Set on Europe’s Iberian Peninsula between the Atlantic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, Spain typically conjures up images of matadors, sangria, flamenco dancers and paella. While it offers all of these traditional cliches in abundance, the country's real attraction is to be found in its passionate, laid back people and its unbeatable natural beauty. Even along the well-beaten tourist tracks, there are authentic Spanish experiences to be had, traditional local dishes to sample and idyllic villages of timeless charm to explore. Like the country’s famous tapas, Spain itself is a veritable smorgasbord of thriving cities, bizarre festivals, panoramic views and breathtaking beaches - rendering it a beautiful and beguiling country unlike any other. Weird, enthralling architecture, incredible nightlife and its diversity of art and culture add to the country’s unique allure.
With the breathtaking Sierra Blanca Mountains as a backdrop, Marbella is an intoxicating blend of idyllic beaches, cobalt bays and glitzy nightlife, with the bonus of a sleek and swanky marina. Like other resort towns on the Costa del Sol, it is blessed with an average of 300 days of sunshine a year, as well as a stunning coastline and calm, temperate waters. This modern-day playground of the rich and famous also has a significant, and often overlooked, historical heritage encapsulated in the ancient streets of the old quarter. With its traditional Portuguese architecture and the remnants of its 10th-century Arab citadel, the old quarter is well worth visiting.
