Tourists have been left baffled in Majorca’s resort town of Magaluf following its £5 million beach transformation project, which has reshaped its famous long beach and promenade. However, not all are pleased with the result. 

Magaluf’s beach has been transformed with sand dunes and palm trees, with some claiming it has turned the area into Morocco or Miami. Calvia Council has insisted that the oases are an integral part of the major scheme, the first part of which is due to be inaugurated on June 22 after a year of intensive work. However, locals and tourists have said they are not convinced about the inclusion of the dunes and the 48 palm trees right on the beachfront.

Locals and tourists have complained that the collection of oases will diminish the view from many restaurants overlooking the sea and lessen the space on the already saturated beach. What’s more, the oases will soon be washed away by the tides and storms.

“Palm tree oasis on the beach? That has never happened in Majorca,” one person said on social media.

“If before in season that beach was full and there was nowhere to put everyone, now they have taken away one more trace of the beach. Who comes up with this great idea? Who accepted this project? ” posted another.

Another under-impressed added: “I don’t know that this is better. Now those who want to do evil can hide it behind the dunes. Before, when everything was flat, I had a view from one side to the other.”

Others have likened it to Miami or Morocco, “with camels coming next”

However, the council, which looks after Magaluf, has defended the design, saying the sand dunes are very low and have been reduced from the original five dunes to just two.

The works received a €4 million subsidy from the Next Generation EU Funds of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Tourism and the Ministry of Tourism of the Government of the Balearic Islands through Sustainable Balearic Islands. An additional €1 million has been contributed from the ITS (Sustainable Tourism Tax) funds.

Locals have also reacted to the time it has taken to complete the project, which has caused considerable disruption to seafront bars and restaurants, with various closures and diversions. The transformation is also late, as the council had promised it would be ready for the start of the tourist season, not the end of June.

In a statement, the authority said: “The first phase of the remodelling of the Magaluf Promenade – Paseo Gabriel Escarrer Juliá – faces the final stretch of the works that will be formally inaugurated on June 22. The EU-funded project has been tailored to EU requirements by creating a natural environment with low-impact dunes, palm trees and drought-resistant flora, and a water collection and use system to reduce the use of drinking water.

“The dunes have been delimited with the planting of reeds and other species. The maximum height of the rooms does not exceed 80 cms, which avoids visual impact. Thus, from the promenade and the terraces of the first line establishments, the landscape and the view of the sea are not obstructed. 48 palm trees have been planted grouped in small oases.

“Along the promenade, a rainwater collection system has been installed that is processed in situ in small treatment plants. The water obtained is used to irrigate the dune vegetation.”

As crowds continue to descend on the likes of Pisa and Florence, few tourists realise that there are actually some equally stunning towns and villages dotted throughout the Italian countryside. In fact, one such village is just 61 miles southeast of Pisa.

Lari is a walled mountaintop “frazione”, or hamlet, in the municipality of Casciana Terme Lari. It sits at a high elevation for Tuscany and centres around a castle, boasting incredible panoramic views of the Italian countryside. Home to around 6,000 residents, visitors to Lari can expect to explore picturesque streets lined with historic, colourful buildings. 

Lari is best known for its impressive and well-preserved medieval fortress, the Castello dei Vicari, which sits at the top of the village and dominates the skyline. The 11th-century structure is home to fortified walls, towers, and an inner courtyard. Guided tours and exhibitions are on offer to learn all about the village’s history.

The municipal seat of its comune, Lari, dates from at least the ninth century BC, a fact established by its traces of Etruscan architecture. Other key landmarks to marvel at include the Church of San Leonardo, the Palazzo dei Vicari, and the ancient city walls, all while enjoying a backdrop of the authentic Tuscan countryside.

The medieval village centre is home to charming streets lined with artisan workshops, and, when you’re hungry, explore the village’s culinary traditions at local eateries, enjoy authentic Tuscan flavours.

Visitors can also attend olive oil tastings, sampling a variety of locally-produced extra virgin olive oils paired with traditional bread and other local specialties. You can also discovered the renowned wine region of Tusacny with wine tasting tours at local wineries near Lari, including glasses of Chianti, Sangiovese and Vernaccia.

If that’s not enough local cuisine, immerse yourself in a Tuscan cooking class and culinary workshops, learning how to prepare traditional dishes such as homemade pasta, bruschetta, and tiramisu under the guidance of local chefs, using fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from the region.

Once Lari has been sufficiently explored, nearby are vineyards, olive groves and even more hilltop villages waiting to be discovered.

Lari is a 30 to 40-minute drive from Pisa Airport. Having hired a car, follow the signs for Lari, which is located off the “Firenze-Pisa-Livorno Superstrada” near Pontedera-Ponsacco. For those relying on public transport, the CPT (Consorzio Autolinee) route 400 is one of the main bus routes for Lari. To extend your trip, you can stay at the incredible Il Castello di San Ruffino hotel just 1.1 miles from the centre of the village, a historic building complete with a swimming pool, sun terrace, bar and restaurant for just £127 a night for a double room in June.

One quaint coastal town in the province of Cadiz has been crowned Spain’s “happiest town” for 2025. Chipiona outshone dozens of other delightful towns across Spain to clinch the top spot, with the report highlighting its “people, climate, and philosophy of life.”

This achievement marks a significant rise from last year, when it was ranked third, putting this unassuming town, renowned for its expansive sandy beaches and Spain’s tallest traditional lighthouse, firmly on the national map.

The study, conducted by YouGov on behalf of sugar producer Azucarera, titled Los pueblos mas felices de España, surveyed over 2,000 Spanish adults in two stages to determine which towns were most associated with joy, quality of life, and a sense of wellbeing. The first stage asked participants to name towns they considered “happy,” while the second stage asked them to rate these towns.

Chipiona’s victory places it ahead of more well-known destinations such as Ronda and Nerja in Malaga, which secured second and third place, respectively.

Both were commended for their natural beauty and friendly locals. In fact, Andalucia dominated the top 10 with seven towns featured, reinforcing the region’s reputation for sunshine and sociability. Other high-ranking towns include Zahara de los Atunes and Tarifa, both also located in Cadiz, along with Benalmadena and Mojacar.

Peñiscola, a town in Valencia, was the only non-Andalucian destination to make it into the top five happiest places in Spain. The study revealed that across the country, natural surroundings, beauty, and climate were the factors most associated with happiness.

Interestingly, there was a clear geographical divide. Southern beach towns like Chipiona were lauded for their sunshine, while northern locations received high marks for nature and food.

Chipiona is situated near the mouth of the River Guadalquivir, surrounded by mud flats and dunes. As such, it boasts stunning beaches, with tourism and fishing being its primary economic activities.

The village’s history can be traced back to the construction of an old Roman tower, which, in 1867, became the famous lighthouse – the tallest in Spain, third in Europe and fifth in the world – that stands at the end of La Regla beach. Aside from its beaches, Chipiona also offers other attractions such as the Regla Monastery and Nuestra Señora de la O Church.

Among its natural tourist resources are Los Corrales: semicircular walls built with stones, clusters of oysters and shellfish, standing nearly one and a half meters tall and located just a few meters from the sea. This curious fishing technique is still used in Chipiona today.

El Camaleón, a native species now endangered, is unique to this town and its surrounding areas, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts. The town, referred to as Geron Fortress by Avieno in honour of Gerion, the victorious leader of the Turdulans, dates back to 140 B.C. It was during this time that the Romans constructed a lighthouse known as Coepionis Turris to prevent ships from running aground on their way to the River Guadalquivir.

This landmark became the foundation for the settlement that would later evolve into Chipiona.

Following a period of Muslim occupation, the town was reclaimed by Ferdinand III and eventually fell under the control of Alonso Perez de Guzman and the House of Arcos in the 14th century. The town suffered significant damage during the Lisbon earthquake of 1755.

In the 19th century, inspired by the Duke and Duchess of Montpensier, the Andalusian aristocracy began to frequent the town during the summer months. Today, it serves as a popular tourist resort boasting long stretches of fine sandy beaches.