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Salvador Dalí Museum

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Cervantes House Museum

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Gaudí's La Pedrera

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HomeMarbella

Museums in Marbella

Marbella is the city to which Spaniards and Europeans alike flock when the temperatures start to get a somewhat uncomfortable in their home towns. Whether it be in the winter, when the weather tends to hold its own while other corners of the continent are sunk in utter misery, or in the summer, a season that seemingly was designed for Marbella, the pristine, aquamarine beaches (Marbella in Spanish means 'beautiful sea') together with a vibrant nightlife and a highly stimulating cultural scene keep luring visitors to the welcoming shores of the Costa del Sol year after year.

Marbella

For those who most enjoy nature, Marbella has a wealth of opportunities to offer. Surrounded by the southernmost mountain range of the Baetic System, the entire region is dominated by the peaks of the Sierra Blanca, such as the Pico de la Concha, just one of the handful of summits in the area to reach well above the 1000 metre line. Even if trekking is not your thing, the mountain still provides a beautiful backdrop for what is one of the most dazzling landscapes of the entire Costa del Sol..

When you visit Marbella what most stands out is that the city is a strange and harmonious blend of old and new, modern and traditional, with all the comforts available to our 21st century society. On the one hand, you have the the Gothic Quarter, where you can still trace lingering signs of the small fishing town it used to be: the charming Plaza de los Naranjos (Square of the Orange Trees), traced towards the end of the XV century and surrounded by the traditional white houses of Andalucía, including the XVI century City Hall; or the medieval wall, imposing remnant of the centuries of conflict between Muslims and Christians, which, ironically, served the same purpose to both factions.

On the other end of the spectrum you will find the 'golden mile', one of the most exclusive and expensive shopping districts not only in the Iberian peninsula but in the entire continent. Coupled with haute couture boutiques and the most sumptuous jewelers around, this area widens into the residential portion of the city, where staggering villas comfortably blend into the scene set by seemingly endless golf courses, which speckle the sunbathed coastline with the brightest and tidiest greens in what must be one of the places with the highest density of putting holes per square mile in the entire world.

Besides basking in the sun, sipping your cocktail and calling 'fore' after a drive shot, Marbella has plenty more activities to offer, and we are not only talking about shopping in the best stores, dining in some of the most stylish restaurants of the region or making new friends in classy bars. Because Marbella's cultural scene is as hectic as it is varied – after all, as special as this place is, it couldn't just have a contemporary art museum like anywhere else, could it?

Miraflores

If you are looking for a new experience, why not visit the Bonsai Museum, set in the beautiful Parque Arroyo la Represa, and take a stroll among centuries-old trees that, uncannily, are no taller than a house plant. Or, alternatively, you could check out the amazing Cortijo Miraflores, an 18th century farmhouse at the heart of a country state that belonged to one family for generations, before being turned into the cultural space it presently is. .

In terms of traditional art, the Spanish Contemporary Engravings Museum is a visit you should not miss. Famous for holding one of the most complete collections of engravings in the country, its 4,000 prints would require an entire city, if they were all to be exhibited at the same time. And yet, the setting, the history, and, of course, the display of the museum makes it a unique venue. Or take a tour of the Ralli museum, one of the five franchises of the institution in the world.

Famous for being a tourist summer retreat, the white sails that sparkle it Puerto Banús, Marbella's Marina, add to the relaxed atmosphere that is felt and breathed in and around the city. Especially during the summer, all sorts of cultural activities take place around the marina, such as exhibitions, fashion shows, concerts and festivals.

So, whether you have gone to learn Spanish in Marbella or just for a short, you will definitely not be bored here for one minute!