Estepona

Estepona is one of the most westerly towns on the Costa del Sol, situated between Marbella and Manilva at the foot of the Sierra Bermeja mountains. It is thus protected from the cold northern winds and maintains a mild climate all the year round. The town centre conserves its old, typically Andalucian style of architecture and town plan, balconies decorated with flower pots and whitewashed houses. Estepona is also one of the most important tourist towns on the southern coastline, with magnificent beaches and facilities, excellent hotels and restaurants. It has a very prestigious riding school, the Escuela de Arte Ecuestre de la Costa del Sol; a wildlife park (Selwo) that is among the best in Europe, and a host of sporting facilities for both water and mountain.

The Phoenicians, Romans and Moors have lived here, and the area was probably first settled by the Phoenicians. The town appeared during the Arab era, conquered in 1457 by Enrique IV de Castilla, who ordered the building of the castle of San Luis, the remains of which can be seen in the Castillo street. Later, new watchtowers were erected on the coast to defend the frequent attacks of the Berber pirates. Estepona was made independent from Marbella's jurisdiction in 1729 due to the privilege granted by King Felipe V. Estepona provides a great balance between sun and culture, with its 15th to 19th Century ruins and landmarks from Moorish and Christian settlers, and its commercial developments stretching out along the peaceful beaches, and overlooking the golfing greens.

Estepona, traditionally a small Andalucian fishing port, is now one of the fastest growing and most popular destinations on the Costa del Sol. Despite its recent growth, Estepona has managed to preserve its peaceful town atmosphere. Estepona port was built in 1977 and is equipped with all modern facilities. There are also a variety of sport amenities in Estepona port along with dolphin spotting trips and fishing excursions. There are numerous street cafes and tapas bars serving traditional Spanish delicacies and the steep, cobbled, narrow streets are a delight to explore. Future development is controlled by strict planning laws; a guarantee that this lovely and historic town will remain unspoiled for generations to come.

The beach in Estepona, named La Rada, is one of the best on the Costa del Sol and one of the few to be awarded the Blue Flag Award. The award was granted in recognition of the beach's cleanliness, safety and facilities. There is also a quiet cove named Playa de Cristo, which is ideal for children due to its shallow, safe waters. Estepona port has also been awarded this accolade. As well as the standard facilities, Estepona port also has a market, which is especially busy on Sundays. The port of Estepona is a lively, vibrant place, with a host of great restaurants and bars overlooking the marina.

Estepona is approximately an hour drive from Malaga airport and is easily accessible by the N340 motorway or the new toll road. The town planners have successfully combined modern architecture with old, completely avoiding the construction of high-rise apartment blocks, which are a feature in more established Costa towns. Although there is a good selection of hotels in Estepona, it is restricted to a small number. There is however, a huge selection of apartments to rent and buy, which is the preferred type of accommodation in Estepona. The stretch from San Pedro to Estepona is being called the New Golden Mile, with landmarks like the new Hotel Kempinski emerging in the past few years.