Marbella is a marvellous city located in the heart of the Costa del Sol, which is its first reference. Cosmopolitan enclave if ever there was one, the city enjoys a special microclimate, with mild temperatures all year round, without harsh winters nor suffocating summers.

In the vicinity of San Pedro de Alcantara, one of the big population centres that make up its municipal distric, is located one of the most important Roman remains of the Costa del Sol, which some historians have identified as Cilniana, a city which according to legend was destroyed in the Fourth Cebtury by a tidal wave. Under Arabic mandate, it became a prosperous city called Marbi-la. In 1485, Los Reyes Catolicos took the city and gave it its present day name.

           

                            OLD TOWN MARBELLA

Marbella's basic activity, for which it is internationally renowned, is one of offering the thousand of visitors who arrive, andless possibilities of enjoying their leisure time: heavenly beaches, numerous golf courses, four maritime yachting harbours, one of them international renown, and a superb natural setting with luxury hotels, restaurants, shopping centres and busy night-life. The ever-popular Jet-Set, always present in the pages of the gossip magazines, take up permanent or sporadic residence, due to the mildness of ots climate. Actots, artists, multimillionaires and all sorts of famous people make of this place the main focal point for gossip, exotic feasts and the most extravagant social occasions.

Plaza de los Naranjos in Marbella

Amongst the numerous places one is obliged to visis, one must highlight Puerto Banus, enclave whichowes its name to its promoter, D. Jose Banus and which is situated at six kilometres from Marbella's town centre. Named "Centro de Interes Turistico" Nacional (Centre of National Tourist Interest), and awarded the "Medalla de Oro al Merito Turistico" (The Gold Medal of Tourist Merit), it is visited annually by over four million people. It was inaugurated in 1971 and within its installations, it provides 915 mooring berths of between 8 and 50 metres in lenght, accommodating some of the most luxurious yachts in the world.

In the interior of the old quarter of the city there is a busy social life and it is possible to find a very particular atmosphere in which numerous businesses of avantgarde style mix with historic remains, like the ones of the castle which has been maintained since the times of Arabic rule. Also recommended are the Museum of El Grabado Español Contemporaneo, the Bonsai Museum, the Ralli Museum, The Cortijo Miraflores, the Romas town, with its thermal baths, the Paleochristian Basilica of Vega del Mar, "La Iglesia Mayor Ntra. Sra. de la Encarnacion", the town hall, the Shrine of Satiago, etc.

Amongst its traditional festivities, stand out the ones of the 11th of June, in honour of its Patron Saint, San Bernabe, and the ones in honour of San Pedro Alcantara, in mid-October. Amongst the romerias stand out the one held on the 3rd of May in honour of La Cruz de Juanar and the one in honour of San Bernabe, during the June festivities.

Furthermore, the feast day of "La Virgen del Carmen", on the 16th of July, maintains the seafaring flavour with its maritime procesion.

The gastronomic offer is infinite and it is highly recommendable to go for a pleasant walk through its streets and discover some of its countless restaurants and bars, from the most international and cosmopolitan to those who maintain in their cuisine all the flavour of the traditional cuisine of la costa, fundamentally based on sea products.