MARBELLA INFORMATION

HISTORY

Marbella has been blessed with a long history going back to the primal Paleolithic and barbaric Neolithic Ages. Marbella was founded by the Romans in 206 BC and given the name of Saluba. The weight of Marbella's history lies in the Arab influence which it lived during almost eight centuries (711-1485). During the Islamic period, Marbella was a walled city. The Muslims built a castle, which remains today, and surrounded the city with a moat with just three entrances, from the Sea, from Ronda and from Malaga. King Fernando conquered Marbella on the 11th of June in 1485, after this and throughout the 16th Century, the urban structure of the town of Marbella had significant changes. However by the end of the 18th century there were only 820 buildings in total, many of them empty or falling down. In the 19th century Marbella started to grow, expanding beyond the historic old town to areas along side what is now the Parque Arroyo de la Represa. Public building works of the time included new bridges and roads, but agriculture continued to be the mainstay of Marbella's economy. throughout the 19th century. From the early part of the 19th century there were a number of plans to build a modern fishing port, it wasn’t until the 1950's when the port we see today was finally completed.

FERIAS

Towns and villages in Andalucía have their own feria or fair. The summer annual feria originated in the middle ages, and was the principal means selling local products within the kingdom. The first feria takes place at Seville in April and the last is at San Pedro de Alcantara in mid October. The 'day fair' takes place it the streets of the town itself where streets are closed to traffic. The ferias usually start midweek and finish on Sunday night. In the larger towns they start at midnight on the Sunday night with fireworks with the Monday after the feria often designated as a local holiday.

FIESTAS (2012)

Andalucía enjoys 14 bank holidays a year, 10 national, 2 regional and 2 local. Most businesses are closed on those days.

January 1st - New Years Day (Ano Nuevo)

January 6th - Epiphany/3 Kings (Epifania del Senor/Reyes Magos)

February 28th - Andalucía Day (Dia de Andalucía)

April 5th - Maundy Thursday

April 6th - Good Friday (Vienes Santo)

April 8th - Easter (Domingo de Resurreccion)

May 1st - Labour Day (Fiesta del Trabajo)

June 24th - Saint John (San Juan)

August 15th - Assumption (Asuncion de la Virgen)

October 12th - Fiesta Nacional de Espana (National Day)

November 1st - All Saints Day (Todos los Santos)

December 6th - Constitution Day (Dia de la Constitucion Espanola)

December 8th - Immaculate Conception (Inmaculada Concepcion)

December 25th - Christmas Day (Natividad de Nuestro Senor)

plus 2 local holidays for each particular area

MARKETS

There are several local markets which operate every week.

Marbella street market every Monday from 9am to 2pm, next to the Recinto Ferial Marbella (Zona de Las Albarizas).

Marbella Medieval market 5pm to 10pm weekly with more than 70 stalls in and around Los Candiles (old town) Marbella

Puerto Banus street market is situated near the bull ring in Nueva Andalucía. Held every Saturday and is one of the largest markets on the Costa del Sol.

BEACHES

Marbella has 27 kilometers of coastline with 24 different beaches.

Nueva Andalucía Beach in Puerto Banus has been formed by 4 small bays artificially created by sea walls ensuring calm waters. Good facilities.

Puerto Banus Beach in Puerto Banus again has good facilities, a paved promenade and close to the shops and yachts.

Nagueles Beach is situated on the Golden Mile in Marbella. Good facilities and in front of the Puente Romano and Marbella Club hotels.

La Fontanilla Beach is in the marina area of Marbella with a multitude of restaurants along the promenade.

El Faro Beach is in between Marbella marina and Fontanilla beach, a quiet beach with boardwalks and promenade.

La Venus Beach is located on the far side of the Marbella marina and is the starting point of a long line of beaches that stretch to the fishing port.

La Bajadilla Beach is a continuation of Venus Beach and ends at the fishing port.

There are of course a large number of beaches both East and West of Marbella which stretch from Guadalmina to Las Chapas.

GOLF COURSES

There are approximately 70 golf courses on the Costa del Sol with 38 in the immediate Marbella area.

SCHOOLS

Marbella has a number of excellent nurseries and both public and private schools.

The English International College www.eicmarbella.org

Aloha College www.aloha-college.com

Laude San Pedro International College www.laudesanpedro.com

Colegio Ecos Grupo Attendis www.attendis.com

Swans International Primary School www.swansschoolinternational.net

DRIVING IN SPAIN

If you are driving a foreign registered vehicle in Spain you must have with you the following:

Your current passport

Current driving license

2 EU approved red warning triangles

Approved reflective jackets that must be worn by any person at anytime, day or night, who is outside the vehicle at the side of any highway not in an urban or lit area.

If you wear corrective glasses for driving, a spare pair

Valid insurance

All vehicle documents relating to the car

In Spain the current legal limit of alcohol is 0.5g/l blood and 0.25mg/l breath for normal drivers. For professional drivers the limit is reduced to 0.5g and 0.15g respectively.

If you are driving a foreign registered car in Spain you can only do so for no more than 6 months in any calendar year. It must be also be legal as far as being roadworthy and insurance and road taxes are valid. You cannot get an MOT in Spain or Gibraltar, if the certificate runs out, you will be illegal in Spain. If you are caught using a UK vehicle in Spain whilst living here, you will at the least, have your vehicle impounded. Fines are being handed out in the region of 2,000 euros. Having no UK road tax on your vehicle invalidates your insurance.