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Something I always advise visitors to do in Marbella is to walk from one end of the resort’s famous Golden Mile to the other. The walk is a great way to really see the city and experience its wide variety of architecture, not to mention how the resort’s character subtly changes as you stroll from the pretty, historic old town to the glitz and glamour of the modern marina at Puerto Banús. A word of warning though, ‘Golden Mile’ is not a strictly accurate description as the walk is actually closer to four miles. But don’t be put off – there are plenty of pretty cafés, restaurants and bars along the way for you to stop off at and relax with a cold drink and tapas. Here are some of my favourite sights along the Golden Mile. Plaza de los Naranjos This pretty 15th century square is a great place to start your exploration of Marbella. Set in the heart of the narrow, winding streets of the old town, the Plaza de los Narnajos was built by the Christians when they won Marbella from the Moors in 1485. To celebrate the victory of their faith, the Christians built the square and the pretty Chapel of Santiago with its statue of St James. Murallas del Casatillo Travel from the plaza to the Murallas del Casatillo, the remains of the Moorish castle which used to sit at the heart of Marbella. There is little left today but the sight of the imposing wall puts into focus Marbella’s history as a Moorish city. Avenida del Mar Stroll through the shady Parque de la Alameda with its cooling fountains and benches to the Avenida del Mar, a pedestrian walkway decorated with fountains and a fascinating range of sculptures by the artist Salvador Dalí. The Avenida del Mar connects the old town with the sea and offers beautiful views across the water. Paseo Maritimo Walk towards the beach and you’ll join Marbella’s promenade, the Paseo Maritimo, which runs alongside the beach all the way to Puerto Banús. Along its length are a number of beaches where you could stop off for a swim but my favourite is the bustling Playa de la Fontanilla. Puente Romano Hotel Leaving Marbella behind, the Paseo Maritimo becomes quieter and more sedate but there are still plenty of lavish hotels to stop off in for a bit of luxury and a cold drink. It’s worth taking time to visit the Roman Bridge at the Puente Romano Hotel which was once part of a major Roman road linking Rome and Cádiz. Puerto Banús Look out for views of Gibraltar and the African coast as you near the luxury resort of Puerto Banús. Head for the marina for a glimpse of the ‘mega’ yachts which stop off there, then take a seat in one of the many bars to watch the stream of luxury cars pass by. When you feel like coming back down to earth, there’s a public boat back to Marbella. How to Get There There are flights to Málaga from most UK airports. From there take a direct pre-booked transfer service straight to your hotel. This is usually a better option than hoping for a cab when you arrive, as there can be an extremely long wait for taxis from Málaga airport. Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe and northern Africa. If you’re looking for affordable taxis from Malaga airport, Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly and safely.
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