Marbella old town!
Old town Marbella is partially surrounded by the ruins of an old Arab wall with narrow white washed streets, old churches and squares, as well as lots of fascinating shops and boutiques.
At the heart of the old town is Orange Square which dates back to 1485 and, according to Christian urban design, is surrounded by whitewashed houses and three historical buildings – the town hall, the old governor’s house and the Chapel of Santiago.
Don’t you just love this dinner spot at the Orange Square? The gardens are full of brightly coloured flowers and orange trees and in the centre stands a bust of King Juan Carlos 1.
The vocal point of the old town of Marbella is the Plaza de los Naranjos (Orange Square). The gardens are almost always in bloom, but spring is the best time to enjoy the blossom on the trees.
Famous buildings!
There are three very important buildings in the square – the Town Hall, the Magistrate´s House and the Santiago Chapel.
When facing the Town Hall, you will see to the right the new Foreigners Assistance office. You will find someone here happy to help with further information if you need it. On the corner of Calle Nueva and the Plaza de los Naranjos, there is a fountain which was built in 1504 by Marbella’s first Christian mayor. To the right of this fountain, you will find the Casa del Corregidor, built in 1552 which combines both Gothic and Renaissance elements. The Moorish-style ceiling contains fresco murals. Beneath this, there is now a very nice restaurant, which has tables in the main square. It is a wonderful experience to eat in the square surrounded by the trees and flowers on a sultry summer night.
The old town vibe!
After a facelift, Marbella is more beautiful than ever, and in contrast to the other beach resorts along the sun shore, Marbella offers a more luxurious feel. You will find charm on the cozy little streets with whitewashed houses and colorful flowers in the old town. Enjoy good coffee, wine and tapas in the sun at restaurants, bars and cafes.
Santiago Chapel!
On the south-west corner of the Plaza de los Naranjos, you will find the Santiago Chapel. It was the first Christian church in Marbella and the oldest religious building in town. Built in the 15th century, it now holds religious images belonging to the Cofradia del Cristo del Amor y La Virgen de la Caridad (the Brotherhood of Love and Charity) and it includes a wooden carving of Christ in Neo-Baroque style. At Christmas, this small chapel is transformed into a nativity diorama, which is remarkable in its detail.
Marbella old town history!
Marbella Old Town comprises two historical quarters – Barrio Alto and Barrio Nuevo, and most of it still preserves its original layout that dates back to the 16th century, when the city was still under Arab rule. Nowadays, the tiny, winding paths of the Casco Antiguo meander their way past glistening white Andalusian buildings adorned with small flower-filled balconies.
Why visiting Marbella!
It’s both easy and cheap to travel to Malaga, the Costa del Sol’s largest city. The coast offers good beaches and a sun guarantee on cloudless nine nine of ten days. In the old classical charter villages like Marbella, Fuengirola and Torremolinos, Scandinavians, Germans and British gather on the promenades, apartment hotels, tapas bars and in the large areas of condominiums. There are many good restaurants, fast-paced entertainment and a wide range of hotels and shops.
Half a century has passed since the Costa del Sol opened the gates to major tourism. The fishing villages are now hotel towns and the fields have become golf courses. It’s the usual picture of the sun shore.
But the Costa del Sol is more than seaside resorts. Málaga has the speed of the big city and fan, Marbella gives you the entertainment metropolis disco and the mountains offer the peace of nature.
The beaches!
It’s not hard to understand why so many choose a vacation in Marbella. One clear reason is the area’s many paradise beaches. Along the 27 kilometer coast line you can find 23 beaches! The question you have to ask yourself before heading to the beach is, what beach do I want to go to?
There are several beaches in Marbella with blue flag! No other coastal city in Andalusia has that many blue flag beaches.
Marbella’s Best Beaches!
What makes Marbella’s beaches so special besides their blue flag beaches? Which are the best beaches to visit when on holiday in Marbella? Everyone clearly has their favorites, but here are 10 great ones:
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- Bounty beach
- Nikki beach
- Playa de Rio Royal
- Playa de Alicate
- Playa Hermosa
- Playa Real de Zaragoza
- Cabopino
- Playa Fontanilla
- Playa Nagüeles
- Playa de Nueva Andalucia
Beach walk!
Imagine, a beautiful beachfront promenade, stretching across the majority of the Costa del Sol, with no roads, no impassable stretches, no rivers in the way. This promenade unites Marbella, Estepona and Mijas.
The walkways have been constructed using environmentally friendly materials and have been designed to blend into the varying landscapes along the route. Constructed mainly of wooden walkways or compacted sand, the walkway has had to overcome cliffs, natural sand dunes, river mouths as well as private homes and gardens.
Giving residents and holidaymakers the chance to walk and cycle alongside the coast for almost 17km without any obstacles.
This blog post is a little post to tempt you to go to Marbella! xoxo