Is revolution dead, confined to the annals of history? Just when you thought that die-hard Communist states like Cuba and North Korea are isolated relics to a past which is already beginning to seem distant, and that the future holds no prospect for the kind of liberal humanitarian ideals that blossomed in the 1960’s and 1970’s, a place like Marinaleda pops up out of nowhere. Located among the gentle undulations of the endless olive groves of southern Spain, this little village is a unique example of a Maoist commune that has not only survived, but continues to flourish.

Up until twenty years ago, Marinaleda was a typical sleepy Andalusian village, where nothing much happened and the poverty-stricken population carved a meagre existence out of seasonal work, picking olives on the vast estates of the landed gentry much as their folk had done for generation upon generation. It all changed when Sánchez Gordillo, a former schoolteacher, was elected mayor in 1980. As founder of the SOC (Sindicato de Obreros del Campo) this young radical intellectual had gained a reputation as a champion for the rights of the jornaleros, the land labourers who had neither land nor fixed employment, and when he succeeded in mobilising the support of the local socialists, Maoists and anarchists, Sánchez became a powerful voice for reform in this forgotten corner of Andalucía. Read the rest of this entry »

How would a hotel look if a jeweller designed it? To find the answer, look no further than Milan, where the Bulgari Hotel offers a new interpretation of designer chic.

We are familiar by now with boutique hotels, even design hotels, but among the very pinnacle of these are the hotels that are the creations of the finest designers in the world. In an exercise of opulence and a representation of its particular interpretation of hotel chic, Bulgari has created a singular Milan destination that bears the famous brand’s unmistakable look. Read the rest of this entry »

We know Bentley make super-luxurious cars – now they also make Supersports cars!

The combination of the names Bentley and sport may not have been heard much in the past few decades, but with the arrival of the superhot new Supersports that is set to change for good.

True, think of Bentley and sumptuously crafted luxurious cars with a rather regal bearing come to mind, yet there was a time when the name was synonymous with both quality and speed. In fact, much of the enduring fame and pedigree of Bentley is built on its legendary racing successes of the 1920s and 30s, when the solid ‘Blower Bentleys’ swept all before them and beat even the Bugattis to win the 24 hours of Le Mans in four straight years from 1927 to 1930. Read the rest of this entry »

Tucked up against a slope just a few hundred metres from Marbella’s Golden Mile and Mediterranean beaches lies La Virginia, an idyllically charming representation of a Spanish village – and one of the prettiest places you will ever see.

Photo by David Toms

Enveloped in greenery, this established residential urbanisation appears as though created on the canvas of a great master. Here, private little cobblestone pathways and squares are lined with beautifully styled Andalusian ‘village houses’ tastefully daubed in tones of white, blue, cream, ochre and peach. Adding to this palette of colours are vines, creepers, flowers and the rich hue of bougainvillaea. Read the rest of this entry »

Draped along the undulating folds of the foothills a mountain range, the luxurious private estate of La Zagaleta looks down across sloping valleys to Marbella, the Mediterranean and the rocky outlines of Gibraltar and Morocco.

Situated just ten kilometres from Marbella’s centre, La Zagaleta’s elevation endows it with spectacular views over golf courses, pine-clad slopes and the entire sweep of coastline between Marbella and Gibraltar. The urbanisation lies on a gently winding road that works its way up from the coast and past a series of luxurious residential areas before reaching the gated entrance to this most private of estates. Read the rest of this entry »