Marbella, Andalucia

"Playground for the Rich & Famous"

You can reach Marbella from Cortijo Valverde Rural Country Hotel via the newly upgraded A355, winding through the mountains with magnificent views of Monda and Ojen before reaching the deep blue waters of the Med.

Archaeological excavations have been made in the mountains around Marbella, which point at human habitation in Paleolithic and Neolithic times. There are also remains of Phoenician and later Carthaginians settlements in the area of Rio Real. In Roman times, the city was called Salduba.

During the Moorish rule a castle and walled city was built. In line with most places in Andalucia, the origin of the name is subject to many debates. Some believe the name of Marbella to come from Arabic words Marbil-la. Alternative theory suggests the name is Mar-Bella (Beautiful sea).

In the 1940s Marbella was a small village with only 900 inhabitants but this changed when Prince Max Egon zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg and his heir Alfonso of Hohenlohe experienced a problem with their Rolls-Royce in the area. This first encounter with Marbella so impressed Alonso that he decided to buy land and market the area as a tourist destination. In 1954 he opened Hotel Marbella Club, which in spite of its name, was far from being a conventional tall and impersonal building but rather was a resort with traditional low houses among 23,000 trees. He soon convinced other noble European families to move to Marbella and enjoy discreet luxury, starting what became the Costa del Sol boom. Alfonso de Mora y Aragón, a Spanish socialite and brother to the queen Queen Fabiola was also a frequent vacationer.

In 1974 the Prince Fahd arrived at the city after having broken the bank of the Casino of Montecarlo. Until his death in 2005 he was a frequent and profitable guest of Marbella, together with many other petrodollars spending rich individuals.

But Marbella has a down to earth side as well, an air of individuality which can be best appreciated by exploring back streets in the old part of town. One of the prettiest places is the fabled "La Plaza de los Naranjos" (Orange Square), which is located just off the main street in the older district and is also home to the 16th century town hall and tourist office where you can pick up a detailed map and visitor information. La Plaza holds many grand buildings, small shops, art galleries, bars and bistros and is a hub of activity day and night. And, depending on the time of year, the colours here can be vibrant, with the trees and exotic tropical plants set against a backdrop of dazzling white buildings and a deep blue sky.

The honeycomb of surrounding narrow streets where homes and shops intermingle to create the atmosphere of a small village, rather than a cosmopolitan town. There are numerous restaurants to choose from, ranging from those specialising in the predictably pricey exclusive Cordon Bleu to the gritty individuality of a backstreet Spanish bar where the Serrano ham is gently cured by tobacco smoke and the Tapas are both tasty and filling.

At the coast front there is the La Alameda Park where you can book your personal horse and carriage to travel in style or, if you prefer, stroll on towards the sea along the Avenida del Mar. This is arguably one of the most delightful promenades on the Costa del Sol, flanked by classy restaurants and bars and mercifully free of concrete skyscrapers, glass bottom boat trips, imported shells and “I love ....” T. Shirts.

From Guadalalmina to Cabopino, the Marbella coastline stretches along some 26 kilometres of sunny beaches bathed by the Mediterranean and where you can enjoy traditional fish and seafood favourites like sardines on a spit, fried fish and the incomparable paella. There are also two large parks in Marbella which provide some welcome shade to spend some time with a book. The amphitheatre at Constitution Park (once the garden of a private residence) is frequently used for concerts and plays in the summer. Casinos, clubs and just about every sporting activity under the sun, few places can match Marbella for world class tennis, sailing and golf. There are also three pleasure craft harbours here.

However for the ultimate in coastal charisma it would be hard to beat Puerto Banus, just west of the town. This is the place to be pampered yacht side and watch the world go by or window shop at one of several of the world renowned fashion houses and boutiques. The port has grown considerably over the years and now includes a casino, commercial shopping centre, El Corte Ingles department store, marine observatory and a multi cinema with films shown in their original soundtrack. The nightlife is buzzing here with alfresco bars, piano clubs and discos which are open dusk until dawn.