Marbella Centre
Marbella Centre combines an urban lifestyle with the charm of a traditional village. Throughout its approximate 2.5 miles, it offers lovely sandy beaches, a beautiful promenade, a lively marina, a fishing harbour and a charming old town.
CONTENTS
Location
History and iconic sites
Type of properties
Family living
Schools
Amenities
Unique about the area
Neighbourhoods
Location
Marbella Centre is mainly the Old Town and its surroundings. It begins in the famous arch of Marbella, just as we enter the city via the national road 340 (N-340), and ends at The Pirulí, Marbella´s iconic 'Copper Tower', at the start of the Golden Mile
History and iconic sites
Here, Marbella Old Town stands out for its rich history and culture. Once an old Medina, a Moorish city with narrow and winding streets, it still retains its authentic charm and the remains of Marbella’s Castle, built in the tenth century under Muslim rule. With the arrival of the Catholic Monarchs, Marbella was granted the title of City and it started growing outside its walls, leaving us with an impressive legacy of churches, Castilian-style square and stately homes. Examples of those are Ermita de Santiago and the famous Plaza de Los Naranjos from the 15th century; Real Hospital de La Misericordia (today, a centre for cultural and educational events), Hospital Bazán (today, Museo del Grabado Español y Contemporáneo), Marbella Town Hall and Casa del Corregidor from the 16th century; and Iglesia de la Encarnación from the 17th century. Much more recently, the start of the 20th century saw the beginning of the real estate development on the coastline as well as the tourism industry in Marbella with the opening of the first hotels: Hotel Comercial-Salduba in 1919 (no longer around in operation) or El Fuerte Marbella in 1957.
Type of properties
The most popular area in Marbella Centre is the beachfront, where upmarket complexes offer spacious apartments with communal gardens and pools. Closer to the Old Town, properties are smaller and older, however many of those have been recently renovated and turned into gorgeous apartments right in the vibrant city centre. There are also a few residential areas with villas in the centre of Marbella such as the exclusive neighbourhoods of La Merced, El Capricho or El Mirador, away from the hustle and bustle yet within minutes of walking to the promenade and the Old Town.
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Family living
Marbella Centre is renowned for its child-friendly and family environment. A great selection of leafy parks, fun-filled playgrounds, gorgeous pedestrian streets, beaches suitable for children and sports facilities are dotted around the city. It is a convenient location with all amenities and essentials at one’s doorstep and an ideal area to discover the culture and heritage of the city.
Schools
Swans Primary School
An international and private school for children aged 3 to 12 years old which follows the British curriculum. Located in the neighbourhood of El Capricho (and with its Secondary School on the Golden Mile), it is one of the top international schools on the coast, known for its academic achievements and its offer of extracurricular activities.
The International French School of Marbella
A private school for children aged 2 to 11 years old. It offers a hybrid system which combines the French school program with a trilingual education in French, English and Spanish.
Colegio Bilingüe La Latina
A private, Spanish-English bilingual school for children aged 3-18 and affiliated with Trinity College London. Founded in 1969, it is located in the neighbourhood of El Mirador.
Public Schools
Colegio María Auxiliadora, Colegio Gil Muñíz, Colegio Los Olivos, Instituto Sierra Blanca and Instituto Profesor Pablo del Saz. Education is exclusively in Spanish but international families are welcome.
Extracurricular activities
Escuela Oficial de Música y Danza (official school of music and ballet), Escuela de las Artes Momo (drama school), Marbella Dance School and The Language House.
Amenities
Marbella Centre offers a great variety of amenities, all within walking distance and with a lively atmosphere.
Beaches
The most popular beach here is El Cable, where one can find the luxurious Playa Padre Beach Club as well as facilities for the practice of different beach sports. The rest of the beaches in this area are natural urban beaches: La Bajadilla, Río Real, La Venus, El Faro and La Fontanilla. These are beaches with easy access from the promenade and are full of dining options, sun loungers, showers or pedal boats for rent. The beachside promenade is known as the Paseo Marítimo; mostly pedestrian and lined with palm trees, it is filled with seafood restaurants and bars.
Outdoors
As well as beaches, the outdoors in this area offers a great selection of urban parks, modern culture and a charming historic centre. For a quiet moment in a vibrant city, one can head to the many parks around: Parque de la Alameda, with its great fountain surrounded by leafy trees and a small fun fair during summer months; Parque de la Constitución, with a children’s play area and an open-air theatrical auditorium; Vigil de Quiñones woodland, with picnic facilities; or Parque de la Represa, which also includes a Bonsai Museum and a viewpoint. For a walk among history and culture, there is Avenida del Mar, featuring a wide pedestrian zone with a collection of sculptures by Salvador Dalí; and of course, Marbella Old Town, full of flower-draped balconies, Renaissance-era buildings, and ancient cobblestone streets.
Sports
Healthy living and an active lifestyle are two important elements in, Marbella's life. There is a great selection of sports facilities around the city and thanks to the great weather, one can practice sports all year round. One can choose to head to the municipal sports centre, Polideportivo Paco Santos, to practice tennis, swimming or football among other sports; go to Puerto Deportivo de Marbella, for fishing and water sports activities; or take advantage of the wide promenade, a perfect place to cycle, run and practice exercise on one of the work-out machines provided by the local government.
Shopping
Marbella Centre has become a shopping destination with plenty of options to suit everyone’s taste and budget, from the latest designer fashion to local speciality products. Here, there is one of the largest shopping malls in Costa del Sol, La Cañada, with over 280 international and local brands’ shops, restaurants and a cinema. For exclusive home decoration, El Corte Inglés El Capricho is the store for lovers of the very best in interior design. Also, Avenida Ricardo Soriano, the main street in Marbella Centre, is home to a full range of high-street brands and many other businesses such as pharmacies or supermarkets. Finally, one cannot miss to wander around the gorgeous streets and squares in the Old Town full of authentic and original boutiques as well as Spanish delicatessens.
Hotels & Resorts
This part of Marbella brings more of an Andalusian feel. In the OId Town, one can find gorgeous boutique hotels in beautifully restored buildings dating back centuries, such as Hotel Claude Marbella. Closer to the seaside, there is the iconic El Fuerte Marbella, a 5-star beachfront hotel within walking distance of the historic centre.
Restaurants
Marbella Centre is a gastronomic haven with so many choices. To discover the authentic flavours of the local cuisine, one can choose the traditional tapas in Bar El Estrecho, fine dining in Michelin-star Restaurante Skina, or organic and slow cooking in The Farm Restaurant, all surrounded by the charm of Marbella Old Town. Along the seaside promenade, popular restaurants such as Los Mellizos or Asador Santiago offer Mediterranean cuisine with fresh fish, seafood, and paellas; or the stylish beach clubs Amare Beach and Playa Padre if one is looking for more of a party vibe. There is also room for cuisines from all around the world with the Japanese Ta-kumi or the Italian Stuzzikini among many others.
Essentials
There are many supermarkets and small shops all around the centre of Marbella. For fresh, quality products the Mercado Municipal de Marbella is a “not to miss” option. Regarding healthcare, the main public hospital is approximately a 10-minute drive from the centre, with private hospitals and medical centres such as Hospital Ochoa, Clínica Premium Marbella, and Hospital Quironsalud Marbella located within the Marbella Centre area. There is also a wide variety of private specialist doctors of all categories from aesthetics to nutrition and dietetics.
Unique about the area
Marbella Centre is a unique blend of dynamic urban life, international city and traditional village. It is the urban core of Marbella, where everyday life buzzes and services and amenities are at hand, yet it retains the charming Andalusian feel, the best tapas in the sun and the most authentic local flavour.
Neighbourhoods
The main areas in Marbella Centre are Promenade, Ricardo Soriano, Old Town and El Pirulí
If you think Marbella Centre can be the place for you, contact me and I will help you find your dream property and your perfect slice of this incredible lifestyle.
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