A British family have said that they moved to the Costa Azahar because of the warm climate, lower cost of living and good opportunities for setting up a business.

In an interview with Homes Worldwide, Trisha Reynolds and her two sons Gareth and Ian said that a move to Peniscola in Castellon province had a number of advantages for them, with the “stunning views of the coast and distant mountains” from their property another reason for their relocation.

Ms Reynolds described how Peniscola retains its authentic Spanish feel despite attracting tourists during the summer months, while the abundance fresh vegetables and seafood produce means that meals are always healthy and delicious.

The climate in Peniscola is also “perfect”, she said, as it is warm and sunny without reaching the high temperatures of the southern coast.

However, the main attraction of the area for the Reynolds family was the “self-employment opportunities” - because of the cheaper food and utility bills, there is more financial freedom for people looking to develop their own business, they stated.

The family have since started a holiday rental business and a company which carries out security checks for holiday home owners when they are away from their property.

In addition to Peniscola, the Costa Azahar features resorts such as Benicarlo and Vinaros.

Property owners and holidaymakers on the Costa Blanca are in for a treat next week, when Spanish dancer Nacho Duato brings his new stage show to Alicante.

Described as “one of the best Spanish ballet dancers of all time” by Communitat Valenciana, Duato has been artistic director of the Spanish National Dance Company since 1990 and is renowned for his choreography skills throughout the dance world.

He will perform his Duato x3 show, consisting of three different dances from various stages of his career, at the Teatro Principal de Alicante on February 6th.

“Duato’s choreographies are a reflection of our times, concentrating in themes related to our everyday realities while remaining committed to important social issues,” Communitat Valenciana states.

Born in Valencia, Duato perfected his art at some of the most famous dance schools in the world, including the Rambert School in London and Maurice Bejart’s Mudra School in Brussels.

This month’s Santa Pola half marathon has been hailed as a great success, with 6,000 people running through the Costa Blanca town.

Often used by international athletes as part of their training regime for major summer competitions, this year’s half marathon saw many runners with hopes for the Beijing Olympics competing, Round Town News reports.

The race is now in its 19th year and has become the second largest running competition in Spain, with many of the country’s major athletic clubs praising its good organisation and location.

Kenyan entrant Silas Kipngetich Sang was the first to finish the 13-mile course, taking just over an hour to complete the route. Maria Jose Pueyo Bergua won the female competition with a time of one hour and eleven seconds.

Visitors and property owners in Santa Pola looking for a more relaxed experience can take a short boat trip to the island of Tabarca, the smallest permanently inhabited islet in Spain.

The British Ambassador to Spain Denise Holt made her first trip to Malaga province last week on an official visit.

Accompanied by British Consul Bruce McIntyre, Ms Holt held talks with Spanish authorities in Malaga before visiting the city’s famous English cemetery and the Cudeca Hospice in nearby Benalmadena.

The ambassador was particularly impressed with the cemetery, which was built in 1831 by the then British Consul in Malaga, southern Spanish newspaper Sur reports.

Describing the cemetery as a “wonderful historic site”, Ms Holt visited the graves of several famous former Malaga residents, including the writer Gerald Brenan, whom she called “a great hero of mine”.

The cemetery was run by the British Consulate until recently, when it was handed over to a specially-created foundation containing members of the local British, Spanish and German communities.

Brenan’s former home in Malaga is to be turned into a museum commemorating his life and the “romantic travellers” of Spain, Typically Spanish reported recently.

The local authority in Torrevieja is offering more free Spanish lessons following a “stupendous response” to its original courses, it has emerged.

According to Costa Blanca newspaper Round Town News, the Torrevieja council’s basic language course has been a huge success since it launched two years ago, with demand for Spanish instruction in the area growing steadily as the population becomes more diverse.

Now the council has developed a new series of lessons, led by experienced language teacher Jane Cronin, which offers a slightly higher level for expatriates who have graduated from the original Survival Spanish course.

“The course combines visual elements, using pictures to stimulate the memory and audio components, allowing students to hear the correct pronunciation and intonation applied by native speakers,” the news provider reports.

Designed to help foreign nationals engage with the language and culture of the Costa Blanca, the course takes place at Torrevieja’s Palacio de la Musica and has attracted interest from a wide range of nationalities, including British, Irish, German, Moroccan and Indian.

Torrevieja is one of the most cosmopolitan areas of Alicante province, according to recent figures, with 53.6 per cent of the city’s residents of non-Spanish nationality.

A company offering personalised tours around Seville is ensuring that each visitor to the Andalucian capital enjoys a unique experience.

Writing in the Independent on Sunday, Adrian Mourby describes his encounter with Really Discover, a new walking tour service set up by Seville native Luis Salas and his British business partner David Cox.

Charging €25 (£18) for two and a half hours, Really Discover is different from other tour guides in that customers can make precise requests on what they would like to see, while Mr Salas runs his tour each day no matter how many people are present.

Of course, Seville has plenty of interesting sights, with the 18th century Fabrica de Tabacos - Spain’s second largest building - the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza and various sites made famous in Bizet’s opera Carmen all mentioned by Mr Mourby.

The bullring is one the oldest in the country and is described as “dazzling” by the journalist, with statues of famous matadors lined up outside to remind visitors of Spain’s proud tradition.

Next month will see the launch of new high-speed AVE rail service between Malaga and Seville, enabling people to travel from the Costa del Sol to the heart of Andalucia in just one hour and 55 minutes.