Marbella is a city known for its sandy beaches, luxury yachts, elegant boutiques and the best restaurants on the Costa del Sol. It is one of the most famous resorts in the world, comparable to Saint-Tropez in France. That is why show business representatives, as well as an increasing number of Poles, decide to purchase property in this location. Discover Marbella, a city with a rich history.
From a fishing village to an oasis of luxury
The current appearance and character of the city took shape in the mid-20th century. At that time, it transformed from a fishing village into a resort with exclusive hotels and luxurious residences. Marbella owes this primarily to its location between the mountains and the sea. There are 27 beaches here with a total length of over 25 kilometres, while the proximity of La Concha Mountain provides a unique microclimate.
Marbella has renowned golf clubs, tennis courts, horse riding centres and excellent restaurants and clubs. In many of them, you can see live performances of authentic flamenco – an important element of Spanish culture. There are also international schools here, providing the highest level of education.
The area around Puerto Banús, where the world’s most expensive yachts are moored, is a true paradise for fashion lovers – the world’s most exclusive brands, such as Dior, Gucci, Hermès and many others, have their boutiques here. Marbella is also a place teeming with nightlife. It is also famous for its excellent conditions for water sports. It is in Marbella that you will find the most beautiful luxury villas and apartments.
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Discover Marbella from centuries ago
The history of the city dates back to the Palaeolithic era, as traces of prehistoric settlements have been found here. To this day, Marbella also boasts ancient relics from the Roman Empire, the Visigoths and the Moors, who ruled these lands in the Middle Ages. Among the remains from the Roman Empire are the remarkable Las Bóvedas baths and the ruins of houses in Rio Verde from the 2nd century, known for their beautiful mosaic decorations.
The Puente Romano (Roman Bridge), built in the 1st century AD, which was once part of the Via Augusta – the road from Rome to Cadiz – is very impressive. It is one of the most remarkable monuments in Spain, beautifully integrated into the architecture of the luxurious Puente Romano hotel.
In later years, the area of today’s Marbella was inhabited by the Visigoths (from Latin, literally: ‘forest people’, ‘forest dwellers’). One of the reminders of their presence is the 5th-century Basîlica de Vega de Mar. Over 180 tombs have been preserved around the church, full of coins, valuables and ceramics, and inside the church itself there is an unusual cross-shaped baptismal font.
In the 11th century, the Moors built the Castillo de Marbella fortress and surrounded the city with walls. After their surrender on 11 June 1485, the symbolic keys to the city were handed over to King Ferdinand. From that day on, the patron saint of Marbella has been St. Barnabas, whose liturgical commemoration falls on 11 June.
Monuments from the Renaissance and Baroque periods remain, including the Renaissance town hall, surrounded by orange trees, and the Casa del Corregidor, or mayor’s house from the 16th century, as well as churches and monasteries – De Trinidad and San Francisco. Interestingly, monasteries in Spain and Marbella helped to rescue prisoners captured by Berber pirates in the Mediterranean Sea. One of these unfortunate souls was Miguel Cervantes, later author of the famous Don Quixote, who spent five years in captivity in Algeria.
In the 19th century, Marbella was one of the most important steel production centres in Spain. Thanks to favourable climatic conditions, agriculture also flourished – sugar cane and sugar beet were among the crops grown. The largest plantation, San Pedro Alcántara, was founded by General Manuel Gutiérrez de la Concha and covered over 10,000 hectares.
Tourism, a new idea for the city
After the decline of the steel industry in the 1930s, the town needed a new impetus for development – and tourism proved to be just that. The first person to recognise the tourist potential of this small settlement with a population of only 10,000 was Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe.
In 1940, the aristocrat stopped here for the night due to a breakdown of his Rolls Royce. As a result of this unexpected coincidence, he decided to purchase land and invest in luxury hotels and the development of tourist infrastructure.
In 1954, Prince de Hohenlohe opened the Marbella Club hotel on the Golden Mile, which is still frequented by the rich and famous today. Thanks to his aristocratic background and connections, the prince managed to attract politicians, celebrities and artists from all over Europe to Marbella.
When visiting picturesque Marbella, it is also worth visiting the El Fuerte hotel, opened in 1957, located right next to the old town. It houses a small museum dedicated to the history of the city. There you will find many interesting photos, posters and local products, such as beautiful tableware. The entrance to the museum is located on the terrace side, in the garden belonging to El Fuerte. It is worth stopping there even for a moment to drink a good coffee with a view of the sea and take a look at the historical exhibits.
With the development of Marbella, more luxury housing estates and villas were built in the city, as well as some of the most beautiful promenades in Spain. The friendly climate, a year full of sunny days, breathtaking views of the sea and mountains, infrastructure development and the nearby airport in Malaga attracted visitors from all over the world who wanted to relax and invest in real estate here. In the following years, the luxurious Puerto Banús marina for 900 boats was built, along with hotels, golf courses and exclusive shops in the surrounding area.
Not only Maria Callas
In the 1960s, Marbella was visited by such celebrities as Brigitte Bardot, Audrey Hepburn and Sean Connery. Since the 1970s, the city has become a favourite summer holiday destination for royal families from Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf countries. The residence of the kings of Arabia – a smaller replica of the White House – still stands today on the Golden Mile. Interestingly, the King of Saudi Arabia, Fahid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, funded the construction of the first mosque in Spain since the Reconquista.
The luxurious Marbella Club hotel has welcomed guests such as Maria Callas, Aristotelis Onasis and members of the British royal family. Antonio Banderas has a restaurant, a house and a vineyard here, while George Clooney, Novak Djokovic and many other celebrities and businesspeople own properties in the area. On the most luxurious street in Spain, you can sometimes meet Eva Longoria or Penelope Cruz shopping in fashion houses.
