- Parks and surroundings of Marbella
- Museums and galleries
- Places of worship in Marbella
- Attractions of the resort
- Marbella beaches
- Holidays and festivals
- Note to shopaholics
- Delicious points on the map
One of the world's most expensive and prestigious beach resorts, the Spanish Marbella stretches for almost three dozen kilometers along the Mediterranean coast from Gibraltar to Malaga. The unique microclimate of the city is provided by the Sierra Blanca mountain range, which closes Marbella from the northern winds. But not only comfortable weather attracts wealthy tourists to the Spanish city of millionaires. The resort has the ideal infrastructure for a luxury holiday, luxury hotels, golf courses, tennis clubs and Michelin-starred restaurants. In short, for guests with a solid bank account, the question of where to go in Marbella does not arise. Moreover, the resort also hosts many entertainment events - holidays, festivals and carnivals.
Parks and surroundings of Marbella
In the vicinity of the resort, the most popular hiking trails are the Pico de la Concha. The mountain top becomes a goal not only for athletes, but also for ordinary hikers. There are two paths leading to the top - a short and very difficult and gentle one, but more extended. The height of the mountain is only 1215 meters above sea level and you can reach the peak of La Concha by going on a hike with the whole family.
Among the many green oases of the resort, De la Alameda Park is especially loved by its residents and guests. You will find it close to the seafront promenade of Marbella. The main attraction of Parque de la Alameda is the Marbella Botanical Garden. It is worth going here even for those who do not consider themselves a great connoisseur of flora. Representatives of the green world of the Mediterranean are gathered in the park, and their collection allows you to represent the diversity of the vegetation of the subtropics. Hundreds of pines, ficuses, palms and cypresses are planted in the park, in the shade of which it is convenient to relax next to the cool fountains. The Avenida del Mar, famous for its sculptures, starts right at the gates of the park.
Museums and galleries
Avenida del Mar is often referred to in guidebooks as an open-air museum. On the street leading from the Parc de la Alameda, ten sculptures by Salvador Dali are installed. Among the works you will see Gala Gradiva, Perseus beheading Medusa the Gorgon, Trajan on a horse, the Space Elephant and a Woman on a snail. The promenade is crowned by the Man on the Dolphin and the immortal at all times Don Quixote of La Mancha.
The list of museums to go with a tour in Marbella usually includes:
- Museum of Modern Spanish Prints, whose exhibits are displayed in an old building of the 16th century, which once served as a hospital. The collection was started by Jose Manuel Velez Fernandez, a former member of the city committee for culture. In the halls of the gallery you will see paintings by Dali, Pablo Serrano, Chillida and Miro. If you have dreamed of learning how to draw engravings, the museum is a godsend for you. It hosts master classes on teaching this type of fine art.
- Park Arroyo de la Represa is known among visitors to Marbella for its Bonsai Museum, opened at the end of the last century with the aim of promoting the oriental art of decorating tiny trees. The oldest exhibit in the museum is the El Torro juniper, which was planted about four centuries ago. In the museum, you will also see three-hundred-year-old olive trees. The collection in the Arroyo de la Represa park is considered the most unique in Europe.
A small museum exhibition is also displayed in the building of the municipality of Marbella. The Casa Consistorial mansion on Orange Square in the center of the resort invites tourists to look at a collection of archaeological rarities discovered during scientific research near the city.
Places of worship in Marbella
A small temple with a bright roof covered with white and blue ceramic tiles attracts tourists' attention on the Saint Christ Square in the old town. The church is called Ermita del Santo Cristo de la Vera Cruz, and the history of its foundation is lost in the distant 15th century. Three hundred years later, the small chapel was rebuilt and received an additional chapel, but the main portal is still made of old stone. The rectangular tower of Christ's Church of the True Cross is clearly visible from different points of the historical part of Marbella. On the square where the temple rises, there is also the fountain of the Mother of God.
The largest church in the city was dedicated to Saint Mary of Encarnacion. This happened in the first half of the 17th century, and the red stone portal adorns the historic center of Marbella today. The record holder is called the organ of the Church of St. Mary, assembled from five thousand pipes of various diameters and lengths. All parts of the instrument are made of wood and copper. The bells on the tower of the temple can be heard from many kilometers away, and by the clock located on the bell tower, the townspeople even today check the time.
Attractions of the resort
In addition to religious buildings, parks and squares, alleys with works by Dali and museums in Marbella, there are several other attractions located in the historical part.
The center of the city, where you can go on an excursion or in search of a restaurant for a romantic dinner, is Orange Square. It appeared in the city in the 15th century, when the Ermita de Santiago chapel was built here. Later Plaza de los Naranjos expanded, and in the 16th century. on it came the Casa Consistorial, which now houses the Municipality of Marbella.
Another attraction of Orange Square is the Corregidor's mansion. The royal henchman in charge of Marbella lived in a palace built in the typical Spanish style - Mudejar. The architects also brought some Gothic elements into the building, and the old fountain opposite the House of Corregidor still works and serves as a center of attraction for tourists and townspeople walking on a hot day.
Among fans of luxury life, the Golden Mile in Marbella serves as a kind of standard of success and wealth. This area of the resort is home to millionaire mansions, business centers and hotels with five stars on the facade. The famous palace of the King of Saudi Arabia is located in the Golden Mile area.
Marbella beaches
And yet, whatever one may say, the main goal of tourists coming to the resort is the sea and the sun, and therefore a small guide to the beaches of Marbella will not be superfluous. You can go to any of them and choose your favorite place of permanent deployment:
- Tourist guides that make up all kinds of ratings call San Pedro Alcantra the best beach in the resort. The reason for this is the Blue Flag, which the European Union regularly awards to San Pedro Alcantra for its special cleanliness and environmental safety.
- The beaches of Venus and La Fontanilla, which are closest to the historical part of the city, are usually crowded during the high season, but the infrastructure and accessibility of important tourist infrastructure still make their sun loungers and umbrellas a favorite of resort guests.
- Cabopino, on the other hand, is not very crowded, but it is worth going there if you prefer to completely merge with nature: Cabopino is a nudist beach.
- The free beaches in the resort are called Las Dune, Babalu and Don Carlos.
In total, there are 24 beaches in Marbella on almost 30 km of coastline.
Holidays and festivals
Popular events held in Marbella during the beach season usually include several festivals. You can go for impressions at the reggae music festival, which usually takes place in the middle of summer, get some fun at the June jazz festival, or listen to some serious opera in August. Film and amateur theater festivals are also held in summer. Throughout July, the resort thunders the "Starlight" holiday - one of the largest musical and entertainment events in the Old World with discos, concerts and beach parties.
Holidays dedicated to the patron saints of the city are the day of St. Barnabas in June and Romeria with a procession of decorated carts in honor of the Virgin Mary on the last Sunday in May.
Note to shopaholics
Avida Ricardo Soriano is the largest shopping street in Marbella. If you are looking for where to go shopping, don't hesitate! Here you will be offered hundreds of different products from local and European designers. Antiques and souvenirs are best bought in small shops in the historic part of the resort, and the largest shopping center in the city, where hundreds of boutiques are concentrated, is called Marina Banus.
Spend a full day at La Cañada? No problem, because the shopping and entertainment complex at the corner of Carretera de Ojén and A7 Motorway is one of the largest in the country. You will find under its roof not only shops, but also bowling alleys, cafes, restaurants, spas and playgrounds with attractions.
Vintage is more convenient to buy at the Nueva Andalucia flea market, delicacies at the ecological market, and local products at the artisan market, open on Sundays.
Delicious points on the map
Traditional food on the Costa del Sol, where Marbella is located, is all sorts of variations of seafood and vegetables. All the splendor freshly caught from the sea is usually grilled or fried in olive oil, and churros donuts and brushwood biscuits are served for dessert. The wine lists of each restaurant are also replete with pleasant names, and therefore lunch or dinner at a local institution can only leave a pleasant aftertaste.
If you're ready to book a table for the evening, take a look at the following cafes and restaurants in Marbella:
- For authentic Spanish cuisine, go to Buenaventura. The restaurant is located in the historical part of the city. The menu offers several variations of tapas, Mediterranean seafood and excellent service. On a warm summer evening, choose a table on the outdoor patio and enjoy the wonderful scent of flowers and birdsong.
- The whole family can come to Alfredo - the menu of this institution includes children's dishes, and the staff is always ready to help parents and entertain young visitors on the playground in the courtyard.
- Reminiscent of a Cuban atmosphere, Ranchon Cubano Marbella is located on the Real de Zaragoza beach. In addition to seafood, fresh vegetable salads and great desserts, live music performed by real Cubans awaits you. There is an opportunity to learn how to dance salsa in just one evening.
Needless to say, the famous Spanish resort has establishments with cuisines from all over the world. If you wish, you can easily go to Thai and Indian, Italian and Japanese, Korean and French restaurants in Marbella.
