The Alhambra p1
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27 SOLTIMES APRIL 2013 www.soltimes.com In Arabic, ‘qa’lat al-Hamra’ means ‘red castle’, and so is where the name of Granada’s signatory palace and fortress complex originates its name ‘Alhambra’ from. You won’t go too long in Andalusia - or Spain for that matter - without hearing of or being recommended to the Alhambra. The Moors, nomadic people from North Africa who had converted Islam, ruled Spain throughout the eighth century. This exquisite palace built under their empire, stands as a statement of their last refuge and their crowning glory. I’d met a girl from Brisbane, Australia the previous evening at the guesthouse I was staying in, after arriving back from the almost ten hour hike of El Albaicín with my injured ankle. She’d just returned from visiting the Alhambra, which I’d booked tickets for a few weeks back to visit the following day. She recommended I get there by 10am at the latest, explaining how she’d done the same yet still hadn’t been able to cover all ground of the complex, and left early Candice Parsons is a writer and avid Spain and Spanish culture lover from Melbourne, Australia. ‘Like’ my Facebook page: www.facebook. com/pandemicrhapsody and follow me on Twitter @MiLlamoCandi after becoming frustrated from all the walking in the 40+ degrees heat. The whole purpose of my visit to Granada was to visit the Alhambra, and considering the current status of my ankle, I was slightly concerned I’d not be able to explore all I’d hoped to. Nonetheless, I ventured through the streets of Granada at around 8:30am the next day, and of course, typical of Spain, the atmosphere was mostly quiet with very few people around and no businesses open this early. I followed my city map that took me to the bottom of the steep, winding hill which led up to the Alhambra. There was a frequent bus transfer that took visitors to the front entrance, but despite my injured ankle, I decided the physical strain would be punishment for the amount of paella, croquetas and ice cream I’d consumed over the past week. I knew I’d see more by walking than THE SPAINIAC | THE ALHAMBRA (PART I | CANDICE PARSONS I would from a bus anyway. The lush, trees and greenery surrounding the pathway up this hill, lined by ancient aqua-ducts and large pebble stone walls, created a mysterious feel as I continued my way up. The trees were so high, full and leafy above the path, making it almost impossible to see where exactly the Alhambra was and how much longer I had till reaching the entrance. But my wandering mind was somewhat sedated by the silenced world below me. With each step, the sound of trickling water, soft breeze and singing birds separated me further and further away, drowning out any queries or thoughts attempting to surface my mind. Soon enough, this serenity was interrupted, and in the distance I could see more people, who were all heading towards the entrance marked ‘tickets’. Large crowds were everywhere and long queues filled the outdoor foyer area for either ticket purchase or collection, headset commentaries, tour bookings, and Alhambra souvenirs. It made sense as to why pre-booked tickets are encouraged on the website, and allocated time slots are held for viewing certain parts of the palace. Upon collecting my tickets and headset, I limped along with my now much more painful ankle towards the Palacio de Generalife; an extension to the Alhambra, which was the summer palace and country estate of the Nasrid Kings during the early 13th century... (To be continued in Part II) LEGAL CORNER WITH MICHAEL DAVIES, ABOGADO/SOLICITOR If you wish us to print an article about a particular topic, please e-mail [email protected] Michael Davies is a Spanish Abogado and has been practicing law in Almería since 1993. He is member of the Law societies of Almería and Madrid and has offices in Mojacar and Almeria High Street. IMPORTANT - A NEW OBLIGATION FOR RESIDENTS: IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED IF YOU ARE A TAX RESIDENT: YOU NEED TO FILE FORM 720 DECLARING YOUR ASSETS WORLDWIDE RISKING HEAVY PENALTIES IF YOU DO NOT DO SO Q. I have heard that I need to present a declaration to the tax office declaring my assets in other countries. Surely this cannot be true? A. It is correct. Orden HAP/72/2013 of 30th of January has brought to life form 720, which needs to be filled in by all residents of Spain who have assets abroad worth more than 50,000 euros. This form must be presented before the end of April with severe penalties for not doing so. All resident of Spain shall provide the Spanish tax administration with the following information: 1. Information of bank accounts you may have abroad, already in your name, or have authorization or rights to at any time of the year which corresponds to the declaration. The information shall include: • The full name and address of the bank. • Full identification of the accounts. • The opening or cancellation date, or if applicable, grant and revocation as authorized. • The average balances of the last trimester and the corresponding average balances for the last trimester of the year 2. Information on securities, assets, values or rights representing the equities of all types of entities, or transfer own equities to a third party, of which they own and are abroad, as well as life insurance and life annuity policy holders or beneficiaries of temporary policies. In this case, the information must include, in addition to the identification of the entity, the balance on December 31st, the number and class of such assets. 3. Information on real estate located abroad. This last section will contain the following statement: • Type of property. • Property location: country, city, street and number. • Date of purchase & Value of purchase. The presentation in subsequent years will only be required when the value of the assets and rights have experienced an increase of over 20,000 euro on the determined value of the last statement made. The information shall be declared in the new model 720 from February 1st to April 30th 2013 for the data of the fiscal year 2012. Starting from the next fiscal year the declaration should be presented between the dates January 1st & March 31st.
description
Candice Parsons is a writer and avid Spain and Spanish culture lover from Melbourne, Australia. ‘Like’ my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pandemicrhapsody and follow me on Twitter @MiLlamoCandi
Transcript of The Alhambra p1
27SOLTIMES APRIL 2013www.soltimes.com
In Arabic, ‘qa’lat al-Hamra’ means ‘red castle’, and so is where the name of Granada’s signatory palace and fortress complex originates its name ‘Alhambra’ from.
You won’t go too long in Andalusia - or Spain for that matter - without hearing of or being recommended to the Alhambra.
The Moors, nomadic people from North Africa
who had converted Islam, ruled Spain throughout the eighth century. This exquisite palace built under their empire, stands as a statement of their last refuge and their crowning glory.
I’d met a girl from Brisbane, Australia the previous evening at the guesthouse I was staying in, after arriving back from the almost ten
hour hike of El Albaicín with my injured ankle.
She’d just returned from visiting the Alhambra, which I’d booked tickets for a few weeks back to visit the following day.
She recommended I get there by 10am at the latest , explaining how she’d done the same yet still hadn’t been able to cover all ground of the complex, and left early
Candice Parsons is a writer and avid Spain and Spanish culture lover
from Melbourne, Australia. ‘Like’ my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pandemicrhapsody and follow
me on Twitter @MiLlamoCandi
after becoming frustrated from all the walking in the 40+ degrees heat.
The whole purpose of my visit to Granada was to visit the Alhambra, and considering the current status of my ankle, I was slightly concerned I’d not be able to explore all I ’d hoped to.
Nonetheless, I ventured through the streets of Granada at around 8:30am the next day, and of course, typical of Spain, the atmosphere was mostly quiet with very few people around and no businesses open this early.
I followed my city map that took me to the bottom of the steep, winding hill which led up to the Alhambra.
There was a frequent bus transfer that took visitors to the front entrance, but despite my injured ankle, I decided the physical strain would be punishment for the amount of paella, croquetas and ice cream I’d consumed over the past week. I knew I’d see more by walking than
THE SPAINIAC | THE AlHAmbrA (PArT I | CANdICE PArSoNS I would from a bus anyway.
The lush, trees and greenery surrounding the pathway up this hill, lined by ancient aqua-ducts and large pebble stone walls, created a mysterious feel as I continued my way up.
The trees were so high, full and leafy above the path, making it almost impossible to see where exactly the Alhambra was and how much longer I had till reaching the entrance.
But my wandering mind was somewhat sedated by the silenced world below me. With each step, the sound of trickling water, soft breeze and singing birds separated me further and further away, drowning out any queries or thoughts attempting to surface my mind.
Soon enough, this serenity was interrupted,
and in the distance I could see more people, who were all heading towards the entrance marked ‘tickets’. Large crowds were everywhere and long queues f illed the outdoor foyer area for either ticket purchase or collection, headset commentaries, tour bookings, and Alhambra souvenirs. It made sense as to why pre-booked tickets are encouraged on the website, and allocated time slots are held for viewing certain parts of the palace.
Upon collecting my tickets and headset , I limped along with my now much more painful ankle towards the Palacio de Generalife; an extension to the Alhambra, which was the summer palace and country estate of the Nasrid Kings during the early 13th century... (To be continued in Part II)
LEGAL CORNERWITH MICHAEL DAVIES, ABOGADO/SOLICITORIf you wish us to print an article about a particular topic, please e-mail
Michael Davies is a Spanish Abogado and has been practicing law in Almería since 1993. He is member of the Law societies of Almería and Madrid and has offices in Mojacar and Almeria High Street.
IMPORTANT - A NEW OBLIGATION FOR RESIDENTS: IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED IF YOU ARE A TAX RESIDENT: YOU NEED TO FILE
FORM 720 DECLARING YOUR ASSETS WORLDWIDE RISKING HEAVY PENALTIES IF YOU DO NOT DO SO
Q. I have heard that I need to present a declaration to the tax office declaring my assets in other countries. Surely this cannot be true?
A. It is correct. Orden HAP/72/2013 of 30th of January has brought to life form 720, which needs to be filled in by all residents of Spain who have assets abroad worth more than 50,000 euros. This form must be presented before the end of April with severe penalties for not doing so.
All resident of Spain shall provide the Spanish tax administration with the following information:1. Information of bank accounts you may have abroad, already in your name, or have authorization or rights to
at any time of the year which corresponds to the declaration. The information shall include: • The full name and address of the bank. • Full identification of the accounts. • The opening or cancellation date, or if applicable, grant and revocation as authorized. • The average balances of the last trimester and the corresponding average balances for the last
trimester of the year2. Information on securities, assets, values or rights representing the equities of all types of entities, or transfer
own equities to a third party, of which they own and are abroad, as well as life insurance and life annuity policy holders or beneficiaries of temporary policies. In this case, the information must include, in addition to the identification of the entity, the balance on December 31st, the number and class of such assets.
3. Information on real estate located abroad. This last section will contain the following statement: • Type of property. • Property location: country, city, street and number. • Date of purchase & Value of purchase.The presentation in subsequent years will only be required when the value of the assets and rights have
experienced an increase of over 20,000 euro on the determined value of the last statement made.The information shall be declared in the new model 720 from February 1st to April 30th 2013 for the data of the
fiscal year 2012. Starting from the next fiscal year the declaration should be presented between the dates January 1st & March 31st.
