Spain took the number one spot in a recent survey of UK property buyers’ favourite destinations, it has emerged.

A survey conducted by A Place in the Sun magazine saw Spain receive the accolade of most popular location for the second year running, beating France into second place, Kyero reports.

Editor of the magazine Richard Wray said that the survey - carried out at the A Place in the Sun Live exhibition in Birmingham’s NEC - demonstrated how British property buyers continue to be “traditional” in terms of their expectations of the foreign market.

“When looking for a second home or a new life in the sun, it seems that Spain’s mix of great weather, rich culture and beautiful coastline is keeping the country at the number one spot,” he commented.

The exhibition, which is linked to the popular Channel 4 programme presented by Amanda Lamb, will next appear in Manchester from February 29th until March 2nd.

Motorsports fans are flocking to Valencia today to see Spanish formula one driver Fernando Alonso drive his new Renault car for the first time.

In a four-day session which is open to the public, the two-time world champion will test drive the R-28 vehicle at Valencia’s Cheste circuit as the Renault team prepares for the beginning of the formula one season, Typically Spanish reports.

The event is expected to raise anticipation for this year’s races to an even higher level, with Alonso returning to Renault after a season with McLaren Mercedes and Valencia set to host a grand prix on the city streets for the very first time.

Kicking off in March with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, the world’s premier motorsport competition comes to Valencia in the summer, with the race taking place on August 24th.

The new circuit is based around the city’s America’s Cup port and this waterside location has drawn comparisons with the famous Monaco grand prix.

Born in Asturias, Alonso became the youngest ever formula one champion in 2005 when he won the title aged 24.

There are ten reasons why Spain is still the world’s top destination for British holidaymakers, expatriates and second home buyers, a foreign property website has stated.

According to Homes Worldwide, the affordable cost of living, convenient access from UK airports and perks of property ownership are all major attractions for Brits - new homes often come with a ten-year guarantee against defects, while holiday home owners can take advantage of a “robust” rental market.

In addition, good employment prospects, political stability, excellent schools and a reliable healthcare system make life in Spain appealing and potentially long-lasting - the average lifespan of people residing in the country is one of the longest in Europe.

This is partly a result of the healthy traditional Spanish diet - food is another reason for the nation’s enduring popularity among British people and there are many fine restaurants in which to sample the gastronomic Iberian culture.

Finally, the friendly nature of the Spanish people and year-round warm climate, particularly in the southern regions, also ensure that people continue to leave the UK and start a new life in Spain, Homes Worldwide states.

A recent report from industry association Exceltur predicted that the Spanish tourism industry will grow by 1.8 per cent this year.

A British writer who published a book about her move to the Turia Valley in Valencia province recently discussed her experiences in an interview with a property website.

Speaking to Homes Worldwide, Angela Love said that the “sunshine and easygoing pace of life” were the main things that first attracted her to Spain and led her to move to Valencia with her husband in 2004.

Ms Love explained that she was particularly attracted to the Valencia region because of its “lush orange groves and pine-covered hills”, as well as the tradition for paella - the quintessential Spanish dish originated in Valencia and is still a major part of daily life in the area.

“The scent of orange blossom carried by the breeze knocks me out every time,” she said of her life in the Turia Valley area.

Speaking more generally about Spain, Ms Love revealed that the country’s high standard of healthcare and education, relatively low cost of living and “strong community spirit” all played a part in persuading her to relocate from the UK.

Her book about life in Valencia is entitled Orange Blossom Beginnings.

Towns such as Betera and San Antonio de Benageber are located in Camp de Turia, a comarca of Valencia province.

The famous Iberian custom of taking a daily afternoon nap could have major benefits in addition to relaxation and the relief of tiredness, it has emerged.

Research by academics in Israel has suggested that the Spanish siesta is effective in improving long-term memory and the ability to retain data among sleepers.

An experiment conducted by researchers at the Brain Behaviour Centre of Haifa University found that a 90-minute siesta had a significant effect on the memory faculties of participants, Typically Spanish reports.

The study involved two groups, with people in the first group taking a siesta and the others staying awake. According to the results, those who had a short sleep were able to perform noticeably better in a learning task afterwards, suggesting that a siesta is able to consolidate certain aspects of memory.

A previous report by Typically Spanish states that just 20 minutes is the ideal time for a siesta.

The tourism industry continues to thrive in Spain, with recent figures predicting a significant increase in visitors to the country during 2008.

A report by industry association Exceltur forecasts a growth of 1.8 per cent in the number of people choosing Spain as a holiday destination this year, taking the total number of overseas arrivals to 60.7 million.

The healthy Spanish tourism market is currently sustained by two main trends, Homes Worldwide reports - the growing interest in “urban tourism” among holidaymakers and the enduring popularity of winter sunshine breaks in southern areas of Spain, particularly among British people.

According to the website, many people are now interested in short ‘city breaks’, which makes Spain’s cosmopolitan cities such as Sevilla and Valencia an appealing prospect, while others continue to head to the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca for a more relaxing seaside holiday.

Travel Republic has reported a huge increase in bookings for Spanish holidays after Christmas, as the wet UK weather and increased availability of cheap flights draws more people to the Iberian peninsula.

Low-cost airline Ryanair recently launched a new service to Malaga from Bournemouth Airport.

Torrevieja is now not only one of the largest populations in Alicante province but also one of the most cosmopolitan, new data has revealed.

According to the latest figures from the Municipal Padron, which registers all local inhabitants, 53.6 per cent of Torrevieja residents are of non-Spanish nationality, with British people making up the largest foreign group, followed by Germans, Moroccans, Russians and Swedish people.

In addition, the statistics show that Torrevieja is home to people from all over Spain, with natives of very province in the country now resident in the Costa Blanca city, Kyero.com reports.

The figures reveal that Torrevieja is now the fifth largest city in the entire Valencian community, behind Valencia, Alicante, Castellon and Elche.

People are also likely to enjoy long lives if they make their home in Torrevieja - the Municipal Padron states that 14 local people celebrated their 100th birthday recently.

Roundtownnews.com describes this as “a reflection of the relaxed lifestyle and healthy Mediterranean diet, which continue to lure foreign house buyers to Spanish shores.”

Several measures are being introduced to improve the safety of the roads in Alicante province, it has emerged.

Newspaper La Verdad reported that 23 new fixed radar speed monitoring cameras will be installed across the region by the end of 2008, increasing current numbers by a third.

In addition, a new traffic office is set to open in the city of Elche later in the year, which will absorb about 40 per cent of the workload from the office in nearby Alicante and improve conditions for motorists in the area, Typically Spanish reports.

The new office will serve the Costa Blanca cities of Elche, Torrevieja and Orihuela.

Francisco Garcia-Caro, provincial chief of the Central Traffic Authority, recently said that the number of road accidents caused by alcohol in Alicante province has decreased in the last 12 months.

Recent statistics state that luxury car sales increased by 16 per cent in the Costa del Sol province of Malaga during 2007, southern Spanish newspaper Sur has reported.

Valencia adds to its reputation as one of Spain’s liveliest and culturally rich cities this week with the arrival of the annual Flamenco Festival.

Now in its 12th year, the festival begins today (January 16th) at the Palau de la Musica in Valencia, with a number of Spain’s top flamenco performers appearing over the next four days.

Opening the festival is Eva Garrido, an acclaimed artist from Granada province more commonly known by her nickname Eva Yerbabuena. She will be performing a new show for the Valencian audience which is “characterised by its simplicity and emotional depth”, according to Comunitat Valenciana.

Also appearing at the event is Enrique Morente, who takes to the stage on January 17th. Described as a “true connoisseur of classical flamenco” by the tourist website, Morente has been performing for over 40 years and is one of flamenco’s most respected figures.

The festival will be brought to a conclusion by local artist Raquel Garcia, who performs at the Night of Valencian Flamenco on January 18th, while winner of the 2007 National Music Award Miguel Poveda will appear on the last day of the festival.

Originating from Andalusia, the musical genre of flamenco is known for its strong, driving rhythms and passionate, distinctive style of dance.

A travel website has listed its top reasons for people to visit Valencia in 2008, as the region prepares for what could be its most successful year yet.

While the Valencia football team may be enduring a difficult season in La Liga, the rest of the city is going from strength to strength and continues to offer many attractions for tourists and property buyers from around the world, Easier Travel reports.

Indeed, sport is still one of main reasons to visit Spain’s third-largest city, with a new formula one track set to be launched in Valencia this summer. Similar in style to the famous circuit at Monaco, the new course will see star drivers such as Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso race around the city streets in August.

Major sporting events are also a theme elsewhere in the region, with the port at nearby Alicante due to host the start of the Volvo Ocean Race, a round-the-world sailing competition, in October.

In addition, the region boasts 24 championship golf courses, catering for those who prefer sporting activity of the more sedate variety.

As the home of paella, Valencia also has plenty to offer food-lovers, with several Michelin-starred restaurants found in the region and traditional Spanish cuisine available on every street.

Valencia was recently named as one of Spain’s “property hotspots” for 2008 by Homes Worldwide.