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Marbella first began establishing its reputation as glitteratti jet set Costa resort in the 1950s when the Austrian/Spanish Alfonso von Hohenlohe, a prince no less, converted his private residence into the exclusive Marbella Club Hotel to the west of Marbella on the Golden Mile towards Puerto Banus. The Marbella Club and other luxury centres still serve the rich. Money talks round these parts.
The Golden Mile aside, and luxury pockets around Puerto Banus, Marbella town and beachfront is more open to all budgets, and is for the holiday visitor now one of the highlight resorts on the Costa Del Sol, especially after recent spruce ups, albeit alongside controversy under the now deceased right wing mayor Jesus Gil y Gil in 1990s, and more recently in 2006 when the mayor, deputy mayor and others in Marbella's town hall were arrested in connection with granting illegal property building permits - the source of most of the town hall's finance. If you're visiting Marbella on holiday, property scams and money laundering shenanigans, although they might spark interest, won't affect your enjoyment of what is now one of the cleanest and pleasant resorts on the Costa Del Sol.
With a choice of pleasant beaches along the so called Golden Mile of Marbella's 5km stretch of beaches pushing towards Puerto Banus, a beautiful old town crammed with a choice of craft and clothes shops and choice restaurants and bars particularly around Plaza de los Naranjos, a pretty beach promenade, a host of historic attractions including the Roman Villa of Rio Verde, the Roman hot springs and bathhouses at Guadalmina and ancient church of Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Encarnacion. Add to this a choice of increasingly contemporary art highlights, Dali's sculptures are not to be missed, plus a sprinkling of museums including Museo del Bonsai and Museo del Grabado Contemporaneo (Contemporary Engraving museum - work by both Picasso and Miro is in here!), and Marbella makes a pretty beach resort base with a cultural edge, not to mention good shopping and the nearby pleasant Puerto Banus marina and more beaches. Marbella has an excellent tourist information centre on the beach front adjacent to Parque De La Constitucion at Glorieta de la Fontanilla, s/n 29600 Marbella. Tel. 952 774 693.
It's well worth calling in here for one of their comprehensive Marbella map guides to help you navigate the narrow streets of the old town particularly. Marbella's famous central old town square - Plaza de los Naranjos is a highlight - the square's layout dates from the 16th century. Despite its pretensions to grandeur, Marbella is actually quite an accessible resort with a beachfront promenade as friendly and welcoming as that of Torremolinos and Benalmadena, albeit a little lower key.
Things get a little more aloof around the old town and Puerto Banus to the west, and 'one' might wonder why as Benalmadena's marina is a good as if not better than Puerto Banus, but you be the judge. Marbella, particularly at nearby luxury Nuevo, contains some of the best of Costa Del Sol's golf courses. Horse Racing is easily accessed at the Hypodromo just 2km inland from Fuengirola (weblink right).
Walking around Marbella is great fun, with lots of bustle, bars and restaurants down on the Paseo Maritimo, and inland slightly around the narrow streets of the old town which meander out from Plaza de los Naranjos (the centre of Marbella's old town).
The most interesting way to push up from Marbella's Paseo Maritimo towards the Old Town is via Avenida del Mar which pushes up towards Avenida Ramon y Cajal, and is lined with Dali statues actually cast from moulds made by Salvador Dali. Dali always commands a gaze, and his statues here in Marbella are no exception and enjoy plenty of interest, and a fair few quizzical looks. The setting serves the surrealist edge well. Crossing over Ramon y Cajal, you can push up into Marbella old town and Plaza de Naranjos via various narrow streets, taking in Plaza de la Iglesia along the way and the Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Encarnacion dating from the 17th century. Marbella's Ayuntamiento/town hall overlooks Plaza de Naranjos and contains a further tourist information centre. The square itself is a pleasant site indeed, lined with alfresco restaurants and the distinctive orange trees after which the square is named. Other buildings of note within the square include Casa del Corregidor, the Chief Magistrate's house dating from 1552. Note the Gothic mudejar styled stone portico. The 15th century Ermita de Santiago is also towards the south west of the square.
Branching out from Plaza de Naranjos via Casa del Corregidor and Calle General Chincilla you'll arrive at the old Marbella Arabic wall dating in parts from the 9th century. If the Dali sculptures weren't enough, for more art gems in Marbella call into the Museo del Grabado Espanol Contemporaneo to see work by Picasso and Miro amongst others. Beautifully presented, this modern engravings art gallery compliments the Picasso Museum in Malaga. It really is amazing just how much great art is now on show and easily accessible on the Costa Del Sol. Tel. 952 76 57 41, or look to the Museum's website right for details.
Take your pick of chic boutiques, arts and crafts shopping, collectors items and more in the shops around Marbella's old town narrow streets. Some of the best shopping opportunities on the Costa Del Sol are here in Marbella Old Town. Expect to pay a little more for everything in Marbella as opposed to more budget resorts Fuengirola, Benalmadena and Torremolinos.
Complemented by the superb choice of Costa Del Sol golf at nearby Mijas, Marbella has more golf treats in store. Luxury resort land Nueva is home to many. Starting with one of the best known in the Marbella area, the Aloha Golf Course was designed by one of Spain's best known golf course designers Javier Arana. Aloha golf course actually sits slightly inland from Marbella and Puerto Banus at Nueva, also the location for Las Brisas Golf. (see the Aloha golf weblink right for details directions). A proshop and restaurant are on-site. Aloha Golf Club Marbella, Urb. Aloha, Nueva Andalucia 29660, Marbella, Malaga. Tel. 0 34 952 90 70 85.
Las Brisas golf club, also inland at Nueva (the Nueva area north of Marbella and Puerto Banus is fondly known as 'Golf Valley' to golf fans) contains numerous water obstacles and 10 no less artificial lakes which step up the challenge to this 18 hole Marbella golf course. See the Las Brisas website right for a comprehensive map detailing each hole on the course. Las Brisas Golf Marbella, Apdo de Correos 147, 29660 Marbella, Malaga. Tel. 00 34 952 81 30 21. Also in the Nueva area see Los Naranjos Golf, Nueva Analucia 2966j0 Marbella, Malaga. Tel. 00 34 952 81 24 28. La Quinta Golf Club, Urb. La Quinta Golf, 29660 Nueva Andalucia, Marbella, Malaga. Tel. 00 34 952 76 23 90. (weblink right, includes luxury spa resort and more).
Back between Marbella and Fuengirola sits Cabopino golf course, an 18 hole/par 71 course with stunning sea views from its more coastal location (see Cabopino golf course weblink right for details). Cabopino Golf Marbella, Artola Alta s/n, Apdo de Correos 2119, 29600 Marbella, Malaga. Tel. 00 34 952 85 02 82.
More Costa del Sol Marbella golf is to be found at Santa Maria Golf Club, N-340km, Urb Elviria, 192, 29600 Marbella, Malaga. Tel. 00 34 952 83 10 36 (weblink right for details). See also Guadalmina Norte Y Sur Golf, Urb Guadalmina Alta, 29678 San Pedro de Alcantara, Malaga. Tel. 00 34 952 88 65 22. Marbella Golf & Country Club, N340 km 188, 29600 Marbella Malaga. Tel. 00 34 952 83 05 00. Rio Real Golf, N340 km 185, Urb Rio Real, 29600 Marbella, Mallega. Tel. 00 34 952 76 57 33. (weblink right for details). There's even more Marbella golf courses, including La Dama de Noche and Monte Paraiso. For the full golf lowdown, see the Visit Costa Del Sol sites excellent two part Costa Del Sol golf tourist guide (weblink right).
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