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A campaign is going on to try to preserve one of the last pristine Mediterranean beaches in Spain.

The area of Cabo de Gata in the south-east of the country includes 40 miles of protected coastline and a dramatic volcanic landscape. But campaigners say the authorities are down-grading the degree of protection afforded the beach area and other parts of the natural park, and this could lead to large-scale hotel development.

A 20-storey hotel was built on supposedly protected parkland next to El Algarrobico beach, despite local orders for construction to stop. Politicians have long promised to bulldoze it, but the 411-room glass and concrete structure still towers over the beach.

The Guardian’s correspondent in the area, Giles Tremlett, says that with swathes of Spain’s Mediterranean shoreline buried under concrete, the fate of this beach and park is seen as a test of how much politicians care about the damage done to the coasts of one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations.

Pilar Marcos of Greenpeace said: “Saving these last virgin spaces has to be a top priority. If they fail here then there will be nothing left. We will be leaving a legacy of brick and cement.”

But municipal architect, Manuel Rodríguez, countered: “We have growing unemployment here. Just building the hotel provided 200 jobs. What we need now is tourism and everybody knows that tourism starts with one hotel. This was our flagship.”

by Andy Moreton

Luxique offers a selection of luxury hotels in Spain – beach and city.

Any tourist will know that the siesta is an essential part of Spanish life.

Shops used to close between 2 and 4pm and stay open late into the evening, although this arrangement has become less common because of commercial considerations and work/life balance.

The city of Granada, however, is determined to protect the afternoon nap and has introduced regulations to ensure its residents are undisturbed.

The London Daily Telegraph’s correspondent in Spain, Fiona Govan, reports that a new by-law, approved this week, means that anyone making what’s called ‘unnecessary noise’ in Granada between 3 and 5pm could be fined up to 3,000 euros (£2,640 / $4,100).

Noisy activity includes shouting, singing, dancing or slamming a door. Pets, vacuum cleaners and washing machines will have to be silenced.

Other people now facing fines include those spitting or urinating in the street, beggars, buskers, car windscreen cleaners and gypsies offering tourists sprigs of herbs or wild flowers.

The new regulations have been branded ‘restrictive’ and ‘impossible to enforce’ by some, but the authorities insist they will make it easier to deal with complaints between neighbours.

by Andy Moreton

The city of Granada in Andalucia is home to one of Spain’s most visited tourist attractions – the Moorish citadel and palace known as the Alhambra. For your stay in this historic city, Luxique has carefully selected six superb luxury hotels in Granada with a variety of styles.