Top Rated Attractions in Marbella

The town's prettiest square retains its original Renaissance-style fountain, 15th-century chapel, stately mansions and, of course, the orange trees that give it its name. Plaza de los Naranjos which is also referred to as Orange Square was the center of commercial and political life in Marbella for centuries. What's now the Town Hall was a prison during the 19th century. Fortunately, it has been carefully preserved and restored and offers a wonderful environment in which to relax.

Parque de la Alameda is a lovely park full of greenery, with shade trees for passers-by, jasmines and bougainvilleas is half-way between the Paseo Maritimo boardwalk and the old part of the city. In the middle of the 18th century they stopped planting botanical species. At that time, it took up around 20,000 square meters and stretched as far as the old castle walls. Land was gradually lost as it was needed for new buildings. The park has been revamped several times becoming what is now known as Avenida del Mar, with half a dozen sculptures by Salvador Dali. In the center, there's a large ceramic fountain, surrounded by ceramic benches. This is where the very old get together and retell their old love stories between the branches of the trees.

If you take into account that the town of Marbella covers over 25 kilometers of coast and beaches, you shouldn't be surprised that the city's Paseo Maritimo, or boardwalk, stretches over 6 kilometers (3 miles). The white balustrade runs all along the promenade, full of palm trees, buildings and outdoor cafés. Some of the showers on the beaches are elephant-shaped, with bathers showering under their trunks. A walk along the promenade is very pleasant at any time of year. You can go on a bicycle, skates or foot and stop at one of the restaurants or cafés to take in the sun or watch people go by.

Originally built in 1505 with a surprising architectural design and size for the period, this church stands in Plaza de la Iglesia and is one of the city's most important landmarks. Most of the current building, however, was raised in 1712. The main façade dates from 1756 and is the work of the artists Pedro del Castillo and Salvador Galvez. The three naves lead to the main altar inside, where the magnificent organ of the Sol Mayor (C Major) stands, one of the most beautiful in Andalusia. In the beautiful interior, some of the statues that are paraded through the street during Holy Week are housed, including the Virgen de la Soledad (Our Lady of Solitude).

Rey Abdul Aziz Al Saud Mosque is a city location for Muslim worship and other services. It is a newly built mosque which is modern in design and stark white in color. The mosque's imposing facade, coupled with its eye-catching designs and Andalusian-inspired architecture makes it stand out amongst the other structures of the city. Surrounding the mosque are lush green gardens with pretty pink flowers, which make it a pleasure to walk through.

Museo Ralli is a contemporary art gallery, which is a must-visit for those interested in art. The collections here are mainly Latin American in origin and some European pieces as well. Artists such as Wilfredo Lam from Cuba, César López Clarofrom Argentina, Roberto Matta from Chile, have been featured here along with those of Marc Chagall from Russia, Salvador Dalí from Spain and Giorgio de Chirico from Italy.