Marbella City Guide & Area Profile
Well known for being a playground for the rich and famous, Marbella has a cosmopolitan attitude combined with Andalucian traditions and hospitality.
Dating back to the 15th Century, the charming whitewashed walls and cobbled streets are what gives the centre of Marbella its trademark appearance. The essence of this is captured in la Plaza de Naranjos, or the Orange Square as it’s commonly known. Set amidst a maze of winding lanes and paths adorned with hundreds of shops and bodegas, this is where you can escape the hustle and bustle of modern day Marbella, and experience a touch of Andalucían history.
This is also the starting point for various fiestas and processions that take part throughout the year, the biggest of which is for Semana Santa where thousands of locals gather to watch the dramatic parades. At Christmas time, be sure to visit the Santiago Chapel to see the stunning nativity displays and festive decorations. The Orange Square is also a very popular place to celebrate New Year where you can enjoy live music and partake in the local traditions, for example greeting as many people as you can before the clock strikes twelve, and eating the “12 grapes of luck” on each strike of the bell during the countdown to midnight.
There are plenty of fantastic restaurants to choose from in this area. Zozoi is nestled in the back streets off the main square where you can enjoy a meal in their stunning garden, and Bistro La Paloma is equally as good. For something less formal, Bar Paca serves exquisite tapas where you can also order a mini keg of Asturian cider to pour yourself from your table. For a romantic weekend break, why not book into Hotel Claude; a stunning boutique hotel set in the heart of the old town.
At the back of the Orange Square is the Mercado Municipal where you can find huge array of fresh meat, fish and vegetables, which are often much better quality than anything found in a supermarket.
Ricardo Soriano is situated at the foot of the Orange Square. This is the main street which runs the length of Marbella city centre where you can find a large assortment of boutiques and cafés. At the east end of this is the Hotel Fuerte Miramar where you can go to enjoy a luxury spa day, and then enjoy a delectable tasting menu at restaurant Messina. On Ricardo Soriano you will also find the entrance to the Alameda Botanical Gardens which is a lovely park to take young children. This leads to the Avenida del Mar which is home to several Salvador Dali sculptures which are open to the public free of charge all year round.
In June, the Avenida del Mar hosts the Marbella Arte festival where local artists can exhibit their work in a variety of tents and exhibitions. One of this years entries was by estudio 61, which is a local art school and gallery located in the centre of Marbella offering a range of art classes to both adults and children, whether beginners or more advanced.
At the foot of the Avenida del Mar is the start of the Marbella paseo where there are hundreds of bars and restaurants including Garum which serves excellent food with friendly service at a reasonable price. For something more traditional, there a variety of chiringuitos on the sand offering typical Spanish cuisine. During the summer months you can catch the Fly Blue Catamaran from Puerto Banus which takes you directly to Marbella Port in 30 minutes. This is a relaxing and scenic way to enjoy the journey, and you can get a sneak peek at some of the spectacular properties along the Golden Mile.
Marbella Port really comes alive during the summer months, when all the bars open that often close during the quieter periods. They have a great atmosphere and many are much more reasonable than those in Puerto Banus. During the day it can be a great place for a family day out; there are a number of childrens playparks, as well as a trampolining area and the Costa Water Park which opened this summer, offering water slides and obstacle courses in the sea. You can also organise a day fishing trip or dolphin spotting tour from here. For a more relaxing family day out, a horse and carriage ride is always a popular option. Located outside the Avenida Cafe on Ricardo Soriano, you can enjoy a half hour tour of Marbella centre for 20 Euros.
The beach in Marbella, the Fontanilla beach is a very popular spot to go to as there are large stretches of sand, making it a more comfortable area to sunbathe and for children to play in.
There are also plenty of restaurants around the perimeter, perfect for a spot of lunch or an afternoon drink. Many of the restaurants have sunbeds for hire for a couple of Euros, excellent for during the summer when the sand can become too hot. Another fantastic event for children is the Marbella Feria which takes place every June. There’s a huge fairground for children to enjoy as well as live flamenco shows from local schools. Of course the feria’s not just enjoyable for children; there’s a variety of pop up bars for the adults to enjoy which always have an incredible atmosphere.
Because of the city like structure of Marbella Centre, property is mostly comprised of apartments, and on street parking can be hard to come across, however set just behind the old town is the La Virgina. Set within the centre of Marbella, this stunning little village is almost like a secret hideaway comprising of townhouses, villas and a beautiful little church. It retains the traditional charm of the old town without the busyness of the town centre.
There are a couple of restaurants located here, making this a popular holiday spot as you are close enough to be within walking distance without having any of the noise or commotion of the centre. Made up of two halves, modern Marbella and the Old Town, Marbella is a truly beautiful area and with so many events taking place throughout the year, there’s always guaranteed to be a very friendly buzz to it.
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