High up on the hills in the lovely valley of the Almanzora River in the Almeria province of Andalucia, and backing onto the Sierra del Filabres mountains, lies the ancient settlement of Arboleas. Arboleas derived its name from an Arab food writer, Abu Ben Abdalacis Al Arboli, born here in the 14th century when the area was under Moorish rule.

With a population of around 1,500, the town is surrounded by fields and orchards of citrus, olive and almond trees and from it walks and drives into the surrounding beautiful areas are possible. Mountain breezes provide relief from the summer heat of the nearby coastal resorts. Close by lies the market town of Albox, where on Tuesdays, market day; most of the fresh produce of the valleys is sold. Further west, the pine-covered mountains become higher and are the scene of seasonal boar hunts.

Arboleas still manages to retain its original charm and character - the Old Town has cobbled streets and an ancient church built in 1492 by the Bishop of Toledo. In more recent times, the town has been favoured by British expatriates who have recognised it as a peaceful and scenic place to retire to and holiday in, so have been buying property, largely in Arroyo Aceituno, where detached villas on large plots of land, with manicured gardens and swimming pools have been built, helping their real estate investment to enjoy significant capital growth over the years.

The capital, Almeria, with its international airport is some 120 km away and the coastal resort of Mojacar, a scenic mountain pueblo plus coastal resort with great food and entertainment, is just 25 minutes away. It is recommended that you have a car, but buses operate between Arboleas and the nearby towns of Huercal Overa and Albox that have connections on to larger centres like Alicante and Murcia.

Although small, Arboleas has a number of hotels, shops, and pharmacy and healthcare services. Neighbouring Almanzora has a small medical centre and a junior school. For overseas investors considering buying property here, there is support in the form of a number of construction management and property maintenance services. Recently there has been an increase in the number of properties for sale in Spain, and the far-sighted investor will recognise that Arboleas offers the possibility of snapping up bargains with rental income potential far more easily than at the more expensive coastal resorts.

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