14/01/2017
Marbella is an upmarket location home to many bars, boutique shops and clubs. Such comforts mean that young professionals find Marbella to be a suitable area to call home when moving abroad to the Costa del Sol.
The Sierra Blanca Mountains are the backdrop to 27 km of sandy Mediterranean beaches, villas, hotels, and golf courses. West of Marbella town, the Golden Mile of prestigious nightclubs and coastal estates leads to Puerto Banús marina, filled with luxury yachts, and surrounded by upmarket boutiques and bars.
The old city of Marbella or casco antiguo is surprisingly attractive replete with narrow lanes and well tended flower boxes. It is a hidden, which most tourists don’t manage to discover. It can be found near the centre of town just up from the Avenida Ricardo Soriano – the main street that runs through Marbella – and opposite La Alameda Park.
With its picturesque, ancient architecture and maze of narrow cobbled streets full of boutique shops, funky art galleries, bars and restaurants, the Old Town is almost like a separate village within Marbella.
At the center is the Orange Square, a beautiful and typical Andalusia square full of orange trees and tropical plants which is a must-see for anyone going to the town, and where you can sit quietly in one of the many traditional cafes enjoying a coffee or a glass of wine, and watch the world go by.
The Old Town buzzes with activity and there are plenty of interesting niches and crannies to explore. Good restaurants are also in plentiful supply, serving everything from expensive gourmet food to authentic backstreet Spanish tapas and there are innumerable bars, which are busy into the early hours of the morning.
Marbella has a long history and has been home to Phoenicians, Visigoths and Romans, as well as being the most important town on the coast during Moorish times. Arab kings still own homes here, as do plenty of rich and famous people, such as the most famous Malagueño -Antonio Banderas.
Despite being a very desirable area for tourists and expats, you’ll still find the traditional Spanish life.
With almost 30km of beach and a number of golf courses, the laid back lifestyle of Marbella also attracts expat retirees.
