Marbella is one of the Mediterranean’s most renowned venues; what was once a small white fishing village has become a glamourous cosmopolitan destination.
A stroll along the palm-fringed Paseo Marítimo has long been one of Marbella’s most special charms. With its views across the Mediterranean to Gibraltar and the Rif Mountains of Morocco, and an endless selection of relaxing beach bars, it is a particularly attractive spot to watch the world go by.
The enchanting Casco Antiguo (Old Town) echoes traditional Andalucía and its rich history; built within the still-standing walls of its Moorish castle, it preserves an undeniable cultural and historic heritage in the face of modern tourism. Its street plan bears the irregular layout characteristic of the Arabic era, although some of its narrow streets lead to plazas designed and built after the Christian Conquest. The Plaza de Los Naranjos (Orange Square), an example of the urban reorganisation carried by the conquerors, hosts the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall), built in the sixteenth century and enlarged in the eighteenth. A stone's throw away stands La Encarnación Church, a stunning temple whose construction dates back to the seventeenth century. The Old Town is a tranquil refuge with a unique atmosphere of blended cosmopolitanism and tradition.