Marbella
Marbella is 55km (33 miles)
west of Málaga and 50km (30 miles) west of Málaga Airport
on Spain's Costa del Sol. Gibraltar lies 71km (44 miles)
south west.
The wealthy and famous have
holiday homes here and the beautiful people come here for
the summer. Tour operators have been bringing families here for
over three decades. However Marbella is not only a
holiday destination it is also home to many
expats.
Marbella is the jewel of the
Costa Del Sol. Well known for it’s beautiful beaches and
crystal clear seas, Marbella also hosts some of the most
panoramic views in Southern Spain. Mountains can be seen from
the coast, cosmopolitan city meets traditional Spanish village
and fishermen rub shoulders with wealthy yacht owners. Marbella
really does offer it all.
GOLDEN MILE
Probably the most famous area
of the resort is its seafront "Golden Mile" stretching from
Marbella to the luxury yacht spotters' paradise at Puerto
Banus. This stretch is where Marbella's wealth is most in
evidence - Ferraris cruise the quayside and the
seriously rich dine in fabulously expensive restaurants.
The port of Puerto Banus, to the west of the town, is home to a
collection of some of the most expensive yachts in
the world.
THE OLD QUARTER
The old quarter of Marbella still shows it’s
Arabic and Roman influences from previous settlers from times
gone by.The focal point of the Old Town, which is still
partially surrounded by the ruins of an old Arab wall, is the
lovely Orange Square with its ancient stately buildings, tall
trees and exotic tropical plants. Within the
charming, winding streets of the town you can visit monuments,
chapels, plaza’s, churches, a castle and a museum, more than
enough for any historical enthusiast. Below some places of
interest are listed in more detail
Incarnation Church
Built in the 18th Century, and
situated in church square, the main façade is built of red
brick in traditional Baroque style. The organ inside the church
is the most important one built within the last 100 years and
the square has a tower which was part of a wall that once upon
a time surrounded the Moorish town.
Saint John’s Chapel
The Chapel, a Gothic, Mudejar style
16th century building, boasts carvings of the towns
coat of arms and religious works of art. Inside the chapel are
paintings that were recently recovered during a recent
restoration.
Cortijo De Miraflores
This beautiful old olive and sugar mill has
recently been rebuilt after lying as a ruin for years. It is
soon to home a museum and exhibition hall.
Nightlife
The area known as the ‘golden mile’ is where Marbella’s
famous nightlife happens. Here you will find bars, restaurants,
clubs, casinos, shows, in fact, everything that you can think
of can be found along the ‘golden mile’! You can sample local
Spanish cuisine or eat exotic dishes from around the world. You
may chose to watch a flamenco dancer, or have a flutter on a
roulette wheel. Perhaps you want to dance until the early hours
of the morning, or for the less energetic, a simple stroll
along one of the marinas may suit you fine. Whatever you want
to do when the sun goes down you can do it in Marbella.
Retail therapy
You can buy just about anything in the way of fashion from
Marbella with all the big international and Spanish names
represented among the hundreds of designer boutiques. For
one-stop shopping there is a branch of El Corte Inglés at
Puerto Banús, and two major shopping centres: Málaga Plaza
(Armengual de la Mota, 12) and La Cañada (Parque Comercial
Autovía, Salida Ojén).
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