Nestled between Málaga and Algeciras on the Costa del Sol is Marbella, 100 kilometres square and 24 kilometres of beach, Southern Europe’s pride, reputed internationally as one of the classiest and most beautiful holiday destinations. Its wondrous tourist options range from sugar sand beaches to breath-taking mountains, old world aura to cosmopolitan ambiance, simple country to sophisticated city, attended by great climate year round. Fantastic boulevards, parks and gardens, romantic narrow lanes of Moorish and Andalusian essence are strongholds of Marbella's character.
It was originally a tiny Andalusian fishing village settled in by the Phoenicians, Visigoths, Moors and Romans, all visible contributors to the rich culture and flavor that is distinctly Marbella. Its loaded mountains made it one of Spain’s mining jewels as an iron capital in the 19th century, at the end of which arose the largest farming estate in the country (10,000 hectares) designed by Aristocrat Manuel Gutierrez. This punctuated its agricultural face with pride, despite and enhanced by the affluent golf and marina clubs attended by the seriously rich and famous from all over the globe.
Links
http://www.guide2marbella.com/
The picturesque Sierra de las Nieves mountain range embraces Marbella cozily, lending Marbella her phenomenal year round reliable micro climate shielded from rain and the Atlantic’s icy winds. Sun worshippers may revel in 320 days of sunshine, and bask daily from June to September! With daily highs of about 20º C (68º F) and nightly lows hardly ever below 10º C (50º F), light rainfall and soothing breezes, one never has to bear harsh winters nor scorching summers. The first heavy rains bless the land and lush foliage in late September or early October, rarely lasting over two days.
Sports, Golf and Active Tourism
Aside from its fashionable, exclusive and agricultural reputation, Marbella stands out globally for its variety of excellent sports facilities and activities. Golfaholics rejoice! You can play a game every day of the year in any of many golf courses, one of which is the first illuminated golf courses in Europe and the tenth in the world where golf can be part of your nightlife! It’s not called "golfers paradise" for nothing.
Camelot Park
(Centro Comercial Marina Banús, Puerto Banus; Tel. 952 81-85-46; www.camelotbanus.com). Special park for munchkins 12 years and under and adults who are young at heart. Features karaoke, castles, bowling, minigolf, billiards, internet.
Megabowl Sports Bar
(La Cañada, Tel: 902 232 999, Fax: 952 857 875 info@megabowlmarbella.com ; http://www.megabowlmarbella.com), bowling fun for everyone.
Selwo. Costa Del Sol
Marbella has her own intense calendar of celebrations, mostly religious, each featuring unique activities, each bustling with revelry in wine, song, food and dance, some lasting an entire week. The following are some of the most interesting:
Fair & Fiestas Of Saint Bernabé
Objects and human remains found in Sierra Blanca Mountain in Marbella point to the Paleolithic and Neolithic ages. More evidence has shown Phoenician and Punic influence in the Rio Real, dating all the way to 7th Century BC. Then there are vestiges of Rome in the Rio Verde Roman Villa, the Guadalmina Thermal Baths and different discoveries in the Old Town of the City. Visigoths left their footprints in Vega del Mar Paleo-Christian Basilica.
The municipality of Marbella stretches 27 Km. of coastline sectioned into 24 beaches, some of which are enlisted below. All beach establishments are complete with amenities, first aid, watch towers and lifeguard services during operating hours, a great variety of water fun activities for the young and young at heart. Most of them have beach clubs, sun beds, some have natural thick or fine golden sands, processed golden sands, transported and processed black sands, pebbly shores.
Funny Beach
Street Markets - http://www.marbella.com/eng/mis.asp?Id=26&l=eng. Throughout the Costa del Sol are street markets distinct from one another. There are even flea markets cum car boot sales. Close by Morocco spills over to its markets, an exciting array of authentic goods, designs, and antiques. If you have the wherewithal, locally produced furniture would be worth the hassle to transport to your faraway homes.
One can’t possibly have an illustrious centuries-old repute as a food basket without a gastronomic epic that follows. But epic we cannot narrate. Just a few words on two specialties.
The Turrón, a traditional sweet Christmas can’t be without, since time immemorial. Its prestige had spread to other shores, making home in the holiday menus of Japan as far back as 1584, in the Philippines and other colonized countries, where it was embraced with gusto. Government had even declared the turrones birthrights in decrees!
