Dear readers. Andalucia Travel Guide continues to grow. From a small start 3 years ago ATG had the first 8 months of 2010 over 1 million pages read. This must mean our readers find articles interesting and that we are very well exposed on Google and the internet. Well done to all our writers and thank you to all our readers.

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Situated in one of the most prestigious areas of southern Spain, this stunning villa in El Madroñal offers every luxury. Offering a unique ambience, this secluded and private residential complex is protected by 24 hour security and many extras.

Located in the district of Benahavis, just off the Ronda road, and only a 15 minute drive from the centre of Marbella and Puerto Banus, El Madroñal is surrounded by beautiful countryside views, and offers the best of both worlds. This is one of the most tranquil and peaceful settings near the Costa del Sol.

With a south-east orientation, this sprawling house also boasts open views to the mountains and down to the Mediterranean Sea. Built to the highest possible standards, in the style of a Relais Chateux, this stunning property consists of a main villa with staff apartment and 2 independent suites, plus a guest apartment with en suite bedroom, lounge and a fully fitted kitchen.

The beauty of this property is its high quality build, spacious rooms, and its location, which is one of the most sought after in southern Spain. An elegant, sweeping driveway leads to the beautiful entrance porch with ornate fountain, and the well-designed entrance hall opens out into a spacious lounge area with open fireplace.

Archways lead to an elegant and stately dining area, with top quality American-style kitchen, 2 bedroom suites, including a large master bedroom with office, dressing room and steam bath. The first floor consists of another spacious suite with dressing room and large terrace, and offers impressive views down to the sea. The property also boasts central oil heating, hot and cold central air conditioning, automatic sun blinds, an intricate alarm system and an emergency generator, plus reserve water tanks.

Enjoying over 320 average days of sunshine a year, the Costa del Sol, and Benahavis are the perfect locations for al fresco entertaining, and this luxurious family home offers a heated pool, plenty of spacious terraces, barbecue areas and 7,400m2 of private garden, offering total privacy.

The house is 1,050m2 built, with 250m2 terraces, and priced at €4.500.000, the property is already receiving plenty of interest.

Just a forty minute drive from Malaga Airport, El Madroñal is an exclusive development on the Ronda road, with an easy drive down to Marbella and the coast. The historic town of Ronda, with its many attractions, and Tajo Gorge is just 40 minutes up the mountain from El Madroñal, and this particular property offers unrivalled views over open countryside. Along with La Zagaleta, which is just a couple of kilometres to the north of the property, El Madroñal is one of the most prestigious developments in the Marbella area, and the area is home to many of the wealthiest residents in Spain.

On a clear day, you can see Gibraltar and Africa from the property, and the El Madroñal Country Club includes a bar, restaurant, pool and tennis courts. If golf is your game, you can book a tee time at one of the 70 plus courses on the Costa del Sol, including Los Naranjos, La Quinta, Las Brisas or Aloha in nearby Nueva Andalucia.

You can enjoy the tranquility of El Madroñal, while being just 15 minutes away from the beaches of Marbella and Puerto Banus, and the designer shops, bars and restaurants in town.

This is a unique chance to buy a property in one of the most famous residential areas of southern Spain, and early viewing is highly recommended. For more info and pictures please contact us.

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If you want to enjoy an excursion from Marbella, take a day to visit Mijas-Pueblo, Ronda, Gibraltar, Seville or Granada, which are some of the most beautiful regions of Andalucia.

Ronda
Famous for its spectacular 100 meter  deep gorge, El Tajo, Ronda is one of Andalucia´s most visited towns, and lies just 60 minutes away from Marbella by coach. Split between the old Moorish town and El Mercadillo, a more recently built section, Ronda continues to attract visitors from all over the world. The two parts of town are linked by the Puente Nuevo (New Bridge), which was built in 1751, and took 42 years to complete. But aside from the oldest bullring in Spain, some of the best tapas bars in Andalucia, and a stunning parador which seems to cling to the side of the gorge, Ronda´s rich history is both colourful and intriguing.

One of Andalucia´s most important and traditional events is the Feria Goyesca de Pedro Romero, held in Ronda each year in September.

The celebrations take place in and around the Real Maestranza Bullring. The Goyesca tradition began in 1954 when Antonio Ordóñez, a great friend of Ernest Hemingway, and also a great bullfighter, decided to celebrate the birth of Pedro Romero, the founder of modern bullfighting. Traditional 18th century costumes are worn by the fighters, which are typical of the dress worn during the times of the great Aragonese painter, Francisco de Goya, and continue to be a major part of this event. Culturally, this is one of Ronda´s highlights, and features bullfights, a dazzling costume display and an exhibition of beautifully decorated carriages.

Mijas Pueblo
Mijas Pueblo  is perched high above the bustling resort of Fuengirola, and is one of the most charming white villages of Andalucia. Only 30 minutes by road from the Marbella, as you make your way up the winding roads towards this pretty village, you will notice the white-washed houses in the distance, almost clinging to the hilltop.

Shops, bars, and quaint cafes with the most stunning views abound in Mijas, and there are plenty of resting places and view-points dotted around the cobbled streets.  The Muralla Gardens is well worth a visit – this has been very cleverly designed so that flowers are in bloom all year round.  The Mijas Bullring is one of the oldest in Spain, and visitors can go inside and view this fascinating arena for just €3.

Local shops offer beautiful ceramics, leather goods, paintings and jewellery and there is also a wonderful fresh flower market in the village square every Saturday.  Horse drawn carriages can also be hired during the Summer months from the Plaza de Pina to chauffeur you around Mijas for approximately 12 Euros.

The Folk Museum is also worth a visit, showing the trades and history of Mijas.  Also above the village is the Shrine of the Calvario, built in 1710.  The Shrine can be seen for miles around and you can gain access by climbing the winding path from the village.  Although only open on Good Friday, each year, the stunning views from here are worth the walk any time of the year. One of the most charming of the ´white towns´, Mijas-Pueblo attracts visitors from all over Europe.

Gibraltar
The famous rock of Gibraltar is just one hour´s drive from Marbella and Puerto Banus, and if you want to explore a little piece of England on the Mediterranean, there is no better place to visit.

Situated on a narrow piece of land linked to the end of Spain, the rock of Gibraltar is 426 metres high and covers an area of 6 m2.  The thin coastal strip of land to the west overlooks the Straits of Gibraltar and the Atlantic Ocean, and the east side with its sheer, steep cliffs overlooks the Mediterranean.

Gibraltar´s history evolves from its strategic position at the southern-most tip of the Iberian peninsula, where Europe meets Africa, and still remains to be an important base for the British Navy.  The territory shares a border with Spain to the North.  Gibraltar was granted by Spain to Great Britain in perpetuity in 1713, under the Treaty of Utrecht, and although Spain insists it should be returned to them, it remains British territory. The British Government has vowed to respect the wishes of the Gibraltarians, who oppose any proposals for shared sovereignty with Spain.

The rock is home to many historical sites and places of interest, that tourism boosts the economy, and many cruise ships also dock here regularly, bringing visitors from all over the globe.  Gibraltar has become a popular holiday and business travel destination over the years and has the added bonus of tax-free shopping.

Seville
Seville is an exciting and passionate city which continues to attract visitors from all over the world.  You don´t have to be a lover of architecture or history to enjoy Seville, but you will be blown away by the city´s elegance, charm and underlying sensuality. You can reach Seville from Marbella in just under two hours.

It´s true that temperatures can rise to over 40 degrees in Seville during summer time, but the atmosphere of the city during the hot season, and the open air bars alongside the river provide plenty of shade and refreshment.

Once the capital of Spain, Seville is only a two hour drive from Marbella, and boasts some of the most decadent and ornate buildings and monuments in Spain, including the incredible cathedral which dominates the city´s skyline. The Catedral de Santa Maria de la Sede is the largest Gothic cathedral, and the fourth largest Christian church in the world.  The intricate detail and ornate stone work displayed in the Cathedral make it one of the most incredible examples of Sevillian architecture you are ever likely to see from this period of history, and it is hard to imagine how this stunning building was ever completed without modern machinery.

Don’t miss out on the tapas. The city is credited with the inventing these tasty morsels, and has more than a thousand bars where the choice of food, is virtually unlimited, from seafood to ham and sausage and the finest Manchego cheese you will ever taste. The Sevillians actually make a meal of the delicious tapas, moving from bar to bar and sampling different dishes.

Granada
Steeped in history and home of the world´s greatest monuments, Granada attracts visitors from all over the world. Just a 90 minute drive from Marbella, you can easily explore this great city in a day. The Alhambra Palace is a palace and fortress complex which heralds from the time of Moorish rule in Granada and was built by Yusuf I in 1348. Once the residence of Muslim rulers, this stunning building is now one of Spain´s most popular tourist attractions, and exhibits the country´s most famous Islamic architecture.  To fully explore the Alhambra, take a few days to leisurely stroll round the amazing gardens and fortresses. The Alhambra gets very busy, particularly during the summer months, and if your excursion doesn´t include entrance tickets, check out: www.alhambra.info for more information.

No trip to Granada would be complete without a visit to Albaicin, which is the old Arabic quarter opposite the Alhambra Palace.  Typically Andalucian in appearance, whitewashed houses nestle around cobbled streets, quaint squares and patios.  Visitors can stroll around the gift shops, where many local handicrafts are made and sold, or enjoy lunch or dinner in one of the many local restaurants.  Local ceramics and pottery is sold widely and most is handmade in workshops behind the houses. Handicrafts made of leather, cloth and wrought iron are also common here, and woven cloth and patchwork can also be found in the Alpujarra district nearby.

Tangiers, Morocco
How do you fancy spending a day in Africa? Coach excursions to Tangiers are very popular with tourists to the Costa del Sol, and pick-ups by coach from Marbella centre are usually around 6.30am. Situated at the crossroads of Africa and Europe, Tangiers is a fascinating city, and ferries travelling between Algeciras and Tangier, or Algeciras and Ceuta, take between 30 minutes and 1 hr 30 mins, depending on which sailing you take, and Algeciras is only an hour´s drive from Marbella and Puerto Banus.

Tangiers is one of the oldest cities in Morocco. The Phoenicians and Carthaginians established trading posts here, and the Romans later made it a capital city. Tangiers was occupied by the Arabs and invaded by Vandals and Visigoths, before the Spanish and the Portuguese controlled the town. In the early part of the 20th century, Tangier was an international city whose tax-free status and cosmopolitan image attracted European and American artists and writers.Although it has lost a little of its glamorous image, it is still a bustling city with an air of mystery surrounding it. For most visitors that arrive in Morocco by sea, it is their first point of contact with the country.

Moroccan cuisine has been influenced by many different cultures.  The food is a mix of Berber, Spanish, Corsican, Portuguese, Moorish, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and African cuisine.  Heavily influenced by the native Berber cuisine, the Arabic Andalucian cuisine, the Turkish cuisine and the Middle Eastern cuisines brought by the Arabs, as well as Jewish cuisine.  Spices are used in nearly all Moroccan dishes, and many of these, such as saffron and mint, are home-grown.  The most popular meat dish is chicken, often cooked in a tagine with various herbs and spices.  Couscous is the most famous Moroccan dish, and the most popular drink is green tea with mint.

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Having retained its old world charm, Estepona is one of the few resort towns on the Costa del Sol which has remained relatively untouched by development.  Most of the new buildings are on the outskirts of the town, and the main centre retains its Andalucian charm.

Due to its natural environment, surrounded by the sea and Sierra Bermeja mountains, Estepona has a micro climate with over 325 days of sunshine per year.

One of the most important religious celebrations in Estepona is the Virgin del Carmen Procession, which takes place in July every year.

An effigy of the Virgin is often carried on a flower adorned boat around the bay, accompanied by a flotilla of fishing boats, as brass bands play and fireworks fill the sky. The festival is popular throughout fishing villages on the Costa del Sol, and pays homage to the the Virgin del Carmen, and was originally celebrated by mariners and fishermen.  According to tradition, the prophet Elias retreated to a cave in Mount Carmelo in Israel.  Many centuries later, hermits following in Elias´s footsteps asked for protection from the Virgin Mary of Mount Carmelo – the Virgin del Carmen. She was then adopted in many towns and cities as their patron saint, and it was once believed that the sea would not be fit for swimming in until after the 16th July when the Virgin had cleaned it up!

Estepona has many facets which make it a popular holiday destination. It has two EC Blue Flag beaches, a marina area with many tapas bars and restaurants and a white-walled town offering shopping and picturesque squares.
With a population of 60,000 people, Estepona is one of the Costa del Sol´s smaller resorts, yet still offers holiday makers some of the best amenities on the coast.

Particularly popular with Spanish tourists, this bustling town offers accommodation to suit all budgets and requirements, and boasts some of the best beaches in southern Spain.

There is nothing pretentious about Estepona, and numerous street cafes and tapas bars still serve traditional Spanish delicacies at amazingly low prices. The steep, cobbled, narrow streets are home to a host of unusual shops, bars and restaurants, and a weekly market also takes place in the port.

Close to the most southern point of Spain, Estepona is just 35km from Gibraltar, and day trips to this historical rock can be easily arranged from most hotels and tourist offices in the town.

Many hotels have kids clubs and activity centres for younger members of the family, and there are plenty of activities available close to the town.  One of the best family days out has to be a trip to  Selwo Wildlife Park, just 3km from Estepona centre.

Boasting over 2,000 semi-free animals, and 200 species, this is a wonderland for children and adults alike.  The animals are well cared for and roam around in over 100 hectares of semi-natural environment.
On entering the park, the first section houses the parrots, and an incredible aviary, which is home to 1,000 birds. This vast netted area, the largest of its type in Europe, allows the birds to spread their wings, and gives visitors the chance to see them close up.

The rhino enclosure is situated just past the aviary, and visitors can watch the animals being fed and cared for by the keepers at the park.

Just over the ravine, where zebras and camels roam, open safari trucks operate in two directions around the park, and most of the larger animals can be seen from here.  Brown bears, tigers, lions, elephants and giraffes can all be viewed at a comfortable distance, and there are also plenty of smaller species to see – the meerkats being a particular favourite!

There are plenty of refreshment stops and toilets around the park, and lots of helpful staff on hand if you need assistance. Thatched safari style huts can also be rented out at Selwo – giving families the chance to stay overnight and enjoy the facilities.  The cafe at the top of the park offers stunning views down to the coast, and is the perfect place to relax in the sunshine.

Boasting 21km of coastline, Estepona prides itself on its clean, white, sandy beaches, and a marble seafront promenade stretches from the east end of town up to the marina. Playa del Cristo, or Cristo Beach, is five minutes west of Estepona Port. It is a small cove with lifeguards on station and also two chiringuitos, beach front bar/restaurants. La Rada Beach is 2 minutes east of Estepona Marina and, at over 1.5km in length, runs from the Marina past Estepona old town.
Estepona’s small shops offer locally made produce and goods. In the main town centre there are a number of boutiques offering contemporary international clothing brands and other goods. There is also a busy Wednesday market featuring clothing as well as food and vegetables. Estepona port holds a Sunday market for more of the “touristy” type of goods.

The main food stores in Estepona are the large Carrefour complex at the edge of the town, a smaller Carrefour express store in the middle of the town and a number of Mercadona supermarkets. Estepona port has two supermarkets: a Supersol providing fresh produce, meat and seafood and an Open Cor, a subsidiary of El Corte Inglés, providing a selection of convenience style foods. Fresh meat, fish and vegetables may also be purchased at the old, but recently renewed, indoor-market, in the centre of town.

There are no large shopping complexes in Estepona. The nearest large department stores are the La Cañada complex just off the north ring road of Marbella or the El Corte Inglés department store in Puerto Banús, just before Marbella. Both can be accessed by traveling east from Estepona towards Málaga on the A7.

For golf lovers, two courses are within easy reach of the town centre. Estepona Golf Course is located on the inland side of the main coastal road, just one mile from Estepona town centre. The course is set against the Sierra Bermeja mountain range, and enjoys sea views from most parts of the course. The fairways are wide and the greens large, which provides a challenge for players of all levels. Monte Mayor Golf and Country Club is signposted from km. 165.6 on the N340 and is nestled in a natural amphitheatre created by the Serrania de Ronda Mountains.  Monte Mayor is very challenging but is probably one of the most beautiful courses you will ever play.

Although Estepona is still a working fishing port, it also boasts some fabulous harbour side cafés, bars and restaurants, plus nightclubs and a host of late night entertainment.  Estepona is the perfect holiday destination for familes who prefer to take a step back from the other packed resort towns along the coast.

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If you are looking for total luxury in one of the most prestigious areas of Marbella, look no further than this incredible property.

Putting the WOW into the wow factor, this contemporary new property offers 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, a private gimnasium, a large swimming pool, and an incredible 5,980m2 plot size.

The house itself is 600m2 built, and includes a Mezzanine floor overlooking the lounge area, and the exquisite furniture, modern bathroom suites with free-standing tubs and top of the range kitchen furniture combine to make this one of the most sought after properties in Marbella. A fully equipped gymnasium, luxurious pool area and tennis court add something extra to this beautiful property, which would make the perfect family home or luxurious holiday residence.

Situated just a couple of hundred metres from the beach, with large windows letting in plenty of light, this stunning villa is close to all amenities, and just a five minute drive from Marbella centre. Restaurants closeby include Hippo Beach, which is situated on the seafront, and within walking distance of the villa. Serving great salads, snacks and jugs of cold Sangria throughout the summer, Hippo Beach offers casual dining at its best. Los Cano Beach Bar is also situated just 50m to the west of Hippo Beach, and serves excellent fresh fish and seafood.

Los Sardinales is also within walking distance along the beach, just 50m west of Los Cano, and right next to Antonio Banderas´s villa on the sand. Sardinales offers excellent seafood, paella and local specialities, plus some of the finest lobster you will ever be likely to eat.

A large supermarket is situated at the entrance to El Rosario from Fuengirola direction, and El Casco Tennis Club and Restaurants is just a 2 minute drive away, close to the shops. If you want to go into Marbella or Puerto Banus, it will take no longer than 5-10 minutes, and La Cañada Shopping Centre is a short drive away.

It will take approximately 30 minutes to reach El Rosario from Malaga Airport. Local golf courses include: Santa Clara Golf, which is literally a 2 minute drive in the direction of Marbella, as is Marbella Golf Club. With a 5 minute drive east of El Rosario, is Santa Maria Golf at Elviria, and Cabopino Golf is just 3km further on.

If you are looking for a luxurious family home in Marbella, you will not find better than this stunning property. New built, and boasting beautiful contemporary furnishings, a massive plot, and spacious interiors, with prestige fitted kitchen and many extras, this villa comes highly recommended. For more info and contact info please click on this link.

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