About Marbella

Marbella remains one of the most prestigious spots on the Costa del Sol and the whole of Spain.

This sun drenched town in Southern Spain that is so steeped in history is blessed with an especially mild microclimate, thanks to the impressive Sierra Blanca mountain range, just a mile inland, which overlooks and protects the Marbella area.

History of Marbella

Just 50 or 60 years previous Marbella amounted to just a small fishing village with a population of under 1000 people. This all changed however quite dramatically when Spanish Prince Max Egon zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg and his heir Alfonso made an unscheduled stop in the area.

Young Alfonso was so impressed by the possibilities of this town that he began buying up land with the intention of marketing Marbella and its surrounding area as a destination for tourists. It was he who founded the now famous Marbella Club and convinced members of the European Nobility and Elite that Marbella was the place to enjoy and relax in discreet luxury.

The birth of Puerto Banús

The success of Marbella and its spectacular growth isn’t all down to Prince Alfonso though. 1970 saw the arrival of an equally impressive entrepreneur with an equally impressive vision.  It was a property developer called José Banús who saw the potential for a luxury marina and shopping complex intended for the Marbella elite.

The official opening of Puerto Banus Marina (May 1970), was attended by more than 1700 guests including some of the world's best known A-list names including the Aga Kkan, Hugh Hefner, Roman Polanski, Prince Rainer and Grace Kelly (Princess Grace).

In the years since a string of famous and high profile persons have chosen Marbella as their preferred  destination away from home including Prince Fahd in the 70's (who would later become King Fahd of Saudi Arabi), Deborah Kerr, Sean Connery, Sir Alan Sugar, Simon Cowell and many more.