Moving to the Costa Verde
Matthew’s article this week concentrates on moving to the Costa Verde, in Asturias.
Moving to Costa Verde: Spain’s greenest coast
Ups
Looking for a very different costa? Where Spanish speakers outnumber English ones? Where blanket development hasn’t happened, allowing the area to retain its natural charms. Welcome to Asturias’ Costa Verde.
Downs
If you thought you were automatically joining Club Med by relocating to Spain, Asturias could represent a cold shock to the system. It’s on the Atlantic for a start. And its people are more Celtic than Latin.
Ins and outs
It’s around an half-hour drive from Asturias to the Costa Verde. Take the A-8, for example, to Luanco. This is one of the Green Coast’s major towns.
Education
The area’s only international school is Pruvia de Abajo’s Colegio Inglés de Asturias. The English School of Asturias educates over 600 children from nursery up to sixth form. There’s a maximum of 24 students in each class.
Shop until you drop…
Visit Gíjon’s Plaza Mayor on each second weekend of every month for the Mercado Ecológico Artesano Gijón. Meanwhile, Baluarte is the place to splurge on stylish jewellery in Luarca. Elsewhere, Ribadesella’s Confitería La Veguina, centrally located next to the church, has been feeding the addictions of chocoholics since 1937.
Property in Costa Verde
In the wide, open spaces of Asturias, apartments are the exception which proves the rule of Asturian properties coming with land.
Market watch
Properties are on the pricier side than in more overdeveloped parts of spain with apartments starting north rather than south of €100,000. However, you can pick up an older rural house for as little as €20,000. Yet expect to spend a lot of money to transport it to the 21st century.
In Praise Of
“Costa Verde is a region of spectacular beauty, with dramatic mountains sweeping down to an unspoilt coastline. It is an ideal location for lovers of the great outdoors. The mild oceanic climate softens the landscape with several shades of green and makes for comfortable living all year round.” – Mary Ryan (Spanish Property North)
- Are you an expat living on the Costa Verde? What do you like/dislike about it? Let us know below.
Matthew Hirtes, our resident broadsheet journalist, moved to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria back in 2004. He’s travelled extensively through Spain, covering it for such publications as Telegraph Travel, Metro, and The Independent. The author of Going Local in Gran Canaria: How To Turn a Holiday Destination into a Home, Matthew truly is a resident expert.
Matthew writes for two sections of Spain Buddy: Moving to Spain and Spanish Football as well as providing Reviews
August 16, 2016 @ 5:14 pm
Matthew, we are relocating to Spain with our four young children. I am Canadian and my husband is American. We were planning on Galicia in the area around Lugo, and did not see it mentioned. Our intention is for the kids to attend schools in Spain and to become completely bilingual in doing so. We hope to be in a rural environment with a large garden and some degree of self sufficiency since we think it is important for our children to have that experience. My husband is an IT guy, but comes from generations of farmers going back to 1752 in the areas around DC in the States. Wondering what your thoughts were on the quality of education in public schools near Lugo or La Coruna or near Vigo…do you have an opinion on these areas of Spain? Thanks. Diane Any first hand feedback on those regions as they compare to others in Spain would be greatly appreciated. One last question – better to ship a vehicle or drive one in from Germany – we plan to buy a used vehicle that works for a large family such as ours…and shipping from the US was quite reasonable. Driving one from Germany might be as well – and the prices might be better – not sure. Any thoughts? We would be very open to renting a house in that area, but have noticed only ones for sale so far. We are hoping that there are rental options once actually in the country…
Diane