| | Located in the region of Andalucia on the Costa del Sol, Marbella is Spain’s answer to St Tropez and here, as in its French counterpart, you will find the rich and famous.
Neolithic and Palaeolithic remains have been found in Marbella which was later a Romans settlement known as Salduba – city of salt. The Moors arrived in this part of Southern Spain in the first decade of the 6th century and named the town Marbil-la, the castle walls found in parts of the town date from this era.
When Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe’s car broke down near the town in the 1940’s he realised what a gem the place was and decided to exploit its special qualities. In 1954 he opened the Marbella Club Hotel, giving birth to the town’s tourism industry and marking its place on the map, the rich and famous flocked to the resort and Marbella’s name became synonymous with luxury and pleasure.
Thanks to its climate and golf courses, in less than 50 years, this sleepy fishing village has become and international hotspot. The focal point is the Old Town which is still partially surrounded by the ruins of the old Arab walls. Orange Square with its ancient stately buildings, tall trees and exotic tropical plants is the focal heart of the town and here you will find shops and restaurants to suit all tastes. The cobblestone streets wind through alleys past immaculate facades and balconies decorated with flowerboxes bursting with geraniums and carnations.
There are tiny, typically Andalucian squares and interesting nooks and crannies, such as the Balcón de la Virgen set in the window of an old whitewashed house that houses a restaurant.
Marbella is also famous for its wonderful beaches and its marina, where luxurious yachts arrive from all over the world. It has beautiful boutiques, luxurious hotels, shopping centres and a varied and vibrant nightlife.
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