As one of Europe’s sunniest regions, Andalusia has dry, hot summers and mild winters with infrequent precipitation and many hours of sunshine. There are over 900 km of coastlines, the highest snow peaks of the Iberian Peninsula, wetlands in the West and leafy mountain ranges with volcanic landscapes and deserts in the East.
This attractive environment and the rich historical and artistic heritage from numerous cultures attract more than 25 million visitors each year. Next to a diverse range of cultural institutions, Andalusia hosts five UNESCO world heritage sites including Seville, Granada and Cordoba, as well as over 100 Andalusian municipalities that have been declared historic areas hosting thousands of protected monuments, archaeological sites and art works. Andalusia is also an ideal place for practising all kinds of sports, whether in the mountains, the sea, in urban areas or at one of the many excellent golf courses in the region.
In the 2011 business climate barometer by Invest in Spain, foreign companies based in Andalusia assigned a very high score to the Andalusian quality of life, highlighting the good healthcare system, the integration of expatriates and the availability of international schools. There are many excellent and well-equipped public and private hospitals in each of Andalusia’s provinces, employing healthcare professionals that are efficient, well-trained and usually English-speaking. Liberal legislation regarding residency and work permits help foreigners to quickly gain a foothold in Spain. There are over 650,000 foreign residents in Andalusia, almost half of which are from non-European countries.