Elche Firework Night 2018

On the night of the 13th of August, Elche celebrates la Nit de l’Albà…

AMAZING! CRAZY …. 1000’s of rockets and the finale “La Palma” is beyond words … the biggest firework you will ever see launched from the main Basilica. If you have not been THEN GO! … or go again but get there very early has Elche is crammed full around the old town.

On that night, you’ll witness thousands of fireworks and the night sky is ablaze with light, colour and sound.

This is a highly characteristic festival of the city and has its origin in the Middle Ages, where families used to make offerings to the Virgin by way of a rocket launched for each of their respective children. Currently, that tradition has turned into the setting off of hundreds of palm style fireworks that are launched in a coordinated and alternating way from different points of the city. Furthermore, the citizens purchase and set off fireworks individually and in a spontaneous fashion during the shower of light that characterises the “night of fire”.

Nit del Alba Eche
Copyright Fundación Pascual Ros Aguilar

The rockets and the fireworks take place at about 23:00 onwards and cease barely minutes before the clock strikes midnight. At that moment, the fireworks cease and the lights of the city are turned off and the people of Elche wait in silence for the culminating moment of the night, while in the background we can hear the most significant musical fragment of the Misteri d’Elx: “the Gloria Patri”. Amidst the utter darkness of the night, we see the Palm of the Virgin, a huge palm represented by white light which is launched from the Basilica of Santa María, and which for some seconds, lights up the skies, above the city of Elche magnificently.

After this magic moment, the light come back on and in the tower of the Basilica, a small “virgin of fire” appears as we listen to the famous habanera “Aromas ilicitanos” and all of the local folk join in and sing it from their terraces and balconies.

To conclude, there is a tradition of celebrating the end by eating watermelon. Some locals will continue to set off fireworks well into the night. Other locals, the most daring, will participate in the traditional “guerra de carretillas”, a mock fight with firecrackers in a place in the town centre specially fenced for it, only for those who are passionate about fire.

> C/o Elche Tourism : http://www.visitelche.com/en/fiestas/nit-de-l-alba/

Elche, City of Culture and Fiestas

Elche (Elx) is well worth the visit. it’s only 20 minutes from the Hondon Valley, so our nearest city. As well as an vast array of modern shops and services you’d expect in a city it’s  clean, beautiful (“The City of a Million Palms“) and offers a rich historic culture.

Image c/o WikiPedia

Steeped in religious history, Elche has centuries of architecture, museums, a central park & old rambla with more than enough varieties of palm trees to keep you intrigued for an afternoon. This Palm Grove is just one of Elche’s three cultural assets registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

But Elche’s centrepiece has to be the Basilica De Santa Maria, a landmark church built over the ruins of a Muslim mosque in the city centre. It features an ornate baroque portal with square towers. It was built in various stages from mid 14th century after the Christians conquered the Moors long before (1265).

You will see many copy busts of La Dama (The Lady of Elche) around the city. She has a unique headdress. There’s a painted one at Alicante Airport too. Discovered in 1897 at L’Alcúdia, an archaeological site on a private estate two kilometres south of Elche, now a museum and worth a visit. The original bust is kept in the National Archaeological Museum of Madrid. The fiesta day of Our Lady of the Assumption is on the 15th August

The lady of Elx
Image c/o WikiPedia

In August you can see The Mystery Play, or Festa d’Elx, the most authentic symbol of the city´s identity. It is a chanted drama of mediaeval origins and performed in the City’s Basilica. It’s a sacred part of the local heritage. Check YouTube for footage.

If you want a real taste of Elche life of old then visit the Museum of Pusol. Created in 1969, as a celebration of local rural trades, crafts, farming, traditions and the environment of the Campo de Elche. They have interactive workshops, events and historic exhibits. Many Spanish schools use this in their history curriculum.

Thousand’s will gather to watch and take part in Palm Sunday. Locals parade their carved white palms from Elche’s Palm Grove to the triumphal entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. Also popular is La Burreta and Easter Sunday, when millions of little pieces of coloured paper, known as Hallelujahs are showered onto the image of the Resurrected Jesus. Search YouTube for “Procesión Aleluyas Elche“.

Also in August, in addition to the Moors and Christians Festival, which recalls the conquest of the city by the troops of King Jaime I in 1265, is the Nit de L’Albà, on the night of the 13th August and la Nit de la Roà, in the early hours of the 14th and 15th, which take place on the same dates as the performances of the Mystery Play of Elche. THIS IS NOT TO BE MISSED if you like lots of fireworks… the finale display “Palmeral de la Virgen” is an awesome sight… a firework launched from the Basilica so big and spectacular people oooh and aaaah in awe!

In December, with the celebration of the Coming of the Virgin, the origins of the Mystery Play are commemorated, when the legendary, sacred image of the Virgin Mary, arrived by sea in an ar brought by the coastguard Francesc Cantó, who on his horse  gallops the city to announce the good news.

And there is much, much more to see and do in Elche. Go and immerse yourself in the festivals, the sights, the history and its people. Enjoy yourselves with the men and women who make possible one of the richest festival programmes in Spain.

» Elche main Tourist Information

621 Hondon Villas Have Sold Again

Hondon Villas are pleased to bring onto the market for sale this impressive country style villa in Barbarroja, offering 360 degree mountain views, and over looking the olive tree fields and more.

The villa itself comprises of a fitted kitchen with central island, large lounge with a fireplace, 6 bedrooms, 4 of which have there own en-suites and 2 have there own balcony and also a family bathroom.

At the back of the house is a separate casita with its own private entrance comprising of a bedroom, kitchenette, lounge (which could be a 2nd bedroom) and 2 bathrooms. This provides further guest accommodation.

Outside is an impressive plot of 12,000m2 with a private swimming pool and ample seating areas over looking some truly stunning views. The previous owners have gravelled the gardens and planted trees and shrubs.

The villa benefits from air conditioning, central heating and solar panels.

Must be viewed to be fully appreciated.

MORE DETAILS HERE…

Testimonial: Hondon Villas… what lovely people.

Welcome to the NEW Hondon Villas office!

Hondon Villas… what lovely people. A step above the others in their community of Hondón Estate Agents.

Maureen Cook, the good humoured gentle boss who always has a smile on her face is ready to listen to and solve your problem. The expert group of professionals around her, nice people, treating their clients with respect and good manners.

So CONGRATULATIONS on the opening of your new office in Hondón de las Nieves from which, without a doubt, clients new and old will be welcomed, and their property needs, what ever it is, will be dealt with promptly and efficiently. We wish them well.
– Percy and Jean Chattey

Member of the AIPP : Assoc' of International Property ProfessionalsCONTACT or LOCATE US HERE:

Business Hours / Horas de Trabajo

  • Monday to Friday (Lunas a Viernes) 10.00 – 17.00
  • Saturday & Sunday / Sábado y Domingo
    By appointment only / Solo por cita
  • FRAILES OFFICE (0034) 965 075 357
  • NIEVES OFFICE (0034) 865 571 981
  • Calle Juan Carlos I #24,
    Plaza Central
    Hondon de los Frailes.
    Alicante Region GOOGLE MAP
    03689, España (Spain)
  • Calle Iglesia #1,
    Plaza Central
    Hondon de las Nieves.
    Alicante Region GOOGLE MAP
    03688, España (Spain)
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Correfocs Fireworks in Hondón de las Nieves

Well WE WERE THERE! How about you?

HONDON VILLAS got some great footage of this year’s Correfocs Firework Fiesta in Hondón de las Nieves. Always exciting, dangerous and colourful.… and a late start at MIDNIGHT!

It’s a loud, it’s smokey, scary and a spectacular event … dark and menacing but fun to join in with every year!

If you missed it … shame but here is our 2 minute video montage to remind you of the madness that unfolds in this sleepy ol’ Hondón village during Fiesta time :-) LOL!

Learn about Spanish Property Paperwork

bnr-hondon-property-epcBuying or Selling, you need to know more about the Spanish Property Paperwork you should have or consider? The Kyero quick guide can help…

Before signing anything there are some important pieces of paper you and your lawyer should have a look at the following paperwork and requirments.

1) The Escritura Publica and Nota Simple: The Escritura Publica is the registered title deed of the property. It is entered in the ‘Registro de la Propiedad’, the Property Registry, and is the only guarantee of title in Spain. It contains a description of the property, the details of the owner and any mortgages or legal claims that exist against the property. This document is important because it tells you if the seller is the owner of the property being sold. A nota simple contains further details of any mortgages or charges against the property and is also available from the Registry.

2) The IBI receipt: Before purchasing a resale (not new) Spanish property check out the ‘lmpuesto sobre Bienes lnmuebles’, or IBI, which is the municipal property tax. Ideally, you’ll be able to see the IBI receipts for the last five years because that is the limit of liability for unpaid back taxes and is attached to the property, not the owner. A new property bought from a developer will not have an IBI receipt (because it has never been ‘owned’) so it will be your responsibility to register the property for this tax.

3) The Referencia Catastral: Every property sale must quote the ‘Referencia Catastral’ of the property in question. The Catastro is another system of property registration in Spain, concentrating on the location, physical description and boundaries of the property. While the Property Registry focuses almost exclusively on ownership and title, the Catastro is concerned with property valuation.

These two systems do not communicate with each other, and it is common to find that the catastral description of a property differs greatly from the one in the Property Registry. It is a good idea to request the actual certificate from the Catastro with a full description of the property. The certificate is in two parts, one being a description of the property and the other being either a plan or an aerial photograph.

4) Community fees, statutes and minutes of the AGM: This only applies if you are buying a property in an urbanisation or where there are some ‘communal’ resources, shared amongst a number of properties. These are the fees charged by the ‘Comunidad de Propietarios’, the Community of Property Owners, a legal body that controls all the elements held in common; the lift, gardens and pool for example. Each owner is assigned a quota, or percentage of the expenses which, by law, must be paid.

5) Utility bills: These assure you that the bills are paid and also provide an idea of what the running costs of the property will be.

6) EPC (Energy Performance Certificate): The EPC (energy performance certificate) is a report that describes how efficient a home is in terms of energy consumption and also gives recommendations on how to save money and make your home more efficient. It assigns an energy rating to each home on a scale which ranges from “A” (the most efficient) to “G” (the less efficient). The EPC law is  approved and it came into force on the 1st of June, 2013. It is obligatory for all sellers and lessors who are advertising their property for sale or rent. At the completion of the sale The Notary will ask to see the original EPC. When buying a home you should get the EPC for that property and it’s rating. If you are selling you should obtain one.

7) Misc: If you are buying a property in an urbanisation, make sure that it is legal and registered by asking to see the approved ‘plan parcial’ at the town hall. If the property is on the beach, make sure the development is also approved by the Jefatura de Costas. For a new property, make sure that it has been declared for IBI and that the developer has made the ‘declaracion de obra nueva’. Also ensure that the escritura mentions the house you are purchasing as well as the plot of land on which it stands. As an additional safeguard, it is wise to examine the town planning maps for the area around the property, called the Plan General de Ordenacion Urbana, or PGOU.

Be Realistic with your Selling Price on Hondon Homes

As much as it hurts, in the current market, property sellers still have to be realistic about the price they want for their property in Spain. Most people in the Hondon area have too great an expectation of their property value.

 

In general houses for sale in the Hondon area have sold for well below their original sale price if they were bought in the boom/pre-2008 (the crash). Very few sellers achieve their initial asking price. And it’s a fact that whilst Hondon Property Sales are definitely on the up in 2017 / 2018, figures such as 30% or 40% below pre-crash values are now common.

It’s a buyer’s market right now.

Not great news if you are selling!  And supply is larger than demand in many areas of the Spanish Costas, pushing prices down even further. Thankfully, most expert reports think this has trend has now bottomed and a slow recovery is now happening. We’d echo that in the Hondon Valley area. as 2017 was a record year and we have already smashed our own target for 2018 (Aug now).

The property portal Kyero keeps tabs on many of the official property indicators and housing data on their blog. They have just reported the news that house prices on the whole are fairly stable now. Read their page as often they do contradict but it might help you when valuing your own house. And do comparisons with similar property in your area. Remember, though that these reports usually talk in averages. > SEE HERE> KYERO “Spanish House Prices Have Fallen by 41.4% Since 2007” ARTICLE

The hard truth though is that the property market usually dictates the average exchange so what we want for a house is not always what we get.

So, please, do your property research or call / visit us for a free no-obligation valuation and an experienced chat.

We are Hondon Villas in Frailes & Nieves, the most experienced agents in the area. AIPP accredited and extremely helpful.
: TEL 965 075 357 property @ hondonvillas.net