Marbella

Marbella guide, holiday rentals, property, villas, apartments, hotels, car hire, transfers, golf.

Marbella Marina

Marbella - Costa del Sol - Spain

One of the best known playgrounds of the rich and famous, Marbella, located on the Costa del Sol coastline of Andalucia, Spain, is a city of some 125,000 inhabitants and is renowned as a holiday destination for wealthy tourists from Northern Europe.

In the 1940's Marbella was just a small fishing village, with a population of under 1,000, its rise to fame began when Alfonso von Hohenloe built the exclusive Marbella Club during the 1950's. The addition of a palace built by King Fahd of Saudi Arabia in the 1970's, further enhanced the town's reputation.

The history of Marbella however goes back much further than this, as there are remains of Phoenician, Carthaginian and Roman settlements in the area, in Roman times it was known as Salduba. The current name derives from a later Moorish settlement, when a castle and walled town called Marbil-la was built.

Marbella's reputation has been somewhat tarnished in recent years, due to local government corruption and suggested links with organised crime, it has also suffered from ugly over-development and excessive building.

Marbella of course still attracts the rich and famous, and also many visitors who like to follow those who enjoy the 'good life'. It is one of the Costa del Sol's major beach resorts, and the nearby Puerto Banus, with its exclusive marina development, further adds to the attraction of the area. Worth seeking out is the charming old town of Marbella, with its clean, attractive alleys and squares, dotted with fashionable boutiques and restaurants, you could also visit the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación church, and the Museo de Grabado Español Contempoáneo, which displays some of Picasso's lesser known works.

Marbella Golf - Golfers will head for one of the many fine golf courses in the area, amongst these the beautiful Marbella Golf and Country Club located to the east of the city. The weather in the region is ideal for golfing all year round.

Marbella Beaches - With its municipal area compising some 27 kilometres of coastline, Marbella has, in all, around 24 beaches to choose from.

Marbella Fiestas - Marbella of course celebrates its fair share of fiestas and festivals, these include the Fiesta of San Bernabé (June), the Virgen del Carmen (July), and the Fiesta del Tostón in November.

Marbella can be easily accessed from the N-340 or from the AP-7 (E-15) motorway, it is about 50 kilometres from Malaga and its airport.

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Marbella airport driving distances: Malaga airport to Marbella is a driving distance of 52 kilometres (32 miles), Gibraltar airport to Marbella is a driving distance of 57 kilometres (36 miles), Jerez airport to Marbella is a driving distance of 176 kilometres (110 miles), Granada airport to Marbella is a driving distance of 167 kilometres (104 miles).

Related: Torremolinos - Benalmadena - Fuengirola - Mijas - San Pedro de Alcantara - Villacana - Puerto Banus - Estepona - Ronda - Calahonda - Granada - Builders

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