Marbella is one of the most luxurious, elegant, and fashionable resorts on the Spanish coast. Along with the surrounding exclusive residential areas, home to wealthy foreigners, Marbella stretches for 28 kilometers along the coast.
Marbella Beaches and Water Activities
The exquisite beaches of Carihuella and San Pedro de Alcántara are the most attractive in the resort town of Marbella. Among the many free beaches, the following are particularly popular with tourists: Babalú, U Víctor, Don Carlo, Cabopipo, and Las Dunas.
Marbella Entertainment and Attractions
In memory of its provincial past, Marbella has preserved its Old Town—the historic center around which the luxury resort has grown. Here you can see the majestic King’s and Thieves’ Towers of the Alcazaba fortress, well-preserved and reminiscent of the Moorish era. The fortress was built in the 10th century on the foundations of Roman fortifications. Remains from the Roman era include mosaics in Villa de Rio Verde and 3rd-century baths near the town of San Pedro, near Marbella. Nearby is the Paleo-Christian Basilica in Vega del Mar, a fine example of 3rd-4th-century art.
The narrow streets of the Old Town lead to picturesque squares known as plazas. One of the most beautiful is the Plaza de los Naranjos, with its 16th-century fountain, the 15th-century Chapel of Santiago, the majestic 16th-century Town Hall, and the Casa de la Corregidor. The Casa de la Corregidor, which belonged to the royal viceroy, is distinguished by its unusual Gothic-Mudejar arcade, a beautiful balcony with iron ornamentation, and a Renaissance gallery. The Municipal Building, also known as the City Council, houses the Municipal Museum, where visitors can explore various archaeological finds from the region. Part of the exhibition is also housed in the Archaeological Museum, housed in the 16th-century Hospital Bazán, one of the city’s most significant architectural landmarks. The same building also houses the Museum of Contemporary Spanish Engraving, which features works by artists such as Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí, and Antoni Tàpies.
