This small city on the shores of the mediterranean offers a pleasant surprise to its visitors because of its variety of aspects which adorn the atmosphere and the characteristics of day to day life.

Its origins date to 1600 years b.c., founded by the romans and named Salduba it was situated in the Via Augusta. Judging by the remains which have been unearthed in different excavations we can deduce that the existing Old City Centre is built upon the ruins of that roman city.

Later, in 711, the moors overrun Spain and conquered most of the Iberian Peninsula. Marbella, by then called "MARBIL-LA", became a prosperous city, built up according to moorish mediterranean architecture, with narrow winding streets, protected by the walls of the castle.

In 1485 the Catholic Kings reconquered the city, which went through several modifications in its customs and the lines of its architecture, plazas were built, as were churches, wider streets and larger houses, in castillian style. It is beleived that the actual name of Marbella dated from that era.

The different changes which have taken place through history have given the Old Town a charming character, nearly magic, and it results a pleasure to get lost in the maze of narrow streets and plazas, sometimes coming across scenes which seem to defy all concepts of space and lines. Or entertain oneself with the spectacle of light and shadows, the brightness of the whitewash, the beautiful colouring of the flowers and the sensuality of their aroma...whilst we let our imagination wander through the city´s stories of yesterday and today leaving a deep impression in our minds and in our hearts.

THE PLAZA DE LOS NARANJOS is a complete testament to its past and present occupants. The

picuresque plaza, which was inaugurated in 1485 according to the customs of christian urbanistic designs, it is framed by small white houses and three historical buildings. The Town Hall, The House of the Corregidor and the Santiago Shrine.

The gardens, always in flower, embellish the square with its colours, and in the spring the orange trees fill the air with the sweet aroma of orange blossom. At the centre of the plaza we find a bust of King Juan Carlos I.

On the corner of Calle Nueva and Plaza de los Naranjos there is a fountain which was built in 1504 by Marbella´s first christian mayor. The view from the fountain towards the left leads us to the Casa del Correjidor, built in 1552, it has an attractive and well preserved stone façade with coats of arms and a mirador with three arches. At the present time the groung floor has been converted into a restaurant.