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| As winter looms, many families look overseas for some much-needed sunshine, seeking the mental and physical wellbeing boost that it can deliver. Spain is a reliable source of that sunshine, making areas such as Alicante a natural choice for those keen to escape the UK winter. Scientific evidence that daylight matters for mood is growing. A January 2024 study from Environment International found that spending at least one hour in daylight during winter was associated with a lower likelihood of depressive symptoms. In October 2024, JAMA Psychiatry’s systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 clinical trials involving 858 people with non-seasonal depression observed remission in 40.7% of those receiving bright light therapy alongside treatment (compared with 23.5% in comparison groups). Clinical trials aside, the restorative feeling of sunshine in the winter is something anyone who has stepped out of a plane into the warmth of Alicante will recognise. According to the weather station at Alicante-Elche Airport, the area is one of the sunniest spots in Spain during winter, averaging around 5.9 sunshine hours per day. That compares to an average of 1.8 hours of sunshine per day in the UK, according to Met Office figures. |
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| The pull of Alicante’s winter sun is often a major factor for Britons who buy second homes in the area, according to Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director at leading Spanish home builder Taylor Wimpey España. He explains: “Many of our British buyers in the Costa Blanca – as well as in the Costa del Sol, Costa Calida and Mallorca – are attracted to the area not just by the idea of summer holidays but of regular access to the sun during the winter months. A dose of Spanish sunshine can feel like much-needed relief in the depths of the British winter, boosting mental wellbeing and enabling families to enjoy previous time together outdoors.” |
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| At Eden Beach, a collection of apartments and penthouses just 700 metres from the beautiful La Mata beach in Torrevieja, Alicante, two key-ready penthouses are ready to welcome buyers this winter. Each penthouse features a lovely large terrace off its open plan living room, as well as a rooftop terrace that’s open to the sky for maximum sun exposure. Sea views and communal swimming pools and gardens add to the appeal, with penthouses currently priced from €540,000 plus VAT. For more information, please contact Taylor Wimpey España on 08000 121 020 or visit https://www.taylorwimpeyspain.com/. If you reside outside of the UK, you will need to call 00 34 971 706 972. |
