Culture on the Costa del Sol
Being so fair, I am definitely not what you might call a sun worshipper, and so usually favour cities as my holiday destinations. My idea of the perfect break consists of warm weather, good local food and plenty of architecture and historical sights to visit. Therefore, it makes sense that Barcelona and Berlin are my absolute favourite places to visit – so far!
However, this year was a family holiday, the destination chosen by my in-laws for their wedding anniversary. For this, they wanted to share with us, the five-star luxury of Marbella. My perception of this Andalusian city was that it would be geared towards international tourists, reality TV stars and the wealthy. Whilst this may be true of Puerto Banus, which has become a playground for the rich (we saw Alan Sugar there!), with its luxury marina and designer shops, other sites within the province of Malaga are a sharp contrast to this.
We visited the charming white village of Casares, named after Julius Caesar, who it is believed ordered the construction of the village, after discovering the curative properties of the surrounding sulphurous and alkaline waters. The site which was declared protected in 1989 boasts unrivalled mountain views and from the Moorish Casares castle, the rock of Gibralta can be seen. For anyone wanting to experience ‘real’ Spain on the Costa del Sol, the cobbled streets of Casares are undoubtedly worth a visit.
In Marbella itself, the old town is a beautiful place to stroll, and stop for a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice on Plaza de los Naranjos. As well as the Museo del Grabado Espanol Contemporaneo, with its beautiful interior archways, and the Museo Bonsai, another place I made sure to visit was the Salvador Dali sculpture park. Here, the works are out in the open, on a walkway between retail outlets. Whilst I found it strange that the artist wasn’t more celebrated, you could say that they are positioned to be seen by everyone, as the marble pathway of Avenida del Mar is a route used by locals and tourists, day and night.
