Marbella is a city in Andalusia, Spain, by the Mediterranean, situated in between Malaga and Gibraltar, beneath the Sierra Blanca . In 2000 the city had 98,823 inhabitants, in 2004, 116,234.

Marbella is one of the most important beach resorts of the Costa del Sol, and a large part of the year it is very sunny here. Very many hotels and tourist apartments have been built in the area of Marbella, and especially wealthy tourists spend their holidays here.

For people who like water sports, golf and other sports, Marbella has excellent facilities.

It is easy to reach other places, like Malaga and Algeciras, by bus. There is a bus line along the coast. The airport of Malaga is easy to reach by bus as well.

History of Marbella

In the mountains around Marbella, archaeological excavations have been made, which point at human habitation in Paleolithic and Neolithic times. There are also remains of Phoenician and later Carthaginensian settlements in the area of Rio Real. In Roman times, the city was called Salduba

During Islamic rule, the muslims built a castle in this city, and they surrounded it by walls. The name Marbella, which is derived from Marbil-la, dates from this Islamic era. In 1485, the Spaniards reconquered the city, and during the centuries that followed, the city grew.

Sights in and around Marbella

• Arabian wall
• Bonsai museum
• Museo del Grabado Español Contemporáneo
• Old city centre
• Playa de la Bajadilla (beach)
• Playa de Fontanilla (beach)

External Links

• Virtual Tour of Marbella
• Marbella lifestyle magazine
• News about Marbella
• A complete guide for Marbella
• Marbella original web guide