Marbella is a town and municipality of southern Spain, which belongs to the province of Malaga, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is integrated in the region of the Costa del Sol and is the headquarters of the joint board with the same name and legal head of the party that bears his name.

Marbella is located on the Mediterranean, between Malaga and the Strait of Gibraltar, and in the foothills of Sierra Blanca. The municipality covers an area of 117 km, traversed by the expressway and toll highway called the Mediterranean, the main entrances to the municipality.

With 130 549 inhabitants according to the 2008 census, is the second most populated municipality in the province and the eighth of Andalusia. It is also one of the most important tourist cities of the Costa del Sol and throughout most of the year is a center of international tourism attraction mainly due to its climate and its tourist infrastructure. Although less known, the city also has significant archaeological and several museums and performance spaces and a cultural calendar with events ranging from reggae to opera.

Marbella Beaches

Marbella has in its municipality 27 Km. of coastline which is divided into 24 beaches with different characteristics, although due to urban expansion of the municipality, they are all semi-urban beaches. In general this is a moderate swell beaches with golden sand or fine-grained dark, medium or large, being also possible to find some gravel. The occupancy rate is usually high or medium, especially during the summer months, when tourist arrivals are concentrated. These may include the beach or Cabopino Artola, located in the protected area of the Artola Dunes, near the port of Cabopino, being one of the few nudist beaches in Marbella, those of Venus and La Fontanilla, central and very frequented, and those of Puerto Banus and San Pedro Alcántara, which have blue flag.

Old Town

The old town of Marbella covers the ancient city walls and the two historic suburbs of the city: the Barrio Alto, which extends northward, and the Barrio Nuevo, located to the east. The old walled city retains approximately the same floor in the sixteenth century. Here is the Plaza de los Naranjos, Castilian example of urban renaissance, drawn after the Christian conquest, and that is the heart of Old Town.

Around the plaza were three notable buildings: the Town Hall, erected by the Catholic Monarchs, the house of Corregidor, a Gothic-Mudejar facade Renaissance and the Chapel of Santiago, the oldest religious building in the city, prior to the square, as it is not aligned with it, what is believed to date from the fifteenth century. Other interesting buildings in the center are the Church of Santa María de la Encarnación, in Baroque style, began in 1618, Roque House and the remains of the fortified castle and Arabic as well as the Chapel of San Juan de Dios Hospital Royal and the former Mercy Hospital Bazán, all Renaissance style.

Marbella Golf

Whether expert or novice, enjoy the sport in Marbella. Find all types of fields with nine rounds and 18 holes. It gives you a chance to really likes: playing on a green overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Camps such as the Golf Rio Real, Santa Clara Golf, Cabopino Golf, the Santa Maria Golf & Country Club, Monte Paraiso Golf, Quinta Golf & Country Club, Marbella Golf & Country Club or Golf Guadalmina are a perfect choice for this.

Food and Drink

The traditional cuisine of Marbella is one of the Malaga coast and is based on the fish. The most typical dish is the fried fish, which can be made with anchovies, mackerel, mullet and squid, among others. In addition they are also typical gazpacho and garlic soup. In desserts include oil cakes, the cakes of wine, borrachuelos, the toast and the fringe of this churros.Al traditional cuisine restaurants in Marbella there almost all regions of the world and international cuisine, nouvelle cuisine and fusion.

Museums in Marbella

Although not the most known museums of Marbella, in this city we can find rooms in which are paintings, sculptures, antiques and even a recognized international bonsai.

Museum Grabado Español Contemporáneo Tel: 95 277 46 38 Web: http://www.museodelgrabado.com

Museum Jardines de El Ángel - Excellent botanical richness. Tel: 95 276 11 67 Fax: 95 276 11 57

Museum Cortijo Miraflores - Built in the eighteenth century, Jose Luis Morales y Marín, s/n Marbella Tel: 95 290 27 14

Museum Ralli - This museum is dedicated to publicizing and promoting European and Latin American artists. Tel: 95 277 46 38

Marbella Car Hire

You can hire a car in Marbella. One of the cheapest companies is Cheapcarhiremalaga.com and it offers you a high quality service and very competitive prices.

Malaga Airport to Marbella

There is a bus service going from the Airport to Marbella. They start early in the morning, the first bus leaves Marbella at 5.30 am. and the first bus leaves the Airport at 7.15 am. The duration is 45 minutes and the ticket cost 4.31 euros. The schedule changes according to the season.

Useful Information

Oficina principal de Marbella 952 771 442/493

Emergency 112

Outpatient 952 82 48 02

Fire Department 952 77 43 49/080

Red Cross 952 86 16 88

Veterinary 608 45 14 60

Hospital Costa del Sol 951 976 669/670

Local Police 092

National Police 091

Ambulance 952 77 42 00

Hospital Europa 952 77 42 00

Taxi 952 77 44 88

Postal Office Marbella 952 772 898

Library Marbella 952 864 242

Foreign Office Marbella 952 823 801