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Marbella - Five Fascinating Facts

Marbella beach life © Michelle Chaplow
Marbella beach life © Michelle Chaplow

Marbella - Five Fascinating Facts

Marbella is known as the playground of Europe's rich and famous. If the Costa del Sol was conceived as Europe's Florida, then Marbella is its Miami. Situated between Malaga and Gibraltar, this exclusive resort is where numerous international celebrities and royalty relocate for the summer, hiding out in private villas and exclusive five-star hotels, or on their luxury yachts. Hordes of British tabloid stars head down there for their holidays and can be spotted sporting their Melissa Odabash kaftans and gladiator sandals as they stroll through the town. You can find all the top designer emporiums here - Gucci, Versace, D&G, Dior - but it also has a pretty, well-preserved casco antiguo (old town) with Plaza de los Naranjos at its heart, and historic buildings, including a Moorish fort, and Roman remains (columns and a bridge).

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Marbella has three one-Michelin-starred restaurants , the most famous of which is Dani Garcia's Calima (he is said to be the next Ferran Adria - cherry gazpacho with anchovies and queso fresco… More →

© Michelle Chaplow The Gardens of King Fhad, over looking the golden mile.

The late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia had a fully-staffed compound, complete with private clinic and mosque, in Marbella, where he spent most summers.

© Michelle Chaplow The magnificent mountain known as "La Concha" (the shell) part of the Sierra Blanca range.

One reason for Marbella´s popularity is its famously pleasant climate. Sheltered by the peaks of the Sierra Blanca mountain range (highest point,1.215m), which back onto the town, it has a micro-… More →

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Former mayor of Marbella, Jesus Gil y Gil was a business tycoon (construction) and controversial chairman of Atletico Madrid football club. A man of brusque character and extremely right-wing… More →

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In the 1946, German Prince Maximilian de Hohenlohe-Langenburg and his son, Alfonso, were driving near the fishing village of Marbella (pop: 900) when they had a problem with their Rolls-Royce.… More →

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