Cardenas Real Estate Agent Blog – Gran Canaria

On Wednesday 10/02/2010, the Mayor of Mogan, Francisco González, presided a ceremony in Puerto de Mogan naming a square in honor of the late Rafael Neville Rubio – Argüelles, V Conde de Berlanga de Duero. The event was also attended by Nevilles nephew and niece Edgar and Mary Neville, Paolo Riccardi, representative of “Venice of the Canaries” and Ara Santiago, Managing Director of Puerto Mogan.

Rafael Neville was born in Málaga in 1926 and died in his beloved Sardinia in 1996, he was the soul and promoter of what is now Puerto de Mogan, a project conducted between 1983 and 1988 with the intention of creating the best and most beautiful urbanization of the Islands. The particular and unique design of the buildings, known as the Venice of the Canaries, have made this area one of the most charming tourist attractions and most visited of the Canary Islands.
Artist, developer, designer of natural areas and with a very active social live in the Costa del Sol, Rafael Neville designed and built with Paolo Riccardi the famous Porto Rafael on the Italian island of Sardinia before moving up to Mogán in the mid 60´s.

During his time in Puerto de Mogan, this area became the usual place of VIPs visiting the European social landscape of Gran Canaria. Puerto Mogan, was for many years the meeting place of the “jet set” of the time.

Francisco Gonzalez, Mayor of Mogán: The legacy Rafael left us remains very much alive in Puerto de Mogán, an enormously attractive place and a real gem of the Canaries which we all feel truly proud of!

By Theresa Bona (photo by Townhall of Mogán, from left to right: Edgar + Maria , nephews of Rafael Neville, Francisco Gonzalez, Santiago Ara and Paolo Riccardi)

Get known Puerto de Mogán

Whilst the largest and most spectacular events take place in Las Palmas between the 29th of January and the 20^th of February the small towns also like to celebrate in style.  Arguineguin is celebrating Carnival on the 26^th, 27^th and the 28^th of February, ours is a mini Carnival without the extravagance, large crowds and duration of Las Palmas but without a doubt a very enjoyable and lively atmosphere is to be found.

Events include the election of the Carnival Queen usually held on the Friday but the most popular and fun event is the Carnival parade (known locally as the “cabalgata”) which is held on Saturday evening.  Everybody is welcome to join in as they wish but the parade consists of people of all ages and nationalities in fancy dress costumes of all imaginable humorous styles and numerous colourfully decorated floats.  The parade starts at one end of the village and ends at the market square and all the participants are found dancing on the floats or walking and dancing to the party music while animating the watching crowds.

Once the “Cabalgata” ends the “mogollon” (Carnival mass) begins in the market square where you will find music, live events, fair rides for the kids and catering stands with seating areas serving drinks and food.

Finally for those who still have some energy left and do not have sensitive hearing the final stop is around the corner where the loud music and dancing continues until the sun comes up!

Carnival is one of the main highlights of the year for the locals and will surly be great fun for the visitors to our island who unexpectedly find themselves joining in.

If you happen to be around try spotting some of our team who are faithful followers of this event!

By Lucy Evans (in the foto from left to right, Lonnie, Leonor and Lucy, from Cardenas)

Spain and its wonderfully sunny islands like Gran Canaria, are emerging as better value than ever, pushing holiday high fliers like Turkey, down the pecking order. The British Post Office Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer has shown a 44% rise in Turkey for meals, drinks and other holiday items. Spain, in contrast, is now the cheapest Eurozone destination, with a 30% fall in the cost of similar holiday items since last year.

That’s nice to know, but behind the figures, is an even more important message, the all year round sun and high temperatures make sure that Gran Canaria is still one of the most popular places for British holiday makers to visit and to live.

The south coast of Gran Canaria offers fantastic beaches that never go out of style, and with good transport, schools and shops, it’s sure to continue to put other holiday spots in the shade.

By Cardenas News

Photo by Oliver Bossecker, taken from Cardenas Facebook