A new marina is scheduled to be constructed in Mijas in order to boost the number of berths in the Costa del Sol region.

The Empresa Publica de Puertos de Andalucia, or Public Company of Andalucian Ports, reports that the new development will contain between 800 and 1,000 berths following an investment of €50 million (£38 million).

More investment is likely to follow, while there are also plans to incorporate two docks for transatlantic cruisers, which could increase access to the coast for tourists visiting the area.

Hotels, shops and other leisure facilities will be built around the marina, and Homes Worldwide suggests that now could be the ideal time to purchase a property nearby.

The Spanish Fiestas website states that “Mijas Pueblo stands high up the mountain above the coastal resorts and is a popular half-day excursion from the Costa del Sol, whilst Mijas Costa is the resort on the coast below which attracts mass tourism to its many attractions.”

A new report has highlighted the large number of different nationalities now present in schools on the Costa del Sol.

The area’s enduring popularity as a destination for expatriates and holidaymakers has led to an increasingly diverse mix of children within the local education system, with over 30 different nationalities represented in one Estepona school, according to Spanish regional newspaper Sur.

Teachers at the College of Nuestra Senora del Carmen believe that such diversity is a positive factor in the development of youngsters - head of studies Francisco Javier Canas remarked that they are able to "integrate very quickly" because of the necessity of "day-to-day communication".

School principal Maria Angeles Banuelos agreed, stating: "The children do not have the same problems as we adults seem to have with different languages and cultures."

The largest group of non-Spanish pupils attending the school are British, although there is also a significant number of students from African, South American and eastern European countries, Sur reports.

Approximately four million non-nationals now live permanently in Spain, Kyero.com reported recently.

The oldest religious building in Benidorm has reopened after an eight-month renovation project.

Located in Benidorm’s old town, the Church of San Jaime and Santa Ana dates back to 1740 and has been given a "new lease of life" by the intensive repair programme, Round Town News reports.

According to the Costa Blanca news provider, the church has been given some modern upgrades while retaining its "original splendour", with new stained glass windows and an improved air conditioning system improving the visitor experience for both holidaymakers and local residents.

The completion of the €900,000 (£691,514) project means that the church has reopened in time for Easter services. The first mass took place last Thursday in the presence of Bishop Rafael Palmero and numerous dignitaries from the city.

Malaga Cathedral - nicknamed La Manquita by locals due to its single tower - is also being renovated at the moment, with a new glass roof being installed to prevent water leaking into the historic building.

The final preparations are underway in Valencia as the city gets ready to host the 12th World Indoor Athletics Championships.

Beginning on Friday (March 7th) and running for three days, the competition will see the world’s finest athletes travel to Valencia to take part in one of the most important events on the global athletics calendar ahead of this summer’s Olympic games in Beijing.

Valencia’s Palau Velodromo Luis Puig provides the venue for the competition, with the Spanish media hoping that local athletes will benefit from their home advantage and claim several medals.

The championships are also a big event for British athletes, although the selection of the UK team has caused some controversy - disgraced sprinter Dwain Chambers will race after serving his two-year doping ban.

Beginning at 10:00 local time on Friday with qualification rounds for the shot put, the competition closes on Sunday night with the final of the 4×400 metres relay.

An exhibition of black and white photographs documenting the historical development of Alicante has opened in the city.

Running until March 23rd, the Alicante en Blanco y Negro exhibition collects the work of many prominent photographers from the Costa Blanca region and invites visitors to take a glimpse back in time.

A total of 110 pieces are on display at the Sala Municipal de la Lonja del Pescado, with some dating back as far as 1860, according to Communitat Valanciana.

Urging local homeowners and holidaymakers to attend the exhibition, the website advises people to "visit the 19th century and contemplate the beauty of a city that still preserves the essence of yesterday".

The works of local photographers such as Francisco Pla, de Farach y Baroja, Carlos Nicora and Manuel Cantos are all included in the exhibition.

Alicante continues to develop as one of Spain’s major cities, with local business leaders recently proposing the building of a new AVE train station at Bacarot.

The southern Spanish region of Andalucia contains a large number of people over 100 years old, it has been revealed.

According to Homes Worldwide, a recent survey found that there are currently 943 centenarians living in the area, including a woman in Seville who is 116 years old.

The property website states that the healthy Andalucian diet is likely to be one of the main reasons for the longevity of the region’s residents - Andalucia has one of the largest olive crops in the world and the consumption of olive oil is known to have many health benefits.

In addition, the abundance of seafood found on the Costa del Sol can help people living in Andalucia to stay healthy by adding plenty of protein to their diet.

Homes Worldwide comments: "Excellent seafood restaurants can be found in coastal areas, most notably in the provinces of Almeria, Malaga and Cadiz, providing health-seeking homebuyers with plenty of options."

According to recent figures, many people on the Costa Blanca also enjoy long lives - 14 people in Torrevieja recently celebrated their 100th birthday.

Hospitality workers on the Costa del Sol are to receive extra training at the 10th Costa del Sol Professional Hospitality Exhibition.

A buffet decoration workshop and cocktail training for barmen and hospitality school students will be running between April 2nd and 4th, which may be consequently benefit those living or staying in the area.

Organised by the Costa del Sol Hoteliers’ Association, the event also includes the 9th Gourmet Exhibition of Costa del Sol Hospitality Schools.

The event’s workshops and activities are aimed at the proprietors and managers of hotels and other tourist accommodation establishments. Members of the public are also welcome.

This year’s event is sponsored by the regional government’s tourism department and organised in partnership with Malaga’s chamber of commerce.

Costa del Sol’s Torresmolinos was the setting for part of James Michener’s novel The Drifters, which traces the lives and travels of six young people who tour Europe and Africa in search of meaning.

Semana Santa, or Easter Holy Week, is one of Seville’s most important celebrations and usually attracts up to one million spectators.

Thousands of Roman Catholic brothers walk the narrow streets of the city throughout the duration of the event which starts on Palm Sunday and culminates on Easter Sunday.

Most brotherhoods carry a float with an image of the Messiah and another with the Virgin Mary in pain.

According to the tourism website Don Quijote, emotions are stirred by the slow rhythmic drumbeat and processional marches. Even the non-religious will find it difficult not to be moved by the "vital and poignant" atmosphere.

"The entire scene is alive with colour and sound, thanks to the polychromatic variety of tunics, hoods, ensigns and banners," the website stated.

Tourists could also take time to visit Seville’s numerous art galleries, including the Fine Arts Museum. Smaller galleries like the Galleria Full Art show exhibitions of modern works.

The Seville Spring Fair begins at midnight on March 31st, a fortnight after Easter Holy Week, and runs for six days.

Each day the fiesta begins with a parade of carriages and riders, and for the duration of the fair, the fairgrounds cover the far bank of the Guadalquivir River.

The riverside will be decorated with around 1,000 marquee tents that belong to the prominent families of Seville, clubs, trade associations and political parties.

Visitors to Seville can enjoy flamenco music performances, buy drinks from the bar and watch the young women dance in their colourful flamenco dresses.

From evening until the next morning, crowds of Seville residents and holidaymakers love to party and dance, drinking Jerez sherry and eating tapas.

Spain’s bullfighting season starts in April and ends in October and the important bullfights coincide with the annual fairs of Seville, Cordoba, Jerez and El Puerto.

The bullfights usually take place at the Plaza de Toros de Maestranza and tickets are often sold out well in advance.

Tickets to see the Chemical Brothers, Rufus Wainwright and the Kaiser Chiefs in Spain, have gone on sale, it has been announced.

The SOS 4.8 Festival in Murcia takes place on May 2nd and 3rd, and tickets are priced at €60 (£45.71) for both days or €45 for a one-day pass, according to Thinkspain.com.

Other acts scheduled to play at the SOS 4.8 Festival are James, the Pinker Tones, Jeff Mills, Digitalism and Second.

The event is being sponsored and supported by a number of organisations including SAAB and the University of Murcia, and is an initiative of Legal Music.

According to Thinkspain.com, tickets can be bought from Carrefour, Tick Tack outlets, Fnac, Tiendas Tipo, or as part of a package from the OcioTour travel agency.

The region of Murcia, with boasts lush green spaces, desolate deserts and more than 200 beaches, is home to around 300,000 people and lies about 75 km south of Alicante.