Marbella Property Blog

Classical history is not exactly the first thing you think of when picturing Marbella, much less when asked to focus on the beach. Indeed, we tend to think of this entire region as created for the single purposes of rest, relaxation and modern-day hedonism, but in reality the southern coast of Andalucía has one of the richest histories in Europe.

Though the classic Bogart-Bergman film of the same name was set in Morocco, its sense of elegance and intimacy perhaps portrays the Marbella suburb better than it does the large North African metropolis. Little-known to outsiders, this small but highly exclusive residential area manages to be right on the edge of Marbella town yet wonderfully private and peaceful, exactly because it is such a well-kept secret.

In certain circles when people speak of ‘an important’ home they are referring to a property such as this. In an environment where fawning superlatives are considered gauche this rather understated description says more than enough, conveying the sense of a property that can hold its own with the finest anywhere in the world.

The occupants of the elegant Edificio Los Portales I celebrated the renovation of this iconic Marbella building in style with a glamorous cocktail launch party on Wednesday 15 June.

Avant-garde architectural styles are currently very much in vogue in the Marbella area, replacing a spell during which colonial décors were de rigueur indoors, and contemporary Mediterranean architectural lines predominated outdoors. Against all of this, however, there is a timeless classic that retains its standing and attraction throughout. The country style, as exemplified by the stately Andalusian house, is very well at home in this southern part of Spain.