Geography
Located at the heart of the Costa del
Sol, Marbella is, without a doubt, the jewel of
the coast. With its Mediterranean architecture,
the resort offers many possibilities to its thousands
of visitors: 27 km of beaches, numerous golf courses,
world-famous marinas, luxury hotels, excellent
restaurants, shopping centres, and a vibrant nightlife.
All this is set in an area of great natural beauty
between the sea and the mountains.
Thanks to its geographical location and the mountain
chains that surround it, Marbella enjoys a special
microclimate without cold winters or stiflingly
hot summers and an annual average temperature
of 19º. The sun shines 320 days of the year
and there are less than 50 rainy days. November
and December are the wettest months. History
The origins of the town date back to 1600 BC. The
Romans founded a settlement here called Salduba
and it was conquered by the Muslims in the 8th century
AD when they invaded the Iberian Peninsula. Under
their mandate it became a prosperous town with the
name of Marbi-la. The local architecture still maintains
an Arabic-Mediterranean style.
In the centuries following the conquest by the Catholic
Monarchs in 1485, Marbella has become a typical
Andalusian town with narrow alleys, whitewashed
houses, and flower-filled squares and gardens, all
set on the shores of the warm, blue Mediterranean
sea. |
