Marbella, having undergone the necessary catharsis, can now truly regain its rightful place as one of the world's premier resort locations. This is primarily due to the worldwide investment that has been attracted in recent decades restoring the city to its former glory as Spain's most exclusive destination. Marbella is the jewel of the Spanish tourist crown. Only the capital city, Madrid, has more five star hotels. It is hard to imagine a destination which offers the palm lined beaches of the Caribbean, the glitz and glamour of St Tropez, the all year round sunshine of the Seychelles and the accessibility of the Channel Islands. But the Costa del Sol offers all this in around three hours flying time from most Northern European Cities.

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The Costa del Sol phenomenon began in the 1950s when legendary socialite Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe turned his extensive private home in to the now internationally renowned Marbella Club Hotel. His royal connections helped the hotel to attract a steady stream of noble guests including the Prince of Monaco, Grace Kelly and Maria Callas. From the 1960s a constant flow of actors and rock stars came to the Costa del Sol from Marlon Brando to The Beatles.

This phenomenon continues with stars such as Sean Connery, Antonio Banderas and Kylie Minogue, making the Costa del Sol their exclusive retreat. They are taken with the fact that they can live on the Costa del Sol discreetly, away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi and retreat to the exclusive mountain suburbs behind Marbella and Puerto Banús. All these famous people help to reinforce the perception that the Costa del Sol is a glamorous place to be part of.

Of course there is more depth to the Costa del Sol than simply the lure of the glitz and glamour. First and foremost the area has a unique microclimate with long summers and the best winter months in southern Europe and the heat is dry bringing added health advantages to residents. Andalusia offers an unexpected selection of activity from skiing in Sierra Nevada to the wonders of the historical cities of Seville, Cordoba and Granada - all a two-hour drive from Marbella. Seville, the capital of the province is acclaimed as Spain's most beautiful city and is well worth a visit either via the excellent motorway or by taking the longer scenic route though the mountain of Ronda and then the hundreds of acres of sunflower fields on the approach to Seville.

Marbella is a town one wants to explore, a location to be enjoyed and lingered over. Numerous tourists pass through the Old Town which oozes with charm, dotted with beautiful parks, cafees, fountains and narrow cobbled streets. The famous 'Orange Square' has always been a landmark. It stands in the very heart of the Old Town and is the centre point of a maze of fashionable shops and bistros. Along the cosmopolitan 'Sun Coast' there are theatres and cinemas as well as numerous sports and social clubs catering to nearly every nationality. Culture is well catered for in the form of classical plays, concerts and ballets, frequently held in an amphitheatre surrounded by lush tropical gardens in the 'Parque de la Constitución'. The area has two magnificent casinos, superb entertainment complexes and shopping centres.