Understanding Spain
Is smoking on terraces already banned in Spain?
Not yet: Spain's Council of Ministers approved a draft law on 21 July 2026 to ban smoking on all bar and restaurant terraces, but it must still pass Congress and the Senate before taking effect.
What is really changing in Spain's highway code in 2026?
The V16 beacon is mandatory since January 2026 and phone penalties since 2022, but the big reform for cyclists, e-scooters and motorcyclists (RD 518/2026) only takes effect on 1 October 2026.
Who is Eduardo Dolón, the mayor of Torrevieja?
Born in 1975, Eduardo Dolón (PP) has led Torrevieja since 2019 after a first term from 2011 to 2015. Re-elected in 2023, he is driving a record 2026 budget.
Why does the Vega Baja love the Segura so much, a river that has so often drowned it?
The Segura drowned the Vega Baja in 1879, 1987 and 2019, yet has fed its huerta for centuries. Here is why the Alicante province loves it.
Alicante's farmland: the Palmeral of Elche, Vega Baja and water
Valencia's huerta isn't Alicante: the Palmeral of Elche (UNESCO), the Vega Baja and the Huerta de Alicante tell a different farming story.
Violence against women and children: Spain's pioneering law and real resources
Specialised courts, the VioGen system, a 1.5-billion-euro State Pact and the LOPIVI child-protection law, plus the helplines that answer in English.
The Spanish healthcare system: how it really works
Free at the point of use, run by the region, no paying upfront: how Spain's public health system works on the Costa Blanca, and when expats add private cover.
The Spanish school system: levels, equivalences and choosing a school
Infantil, Primaria, ESO, Bachillerato: how Spanish school is organised, how the years line up with home, and publico vs concertado vs private on the Costa Blanca.
Valencian: should you learn it when you live on the Costa Blanca?
Castilian and Valencian are both official here. What that changes day to day on the Costa Blanca, where you actually hear Valencian, and whether to learn it.
9 October and the Mocadorà: the Costa Blanca's regional day, decoded
The Valencian Community's public holiday: King Jaume I, civic ceremonies, and the Mocadorà, the Valencian Valentine's of marzipan sweets in a silk handkerchief. What to know on the Costa Blanca.