Marbella

Marbella, a beautiful garden with a beach, is known as the “Jewel of the Costa del Sol” and of the whole Mediterranean. Marbella holds a special charm for the visitor contrasting the sea, the mountains, the village, a cosmopolitan town of fishermen, celebrities, visitors and golfers.

DETAILS

Throughout its long history, Marbella has offered its visitors a typical Andalusian flair with narrow streets, white washed houses, town squares decorated with flowers, the warm and blue Mediterranean sea lapping at the beach and the famous harbour of Puerto Banús.

Marbella is the place to be on the Costa del Sol. The pleasant climate has made it the meeting point and the permanent or sporadic residence of the popular “Jet Set”. The “beautiful people”, who every summer make this a focus for gossip, exotic parties and extravagant social occasions.

PURE OPULENCE
The designer boutiques, chic cafeterias, bars and restaurants appeal to a multitude of visitors and residents attracted by the prospect of glamour and a lavish lifestyle. On leaving Marbella town center, heading west along the coastal road of the N340, is the location of the famous Marbella Club Hotel and Puente Romano regarded as a firm favourite for celebrities and the wealthy.

TRADITION
In essence a traditional Andalucian town, Marbella is a wonderful combination of old and new, with fashionable modern structures along the seafront and a charming array of typical white washed houses found in tiny squares and along narrow, cobbled streets of Marbella Old Town.

ORANGE SQUARE
Orange Square:  A firm favourite with visitors is the area of “Plaza de los Naranjos”, aptly named as“Orange Square”, an attractive plaza lined with orange trees that are especially beautiful when the orange blossoms are in bloom.  Surrounded by delightful cafes and restaurants, this square is regarded as the heart of the Old Town.

PARKS & GARDENS
Parks and Gardens:  Local residents are particularly proud of the parks, gardens and walkways which are scattered throughout this area, providing visitors with an attractive distraction from the several elegant boutiques and shops.  The “Plaza de la Almenda”, dedicated to the famous artist Salvador Dali, where copies of his sculptures along it’s length and leading towards the newly landscaped promenade create a pleasant and serene quarter for visitors to take a seat and unwind.  The “Parque de la Constitucion”, once a garden of a private residence, has an ampitheatre used as a venue for outdoor concerts and plays during the summer months.

CULTURE
The local architecture illustrate the strong influences by the integrated settlement of the Moors and ancient Romans. The Rio Verde Roman Villa has well preserved mosaic floors depicting various scenes including Medusa’s Head. In another zone, there are remains of a typical Roman thermal bath, where several interconnecting rooms surround a central patio and small lake.

FAIRS & FESTIVITIES
Although new festivities have arisen as a result of tourism, the most traditional ones are still those which pay homage to the patron saint, San Benabe, in the month of June and at the end of October. June also sees a romeria (open-air party) in the Guadalpin pine groves, and in May there is another one at the Cross of Juanar.

CUISINE
Marbella has a large and varied repertoire of quality restaurants of all nationalities, not forgetting, of course our most typical dishes in the shape of small fish, skewered sardines, shellfish and fresh seafood from the bay of Málaga.