It is an avenue which houses all theatres, cinemas, and Broadway shows. It’s a perfect place to dot around if you crave culture.
Velázquez, Serrano, and Claudio Coello: Similar to Milan’s Quadrilatero d’Oro, these three adjacent streets are ideal for luxury shopping lovers, housing the finest household names in fashion, très chic!
Plaza de Colón: this great plaza has three giant stone sculptures which represent the three caravels (La Pinta, La Niña, and the Santa Maria) commissioned by the Catholic Kings. It commemorates the discovery of the New World by Cristopher Columbus in 1492.
El Retiro: an assorted lush park with centuries-old trees, which seeds were brought by sailors from the far reaches of the Spanish Empire, which happens to have one of the few sculptures in the world dedicated to the fallen angel of Morningstar, Lucifer.
Puerta de Alcalá: a landmark in Madrid.

Must-see places for art-lovers

In Madrid, you will be spoilt for choice.

Museo del Prado

Harbors what is likely Spain’s most important pictoric collection, treasuring countless masterpieces from renowned artist from all over the world (Goya, Velázquez, El Greco, Rubens, Tiziano, Tintoretto, etc). The main highlight is Las Meninas, by Velázquez.

Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum

Named after its founder, a shrewd German businessman, it is located near the Prado Museum, It is known as part of the “Golden Triangle of Art”. It completes and complements the art collections of both El Prado and the Reina Sofia.

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía

Aptly named after Spain’s honorary Queen, it houses modern art collections. The main highlights are works by Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso including the world-famous Guernica painting (which depicts the horrors of war).

Must-see places for history buffs

Museo Arqueológico Nacional

It has a live-size reproduction of the famous Altamira cave paintings (Santander) discovered by an illustrious ancestor of the Botín banking family saga. It has an impressive collection of antiquities that span multiple time periods and civilizations.

Museo del Ejército

It houses Spain’s military memorabilia, spanning millennia, from Roman times, through the Spanish Empire (where the sun never set), to modern times. In it you will find El Cid’s famous sword, La Tizona.

Madrid’s architecture

To name my personal top tier:

Torres Kio: These have now become a landmark of Madrid’s landscape, epitomising a modern and enterprising Madrid.
Palacio Real: The Royal palace and its adjacent gardens (Jardines del Campo del Moro) are a sight to behold.
Banco de España: a beautiful modernist building.
Palacio de Cibeles: another modernist building.

Top English schools in Madrid

As the capital city, Madrid boasts some of the finest schools and universities in all of Spain. I collate below the best schools – in no particular order – for those pursuing a bilingual education in English for their children.

Runnymede College: Founded by Mr. Arthur Powell (OBE) and his wife Julia in the 60’s, it regularly places its students in top UK and US Ivy League universities. It follows the English national curriculum. Very demanding and academic.
Colegio San Patricio, Madrid. Founded by Irish nuns, it consistently ranks every year as the best-performing school in all of Spain (El Mundo). Its installations are second to none. Its privileged graduates attend the finest universities all over the world. It follows both the Spanish system and the International Baccalaureate. Strong emphasis on academics.
British Council School of Madrid. Is the dean of all British schools in Spain, founded in 1940, shortly after the end of Spain’s fratricidal Civil War. It follows both the English syllabus and the International Baccalaureate. Run by the British Council, it adheres to British standards.
Numont School: founded by Ms. Margaret Ann Swanson in the 60’s, it’s a primary school that offers an excellent education in English. The size of its classes has remained small over time, allowing its pupils to swiftly pick up a proficient education in English. They follow the English syllabus (English national curriculum). All teachers are native English-speakers. Its pupils then go on to join secondary in the other schools mentioned in this list above.

Conclusion

In the dark times that besiege Spain, Madrid acts as a shining beacon of freedom and hope for us all.

Madrid exemplifies what Spain could aspire to as a whole; a successful and well-run country that attracts billions of euros in foreign investments and creates thousands of high-paid jobs in its wake. A perfect place to live or work in, alas no beach – you can’t have it all!

“Madrid, si no es libre, no es Madrid.” – Isabel Díaz Ayuso

Loosely translated as: “Madrid, if it’s not free, is not Madrid.”

Isabel Natividad Díaz Ayuso (1978). Is a Spanish stateswoman and journalist serving as the president of the Community of Madrid since 2019. She is the president of the People’s Party of Madrid. She rose to prominence during the Covid-19 state-imposed confinement defending the rights of small business owners to open, which saved thousands of jobs and SME’s from the brink during the lockdown. She anticipated the gravity of the Covid-19 pandemic - unlike the Spanish government - building a state-of-the art hospital in record time (Isabel Zendal) to treat Covid patients, saving thousands of seniors' lives through her quick wit and resolute decision-making. In time, through her steadfast actions, she would rise to become the de facto leader of Spain’s opposition in all but in name. With a fiery untamed spirit, and an unbridled penchant for freedom, she is on course to become Spain’s first female president – on her own merits – without resorting to any gender-imposed quotas.

Isabel is a politician in her spare time, nobody is perfect.

Other entries in this running series:

Costa del Sol: your dream home in paradise – 8^th April 2022
Sotogrande, the pearl of Cadiz – 3^rd June 2022
Barcelona, the beautiful – 8^th November 2022
Madrid, passion for life – 21^st March 2023

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