Tours

A walk through the Old Town

Marbella has been transformed from a little fishing village into an internationally renowned tourist resort, but if you walk round the old part of town you can still detect traces of its turbulent past. The narrow winding streets are a legacy of Muslim rule, while the conquering Christians built the tree-lined squares. There is an overall grid pattern to the street plan, so no need to worry about getting lost.

Start off at the ruined walls of what was once a Moorish fortress—a defensive structure that was eventually breached by the Christians during their reconquest of Spain—and head into Plaza de San Bernabe (named after the patron saint of Marbella). Take Calle Viento and walk down it as far as Calle Alonso de Bazán where you will find the old hospital that has been converted into the Contemporary Spanish Print Gallery.

Retrace your steps or turn up Calle Trinidad until you reach the impressive church called Iglesia de la Encarnación, in the Plaza de la Iglesia, a square lined with pretty fruit trees that offer welcome shade on a hot day. From here, follow Calle Molinillos, the street with all the souvenir shops, up to >Plaza de los Naranjos where the Town Hall stands. This is an ideal location to take a break. Sit down at an outdoor cafe and enjoy a cool, refreshing drink. If it happens to be time for lunch, you might want to try Fonte delle Streghe for first class Italian cooking.

After lunch, find Calle Nueva, one of the streets that heads out of the square, and there on the corner is K-2, if you fancy doing some shopping. Keep going down Calle Nueva until you hit Plaza de Juan Paloma, and from there you can reach Avenida Ramón y Cajal which is just a continuation of Avenida Ricardo Soriano. Cross the Avenida Ramón y Cajal into Parque de la Alameda, a haven of green that reverberates with countless love stories. Keep going south towards the sea along Avenida del Mar—which is lined by half a dozen sculptures by the incomparable genius, Dalí—and you come to the Paseo Marítimo (promenade). Time for an ice-cream? From the Milla de Oro you can gaze out upon the tranquil Mediterranean Sea.

Puerto Banús

This famous marina has been around since 1970. It was officially opened, to great fanfare, by Prince Ranier of Monaco and Grace Kelly at a glittering party. Ever since then, Puerto Banús has played host to an array of international celebrities and their attendant paparazzi and gossip columnists during high summer. The best way to approach the harbour area is to set off on foot from the gigantic bronze sculpture on Avenida de las Naciones Unidas, crossing over to Avenida de la Rivera and following it along to the main entrance.

Once through the main gate you can take advantage of the excellent shopping facilities that include a range of the most famous names in fashion design, such as Gianfranco Ferre, Emporio Armani and Pomellato, along with dozens of other individual outlets selling things like swim-wear (at prices to suit the average holiday-maker as well as the rich and famous), works of art and hand-crafted goods.

Or you could just simply take a seat at an outdoor cafe, such as the Sinatra, order a drink and watch the sumptuous display of yachts and motor cruisers that gather here from all over the world.

The marina is divided into quays and mooring bays to accommodate all these luxurious pleasure craft. The main quay is called the Muelle de la Ribera, and on the street running parallel to it, you'll find all the shops. As you are on holiday, why not treat yourself to a stylish new watch from the Swatch Boutique, or a leather jacket from Facciaro?

Don't forget to find the other quay, Muelle Benabolá, and visit the little chapel—that houses an altar dedicated to the Virgen del Carmen—and the monument to commemorate Don Juan de Borbón, from which, on a clear day, you can see as far as Gibraltar.

Whilst making your way along the Muelle de la Ribera, stopping in at all the most interesting shops, you can't fail to notice an assortment of the sleekest sports cars that money can buy—Ferraris, Maserattis, Mitsubishis. By now, all that shopping will have made you hungry. There are more than 30 different restaurants to chose from in Puerto Banús. Tonight, why not try an exotic Indian delicacy at the Mumtaz?