, Author at Olive Press News Spain

Daring swashbuckle and the restoration of honour: MICHAEL COY on a Spanish theatrical classic -the Mayor of Zalamea

MICHAEL COY has a story for us – a stirring tale of honour, abuse and true nobility. It’s unlikely that you’ve ever visited Zalamea. The

20 Dec, 2025 @ 08:19

La Cultura·Lead·National News

Shock as bird flu rips through Spain’s beloved stork population

POPULATIONS of the the iconic stork – the much-loved wild bird native to north and central Spain – are being devastated by a rapidly-mutating bird

15 Dec, 2025 @ 11:30

Green·Health·Other News

Grim end of year for violence against women in Spain: Six deaths in 15 days – will 2026 be the worst on record, asks MICHAEL COY

SPANISH people call it violencia de género. This year in Spain, 44 women have lost their lives. Six have died in a grimly rising tide

13 Dec, 2025 @ 09:00

Crime & Law·Lead·Other News

Spain turns to ‘IKEA-style’ flat-pack homes to solve massive housing shortage

SPAIN is betting on ‘IKEA-style’ kit homes to solve a massive housing deficit that has left the country short of 600,000 properties. A quiet revolution

10 Dec, 2025 @ 14:00

Lead·Property

Why is December 6 known as Constitution Day in Spain?

Today, December 6, is Constitution Day in Spain — a national holiday. Because of this, many shops are closed. Despite its proximity to Christmas, it

6 Dec, 2025 @ 09:30

Lead

THIS WEEK IN SPAIN: Michael Coy has been diving into the Spanish archives again…

Here are FOUR historical byways which make the first week of December significant Hernán Cortés Though his achievements changed the course of world history, it’s

6 Dec, 2025 @ 09:00

La Cultura·Lead·Other News

ON THIS DAY: Spain permitted female nouns, two legendary singers were born – and a Spanish cinematic classic was released, writes MICHAEL COY

THE English language is wholly and entirely democratic. No-one tells English speakers how to use certain words or what we can and can’t ‘officially’ say.

5 Dec, 2025 @ 10:30

La Cultura·Lead

In Spain it’s known as violencia de genero. Tuesday, November 25, marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

WE all have a mental image of domestic violence, but the Spanish government urges us to broaden our understanding. Physical abuse is, sadly, familiar to

23 Nov, 2025 @ 11:57

Andalucia·Lead

Linking the opera Carmen to the Sevilla tobacco factory and a French author

We all have heard of Carmen, the sexy heroine of the opera set in Sevilla. But what’s her connection with nicotine? Michael Coy informs us.

23 Nov, 2025 @ 10:27

La Cultura·Lead

LIFE IN SPAIN: The Deceiver of Seville, Mozart and the modern bullring

WHAT thread connects the Spanish theatre of the 17th century, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and the modern bullring? Let’s start with the bullring. If you ever

22 Nov, 2025 @ 10:07

La Cultura·Lead

THIS WEEK IN SPAIN: The Prestige oil tanker disaster

On November 19, 2002, a ship went down off the Spanish coast, causing an ecological catastrophe. MICHAEL COY reminds us what happened. SPAIN is especially

22 Nov, 2025 @ 09:00

Environment·Green·Lead

‘¡Franco ha Muerto!’ Today marks the 50th anniversary of Franco’s death. Spain’s dictator is remembered by MICHAEL COY

HE had no charm and no charisma. In his 83 years on earth, no one ever quoted him cracking a joke or saying anything remotely

20 Nov, 2025 @ 10:00

Lead

MOMENTS IN SPANISH HISTORY: The Siege of Toledo

FOR 68 desperate days in the summer of 1936, around 1,500 people found themselves trapped inside Toledo’s ancient fortress, the Alcazar. How they held out

9 Nov, 2025 @ 10:36

La Cultura·Lead

MOMENTS IN SPANISH HISTORY: The Battle of Trafalgar

IT was one of the most pivotal events in world history unfolded—a moment whose 220th anniversary has just passed. The Battle of Trafalgar, fought between

8 Nov, 2025 @ 16:39

La Cultura·Lead

LIFE IN SPAIN: The Frank Sinatra incident in Malaga

ON September 19, 1964, Malaga police slapped Frank Sinatra with a 25,000 peseta fine – around $175 – after the singer sparked a barroom brawl.

1 Nov, 2025 @ 10:01

Andalucia·La Cultura·Lead·Malaga·Other News

LIFE IN SPAIN: A work of art that offers a glimpse into some ancient Spanish traditions.

THE canvas was painted by Bartolome Esteban Murillo in 1675, in Sevilla. Today it hangs in the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. Its

26 Oct, 2025 @ 09:00

Andalucia·La Cultura·Lead·Other News

SPOTLIGHT ON: Pedro Almodóvar Spain’s greatest-ever film director?

PEDRO Almodóvar Caballero has made a career out of being an outsider. He is obviously – even flamboyantly – gay, and his films go out

25 Oct, 2025 @ 13:47

National News

A National Hero: This week in 2006, Fernando Alonso won his second consecutive Formula One World Championship. MICHAEL COY ponders the importance of professional sport in our lives.

AN era is coming to a close in Spain. We’ve lived through a generation of world-beaters – but sport being sport, these heroes must eventually

25 Oct, 2025 @ 13:00

Lead·Sport

LIFE IN SPAIN: A tale of three Spanish exiles

THE date November 6 may seem to be just another day, but in Spanish minds it is associate with tales of exile. Of the three

25 Oct, 2025 @ 12:18

La Cultura·Lead·Other News

ON THIS DAY: When Spain’s dictator Franco met Adolph Hitler

THE little town of Hendaye lies literally on the border. The Basques – known in Spain as vascos – occupy a region that long predates

23 Oct, 2025 @ 14:00

La Cultura·Lead

Military Parade For Hispanic Holiday In Madrid, Spain 12 Oct 2020

LIFE IN SPAIN: If you see parades and military displays today, and if on Monday you find shops and offices closed, it’s because the people of Spain are celebrating their ethnicity. MICHAEL COY explains.

TO non-Spaniards, it sounds slightly odd – “El Día de la Hispanidad” (‘The Day of Spanishness’), but October 12 is an important landmark on the

12 Oct, 2025 @ 10:00

La Cultura·Lead

LIFE IN SPAIN: How Spain’s Christopher Columbus, the world’s greatest explorer, was clapped in chains 525 years ago this week

EVERYONE knows the story of Christopher Columbus – the man who sailed west and opened the door to the New World. But fewer know the

4 Oct, 2025 @ 17:00

La Cultura·Lead·Other News

AN EXPAT IN SPAIN: Jackie Trent, the British singing star who made Menorca her home

WHAT connects Menorca, Stoke City Football Club, Swinging London, and the theme song from the soap opera Neighbours? The two-word answer is Jackie Trent, the

4 Oct, 2025 @ 12:15

La Cultura·Lead·Other News

LOOK BACK IN TIME: Handsome Spanish matador Paquirri torn down by bull Avispero in 1984

MAYBE you find bullfighting offensive. Perhaps you’re intrigued by its pomp and colour. Most likely of all, you’re utterly indifferent to it. If so, you’re

3 Oct, 2025 @ 09:26

La Cultura·Lead·Other News

Last of a dying breed – Spanish youngsters hate bullfighting but Morante de la Puebla is a great matador

IN some ways, he’s ridiculous. He’s short, overweight and far too old to be practising such an athletic profession. He has odd traits that belong

2 Oct, 2025 @ 08:30

Andalucia·La Cultura·Lead·Other News·Sevilla

LIFE IN SPAIN: The story of Ferdinand Magellan, the true hero of the Spanish age of exploration

WHEN we think of sixteenth-century explorers, Christopher Columbus typically comes to mind. The media love to celebrate the businessman from Genoa, who, in his day,

21 Sep, 2025 @ 13:04

La Cultura·Lead·Other News

Daring swashbuckle and the restoration of honour: MICHAEL COY on a Spanish theatrical classic -the Mayor of Zalamea

Shock as bird flu rips through Spain’s beloved stork population

Grim end of year for violence against women in Spain: Six deaths in 15 days – will 2026 be the worst on record, asks MICHAEL COY

Spain turns to ‘IKEA-style’ flat-pack homes to solve massive housing shortage

Why is December 6 known as Constitution Day in Spain?

THIS WEEK IN SPAIN: Michael Coy has been diving into the Spanish archives again…

ON THIS DAY: Spain permitted female nouns, two legendary singers were born – and a Spanish cinematic classic was released, writes MICHAEL COY

In Spain it’s known as violencia de genero. Tuesday, November 25, marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

Linking the opera Carmen to the Sevilla tobacco factory and a French author

LIFE IN SPAIN: The Deceiver of Seville, Mozart and the modern bullring

THIS WEEK IN SPAIN: The Prestige oil tanker disaster

‘¡Franco ha Muerto!’ Today marks the 50th anniversary of Franco’s death. Spain’s dictator is remembered by MICHAEL COY

MOMENTS IN SPANISH HISTORY: The Siege of Toledo

MOMENTS IN SPANISH HISTORY: The Battle of Trafalgar

LIFE IN SPAIN: The Frank Sinatra incident in Malaga

LIFE IN SPAIN: A work of art that offers a glimpse into some ancient Spanish traditions.

SPOTLIGHT ON: Pedro Almodóvar Spain’s greatest-ever film director?

A National Hero: This week in 2006, Fernando Alonso won his second consecutive Formula One World Championship. MICHAEL COY ponders the importance of professional sport in our lives.

LIFE IN SPAIN: A tale of three Spanish exiles

ON THIS DAY: When Spain’s dictator Franco met Adolph Hitler

LIFE IN SPAIN: If you see parades and military displays today, and if on Monday you find shops and offices closed, it’s because the people of Spain are celebrating their ethnicity. MICHAEL COY explains.

LIFE IN SPAIN: How Spain’s Christopher Columbus, the world’s greatest explorer, was clapped in chains 525 years ago this week

AN EXPAT IN SPAIN: Jackie Trent, the British singing star who made Menorca her home

LOOK BACK IN TIME: Handsome Spanish matador Paquirri torn down by bull Avispero in 1984

Last of a dying breed – Spanish youngsters hate bullfighting but Morante de la Puebla is a great matador

LIFE IN SPAIN: The story of Ferdinand Magellan, the true hero of the Spanish age of exploration

ON THIS DAY: Spain’s great ‘master of light’ was born – famed for obsessively painting the Alhambra and documenting children with polio

Buses from Estepona to Malaga airport via Marbella get boost with new service for early flights

WATCH: Inside the takedown of a brutal Albanian gang who tortured Marbella expats in their luxury villas

Hard border axed but Spain can block Brits from entering Gibraltar – all you need to know about long-awaited post-Brexit treaty

Mallorca’s Palma becomes the latest area in Spain to ban the burqa in public buildings and spaces