MARBELLA, A PARADISE ON THE COSTA DEL SOL.

Its privileged location may have made Marbella a prime destination for world tourism, but it has not lost anything of its typically Andalusian flavour or historic essence. The mountains and the sea, tradition and modernity, all combine in this Mediterranean town to offer visitors a richly varied atmosphere that is multicultural, cosmopolitan, and open to progress and to a way of life based on harmony and the warm and open nature of its people.

The town of Marbella is one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world. Its geographical location offers visitors a special microclimate of gentle temperatures all year round, with an annual average of 18.7oC and generous sunshine throughout the 12 months of the year.  This is undoubtedly one of the charming features of a town that is always bathed in sunlight and whose wide variety of attractions acts as a magnet to tourists from around the world: 26 kilometres of beach, mountains, 16 golf courses, luxury hotels, a beautiful natural environment, 4 marinas, among which is the world-famous Puerto Banús marina, shopping centres and an exciting night life.

There is a reason for Marbella having become a magnet for high-class tourism. From the start of its development as a tourist enclave in the early 1960s, it has attracted actors, artists and personalities from all walks of life who have paid homage to its elegant and refined character in parties and social events.

Undoubtedly, one of the most attractive features of Marbella is that it has the greatest number of golf courses in Spain along its 26 kilometres of coast. Marbella has also become a paradigm within the hotel industry because of its large number of five-star hotels and nearly 800 restaurants representing each and every world cuisine.

The municipal area of Marbella, and particularly Puerto Banús, can boast the most significant range of shopping facilities available in Spain: a large number of international firms and brand boutiques, together with famous shopping centres, have made this town a paradise for those who want to shop with pleasure and distinction.

At the same time Marbella is a privileged location in terms of its culture and history. One of the main places of interest is the old town centre, a magnificently preserved area of narrow white streets and balconies with flower displays. Among the many different sites worth seeing are the Plaza de los Naranjos (Orange Trees Square), which includes the perfectly preserved 16th-century town hall building, the 15th-century Ermita de Santiago shrine, the first Christian church in the town, and the 16th-century Casa del Corregidor (the Magistrates House). Close by is the Iglesia de la Encarnación church, the construction of which was started in the 17th century, the 16th-century San Juan de Dios chapel, which once formed part of the town’s hospital, the 16th-century Ermita de Santo Cristo de la Vera Cruz church, and the Bazán Hospital, which since 1992 has housed the Spanish Contemporary Print Museum, the first of its kind with a rich collection of authors including Picasso, Miró, Tapies and Chillida among others. You can also visit the remains of the walls which protected the Muslim town and the walls of the Arab castle, where you can still see the Roman capitals extracted from other buildings and used in the construction of the walls. Also nearby is the Bonsai Museum, which has a magnificent collection of bonsais and is considered one of the best in Europe. The Cortijo Miraflores Museum, the Ralli Museum and the Municipal Archaeological Collection are also well worth a visit. Near San Pedro de Alcántara, another of the towns within the municipal boundary of Marbella, are the remains of a Hispano-Roman villa dating from the 1st-2nd century A.D. called Villa Romana de Rio Verde. It has a mosaic floor in a very good state of repair with the main subject in the design being the head of a jellyfish. San Pedro de Alcántara also houses the remains of the Paleochristian Basilica of Vega del Mar, one of the most important examples in Spain of the Paleochristian epoch (4th century). It was discovered in the early 20th century. Near Guadalmina you can visit the ruins of the Bóvedas (vaults), which are generally considered to be the only sections remaining of Roman baths dating back to the 3rd century. Their unusual construction is now the subject of study.

Finally, our tour ends in Puerto Banús, 6km from Marbella. Considered one of the most outstanding marinas on the Spanish coast, it owes its name to its developer, José Banús. It was inaugurated in 1968, and has 915 mooring berths which are used by some of the most luxurious vessels in the world. Its famous marina and magnificent range of bars, restaurants and internationally-famous shops have made it a place that attracts visitors with its glamour and charm.