Marbella the seductress

When we hear the name Marbella, we generally think of “bling-bling” resorts, luxury yachts, nightclubs. What is true. Just like the fact that large concrete buildings sometimes spoil the view and that the many beaches praised in tourist brochures are often quite small. Still. Behind the buildings rises the Concha mountain, one of the peaks of the Sierra Blanca mountain range, which gives Marbella its microclimate, and which offers some very beautiful hikes.

Non-athletes will be content with less demanding walking trails! As for golf enthusiasts, they can enjoy several courses with magnificent views of the mountains and the Mediterranean.

But the real treasure of Marbella is its old town which dates from the 15th century.

By getting lost in the maze of alleys, you fall irremediably under the spell of this city which has seen several civilizations pass through.

Romans and Moors have left their mark.

Almost everywhere, ex-votos and chapels bear witness to the religious fervor of its inhabitants.

The facades are regularly whitewashed, splashed with the colors of the flowers.

Everywhere, restaurants and tapas bars invite you to stop.

Pretty shops offer quality items far from basic souvenirs. Everything is clean, well maintained.

Even the trash cans are decorated with paint!

In this veritable labyrinth many stories resonate.

Like that of ghosts slipping into one of the alleys still avoided by old people…. In truth, they were the hooded figures of women abandoning their newborn babies at the door of a monastery.

During the walk, we enter the former Bazan hospital which houses the Spanish Museum of Contemporary Art with works by Miro and Picasso.

On the Plaza de la Iglesia stands the magnificent Church of La Encarnacion. It is also here that you can still see the remains of the Arab castle.

All the streets lead to the central square, the square of the orange trees where the town hall is located, the Hermitage of Santiago, the chapel of San Juan de Dios.

We like to get lost in the streets of Marbella, where everything is clean, flowery and welcoming.

Leaving the old town by the stairs, simply cross the main street to reach Alameda Park and the sculpture alley which leads to the seaside and its maritime promenade.

In the municipal park, the big fountain. The earthenware represents the different provinces and scenes from the life of yesteryear.

Andalusian checkered benches, so pretty that you almost don’t dare sit on them!

Ten bronze sculptures by Salvador Dali (copies) make this alley a real open-air museum.

For the “bling-bling” side of Marbelle, you have to go to Puerto Banus, a very chic marina with its luxury cars and yachts.

Here the signs do not indicate one or the other emblematic building but… the luxury stores.