Sotogrande
Sotogrande | |
|---|---|
 Sotogrande aerial view, July 2011 | |
  Sotogrande Location in the Province of Cádiz  Sotogrande Sotogrande (Andalusia)  Sotogrande Sotogrande (Spain) | |
| Coordinates:36°16′42″N5°17′24″W/ 36.27833°N 5.29000°W | |
| Country |  Spain |
| Autonomous community |  Andalusia |
| Province | Cádiz |
| Comarca | Campo de Gibraltar |
| Municipality | San Roque |
| Established | 1964 |
| Population (2009) | |
| • Total | 2,584 |
| Time zone | UTC+1(CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2(CEST) |
| Postal code | 11310 |
| Official language(s) | Spanish |
| Website | Official website |
Sotograndeis the largest privately owned residential development inAndalusia,Spain.It is a gated community in the municipality ofSan Roque.Located 25 km northeast ofGibraltar,Sotogrande is composed of a 25-square-kilometre stretch from theMediterranean Seaback into the foothills of Sierra Almenara, providing contrasting views ofsea,hills,corkforestsand greenfairways,including theRock of GibraltarandMorocco.
History
[edit]To build a city similar toPalm Springsin southern Europe, Sotogrande was developed by the industrialist couple from the Philippines, Joseph McMicking andMercedes Zóbel,with support from their nephewsJaime ZóbelandEnrique Zóbel.[1]The McMickings, having seen the idyllic coasts in 1962, acquired five neighboring farms with the idea of creating a luxurious residential development by theMediterranean.In May 2006, Sotogrande was featured inThe Timesas having the most expensive homes in Europe.[2]There are a number of artificial lakes and five golf courses, including theValderrama Golf Clubcreated by Jaime Ortiz-Patiño[3]and the San Roque course. The port was established in 1988.[1]
Architecture
[edit]
Sotogrande is well known as an architectural showcase on the Costa del Sol, with styles varying from the traditionalAndalusianto mid-century modern, to more modern and unusual designs, includingmoorish/mudéjarstyle homes and aSwiss chalet.In 2008, the local government declared three buildings as of cultural interest, protecting them from reform or demolition. These included the Biddle House by Francisco Javier Carvajal, the Zóbel house byJosé Antonio Coderch,and the Real Club de Golf by Luis Gutierrez Soto.[4]
A specially built man-made lagoon is part of the newest developments in Sotogrande within the La Reserva gated residential community in the hills of Sotogrande.
Sport
[edit]Sotogrande has varied sporting facilities. It has fivegolfcourses, includingValderrama Golf Club,which was host to theEuropean Tour'sVolvo Mastersand the 1997Ryder Cupas well as of theLIV Golftour. It also has three tennis andpadelclubs, a rugby club, a diving club and two beach clubs, akayak/sailingclub, the famous Santa Maria Polo Club,ridingstables, and amarina.
Nature
[edit]River GuadiaroandEstuary,Sotogrande, a natural area of 27 hectares and the onlymarshlandon this part of thecoast,has been designated as an Andalusiannational park,wildlife andnature reserve.[citation needed]The reserve often hosts migratory birds on their route to and from Africa.
Economy
[edit]Sotogrande seems to have kept its head above the crisis.Finanzas,a Spanish finance publication, says that whilst prices in other areas of the Costa del Sol have taken a fall to the tune of −11.4% in Torremolinos, −10.99% in Fuengirola, −7.4% in Manilva, −5.5% in Casares, and −3.4% in Mijas Costa.[when?]In Sotogrande average property prices have remained the same or increased, in some cases up to 45%.[when?]This phenomenon is attributed to the financial status of the residents of the urbanization.[5]
Residents
[edit]Some of the richest families ofSpain,Russia,and theUnited Kingdomreside in Sotogrande.[6]Current and past regulars (with second homes) or permanent inhabitants includePeter Caruana,former Chief Minister of Gibraltar,Fabian Picardo,current Chief Minister of Gibraltar,[7]Tony Blair,Emilio Botín,Ana Rosa Quintana,[8]Royal Shakespeare CompanyactorMike Gwilym,[9]Vladimir Gusinsky,[10]Boris Berezovsky,[11]as well as PrinceLouis Alphonse, Duke of Anjou,the legitimist pretender to the throne of France.[12][13]
Scandal
[edit]Recorded by Spanish secret services,Vladimir Putinillegally entered Spain at Sotogrande by private boat via plane flights from London to Gibraltar several times while he was head of Russia'sFSBduring the 1990s.[citation needed]
Spanish police arrested several Russian mafia with residences at Sotogrande duringOperation Troika.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^abAbril, Guillermo (2014-08-26)."La burbuja de Sotogrande. Nació hace medio siglo para ser el lugar más selecto de la Costa del Sol. Su clientela teme el desembarco de los nuevos ricos"[The Sotogrande bubble. He was born half a century ago to be the most select place on the Costa del Sol. His clientele fears the landing of the new rich].El Pais(in Spanish). Archived fromthe originalon 2014-08-28.Retrieved2020-02-13.
- ^"Spanish gold - Times Online".Property.timesonline.co.uk.Retrieved2012-03-18.
- ^"The 50 best golf courses - Outdoor & Activity - IndyBest".The Independent.2010-04-10.Retrieved2012-03-18.
- ^"El Periódico de Sotogrande"(in Spanish). Issuu.Retrieved2012-03-18.
- ^Housing prices come down, but not for the rich: Sotogrande records hikes of 45%. blevinfranks
- ^"Spanish Resorts: Sotogrande, Costa del Sol".Retrieved2012-08-02.
- ^"El 'Gibraltarexit' de los ricos: la Roca para los negocios, Sotogrande para vivir".Elespanol. 2017-04-09.Retrieved2017-04-11.
- ^"Todo sobre CALLEJEROS | Reportajes en".Cuatro.Retrieved2012-03-18.
- ^"La Revista de Sotogrande".Issuu. 2008-08-04.Retrieved2012-03-18.
- ^Романова, Людмила (Romanova, Lyudmila); Кобо, Хуан (Kobo, Juan) (2000-12-14)."Гусинский опять в тюрьме"[Gusinsky again in prison].ng.ru(in Russian). Archived fromthe originalon 2020-02-13.Retrieved2020-02-13.
{{cite news}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^"ОПЕРАЦИЯ" ХХ ТРЕСТ ""[OPERATION “XX TRUST” ].Novaya Gazeta(in Russian). 2000-09-10. Archived fromthe originalon 2020-02-13.Retrieved2020-02-13.
- ^"Luis Alfonso De Borbon And Margarita Vargas Are… Fotografía de noticias | Getty Images España | 103766561".Gettyimages.es. 2010-08-28.Retrieved2012-03-18.
- ^Warner, Gerald (2010-05-29)."French royalists celebrate the birth of twin sons to Louis XX, rightful King of France – Telegraph Florence Pugh - Oscar Nominated Actress - also lived there for several years during her childhood. Blogs".Blogs.telegraph.co.uk. Archived fromthe originalon 2010-05-31.Retrieved2012-03-18.