Ronda, Happiest Town in Spain
Thursday, March 21, 2024
 

By The Spanish Fly

Here’s an article from news outlet Diario Ronda telling us that the Ciudad del Tajo is the happiest town in Spain, heading a list that includes other favourites of mine, such as Nerja (2^nd), Chipiona (3rd), Tarifa (4^th), Santillana del Mar (6^th), San Vicente de la Barquera (7^th), Ribadesella (9th) and Zahara de los Atunes (10^th).

The other two on the list are Peñíscola and Sanxenxo, which I have not visited. They have been added to my bucket list for later this year.

There are other great places, such as Arcos de la Frontera, Frigiliana, Montejaque, Setenil de las Bodegas and Zahara de la Sierra, but maybe the inhabitants of these villages are not HAPPY!

Here is a translation of the main points of the Diario Ronda article:

International Day of Happiness

Diario Ronda

20 March, 2024

Today, March 20, is the International Day of Happiness, as proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013.

Every year the international ranking of the happiest countries in the world is presented, in which Spain traditionally does not fare well at all.

To help Spain improve its position in the World Happiness Index, the sugar producer Azucarera has carried out a study, together with the consultancy YouGov, in which it finds out which are the happiest villages in Spain and why. More than 1,000 inhabitants voted for the 35 happiest towns in Spain, and the result was, in this order: Ronda, Nerja, Chipiona, Tarifa, Peñíscola, Santillana del Mar, San Vicente de la Barquera, Sanxenxo, Ribadesella y Zahara de los Atunes, followed by a further 25 towns.

The study concluded that, despite their differences, in all of these localities there are specific conditions that favour the well-being of their inhabitants, including an affectionate and cordial atmosphere, a slow and calm pace, a stress-free environment, enjoyment of the outdoors, and local cuisine.

A Recipe Book

Once this study had been completed, ranking 35 towns in Spain for their happiness, Azucarera gave these places a voice through their cuisine and modus vivendi. The company has combined both their life advice and their pastry recipes, key factors in being happy, in a recipe book.

The Recetario de los Pueblos mas felices de España (Plataforma Editorial) was co-written by the expert in emotional well-being Francesc Miralles, together with the residents of the chosen towns.

The recipe book is available in all bookstores, at a price of €12 (available in e-book for €5.99). It can also be purchased by accessing the website www.recetariopueblosfelices.es.

The proceeds from sales of the book will go to the Fundacion Grandes Amigos (Great Friends Foundation), which fights against loneliness in older people.

Translation by Paul Whitelock

Note: The original Spanish version, as published by Diario Ronda, is available here: 

Ronda, Happiest Town in Spain (eyeonspain.com)

Tags:

20 March, Arcos de la Frontera, Chipiona, Diario Ronda, Don Pablo, Francesc Miralles, Frigiliana, Fundacion Grandes Amigos, índice Mundial de la Felicidad, Instagram, International Happiness Day, Montejaque, Nerja, Paul Whitelock, Peñíscola, Plataforma Editorial, Recetario de los Pueblos mas felices de España, Ribadesella, Ronda, Santillana del Mar, San Vicente de la Barquera, Sanxenxo, Setenil de las Bodegas, Spanish Matters, Tarifa, Zahara de la Sierra, Zahara de los Atunes

Five of the 10 "most beautiful" provincial capitals in Spain are located in Andalucía, including the city in first place, according to an opinion poll. 

ElectoPanel surveyed 4,000 Spaniards to find out which capital they find the most beautiful.

The crown jewel is Sevilla, which took first place with 14.4% of the votes. People were impressed by the mix of Moorish and Gothic architecture, as well as the cultural and gastronomic history of the city. 

Granada, with the emblematic Alhambra, the winding streets of the Albaicín and the breathtaking views of the Sierra Nevada, received 13.9% of the vote, securing second place.

With 4.5% of the vote, Cádiz came in sixth, closely followed by Córdoba in seventh place. 

And Málaga came in ninth place with 3.6% of the vote.                    Plaza de España, Sevilla

Translated from the original German by Paul Whitelock
 

Acknowledgements:

Isa Ibáñez

Paul Whitelock

The Olive Press (German version)

***

Here is the original German version:

WUNDERSCHÖN

By Elsa Ibáñez

elsaibanez.ferrer@bdp-team.de

den 31. Januar, 2024

Fünf der 10 “schönsten” Provinzhauptstädte Spaniens liegen in Andalusien, darunter der erste Platz. 

ElectoPanel hat 4.000 Spanier befragt, um herauszufinden, wo sie die schönsten Orte des Landes sehen.

Das Kronjuwel ist Sevilla, das mit 14,4 % der Stimmen von Menschen, die von der Mischung aus maurischer und gotischer Architektur sowie von der kulturellen und gastronomischen Geschichte beeindruckt sind, den ersten Platz belegte. 

Granada mit der symbolträchtigen Alhambra, den verwinkelten Gassen des Albaicin und der atemberaubenden Aussicht auf die Sierra Nevada erhielt 13,9 % der Stimmen und sicherte sich damit den zweiten Platz. Mit 4,5 % der Stimmen kam Cádiz auf den sechsten Platz, dicht gefolgt von Córdoba auf dem siebten Platz. 

                                                                                                         Cádiz

Und Málaga kam mit 3,6 % der Stimmen auf den neunten Platz.

Tags:

Albaicín, Alhambra, Andalucia, Andalusien, Cádiz, Córdoba, crown jewel, cultural history, ElectoPanel,  Elsa Ibañez, gastronomic history, gastronomische Geschichte, Gothic Architektur, gotische Architektur,  Granada, Kronjuwel, kulturelle Geschichte, Málaga, maurische Architektur, Moorish architecture, Paul Whitelock, provincial capitals, Provinzhauptstädte, Sevilla, Sierra Nevada