Your property in Marbella
Classic Andalusian style perfects the combination of simple and elegant, making buying property in Marbella extremely popular.
Whitewashed walls complemented by traditional honey-coloured stone create appealing facades, while spacious terraces often feature, whether it’s a front-line apartment at the heart of Marbella or a villa in the foothills of the Sierra Blanca.
Inside Marbella
Marbella sits in the prestigious Costa del Sol and perfectly distils glamorous living with an unparalleled climate, pitching pristine beaches close to stunning mountain ranges.
The area’s first luxury hotel, the Marbella Club, was established by German Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe-Langenburg in the 1950s. The region continues to be a magnet for well-heeled locals and international buyers alike on stretches such as the Golden Mile, which runs between Marbella and Puerto Banús.
Away from the coast, picturesque towns and villages exude rich Andalusian charm, with striking architecture and enticing restaurants. Further inland, the Andalusian city of Granada has peerless examples of Moorish architecture at sites such as the Alhambra Palace.
Landscape
Beautiful beaches are the dominant feature of Marbella, but the city offers much more than its 27 kilometres of golden sand, as does the wider Costa del Sol.
Marbella sits at the foot of the Sierra Blanca Mountains, whose grey, limestone slopes stand out against the vivid palm trees and orange trees that are typical of the region. Closer to Málaga, the Sierra Nevada mountains are snow-capped, offering skiing in winter.
To the south, views of Gibraltar and even Morocco are possible, with the so-called Pillars of Hercules (the Rock of Gibraltar and the Jebel Musa in Morocco) bordering the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar.
Education
A well-rooted international community has led to the creation of a superb range of international schools, with six of Spain’s best found in Marbella.
Among these are the Swans International School, Aloha College and The British School of Marbella.
Further afield, the University of Granada is among the top 10 universities in Spain, and traces its roots back to the 16th Century Emporer Charles V.
Activities and Entertainment
The Golden Mile hosts prestigious hotels, bars and nightclubs, reaching the marina at Puerto Banús, where luxury yachts moor near the town’s upmarket boutiques and restaurants. Being by the sea also means limitless access to water sports and private boat charters.
The charismatic city outdoes many others with its bursting calendar of events, including its annual carnival, the Noche de San Juan evening beach event, and its summer fair, as well as a packed roster of music festivals and charity galas.
Marbella has plenty of green space too, and is surrounded by a host of fantastic golf clubs, many of which accommodate upscale hotels and leading restaurants.
Art and Culture
Marbella perfectly intersperses modern cultural gems with its ancient history.
Museums and galleries feature exceptional art from some of Spain’s most famed artists, such as Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí, while glimmers of the city’s past, which encapsulates Roman, Moorish and Christian influences, is visible in historic squares such as the 15th Century Plaza de los Naranjos.
Further afield in Málaga, museums encapsulate everything from cars, art by its most famous of residents, Pablo Picasso, right through to bonsai trees, while the Alcazaba fortress palace and nearby Roman theatre are among its numerous historical monuments.
Food and Drink
Abundant local seafood and Spanish delicacies collide with a sizeable international culinary scene to take food to the next level in Marbella.
From quick fixes at local bakeries and tapas in secluded bistros, through to Michelin-starred cuisine in resplendent restaurants on the Golden Mile, Marbella’s gastronomic offering is difficult to surpass.
Andalusia is famed for its fortified and dessert wines, known as Sherry, which are readily produced in its hot and dry climate in winemaking regions such as Jerez. All tastes are catered for, with light Fino sherries through to full-bodied and sweet Pedro Ximinez.
Accessibility
Marbella is most easily accessed from Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport, while other airports such as Almería Airport, Gibraltar Airport, Granada Airport and Seville Airport are within reach of the region. There is also a heliport next to the Manolo Santana Tennis Club.
By train, the high-speed link between Málaga and Madrid makes for easy access to the capital, while the Córdoba to Málaga line offers quick journeys to other Andalusian cities.