For most people the words Costa del Sol and Marbella conjure up images of sandy beaches, sunny days, palm-lined coastlines and exuberant nightlife. Perhaps surprisingly, Marbella is also a treasure trove for art galleries and museums.
Living in Marbella, be it for part of the year or all year round, brings not just the great outdoor lifestyle with it that Spain is justly famous for. For people who’ve always had an interest in art and history, the town provides an astonishing variety of venues, where paintings, engravings, etchings, sculptures and anything else art related can be viewed and admired.
There is such a wealth of social life, outdoor activities and cultural pursuits on offer for Marbella residents that many Brits who have moved to the Costa del Sol permanently wonder, just how they ever got by in their own country, where bad weather and poor public transport connections often hamper attempts at leading a more active life.
Marbella’s Municipal Gallery at the Plaza Jose Palomo 35 in the Old Town exhibits a number of local artists throughout the year in ever changing exhibitions. In contrast, the Contemporary Engraving Museum at Hospital Bazan near the Orange Square offers a permanent exhibition of some 3,000 marvellous engravings. In addition, there are travelling exhibitions and also engraving workshops with a hands-on approach for those who’d like to learn more about this ancient craft.
The building itself is worth a visit, as it was the former residence of the Mayor Don Alonso de Bazan, who willed it to the town in his testament. Here works by Picasso, Chillida and Tapies are exhibited among many other famous artists. The entrance fee is EUR 3.00 and apart from engravings there are also lithographs, aquatints and etchings on show.
Marbella also has many private galleries, where resident artists have an outlet and can showcase their work. The general public is also able to purchase the art the like from the private galleries and just as property, investing in art is always a long-term project that will eventually pay off. The Fabien Fryns Contemporary Art Gallery at the Hotel Marbella Club showcases both established and rising stars of the art world. Visitors can admire works by Robert Maplethorpe, Rover Silvers, Nan Goldin and Stephan Szczesny among other artists.
In Puerto Banus visitors will also find several art galleries, among them the Art Point Gallery which is only open to the public on Sundays between 2.00 and 22.00 hours.
Art of a very different kind can be admired at the Marbella Mosque, which overlooks the famous Golden Mile in the western part of Marbella. This was the very first mosque to be constructed after the Christian re-conquest had taken place in the 15th century and the Moors had been sent back to their own homelands. Although essentially a modern looking building, the mosque contains some wonderful artefacts, not least of all a collection of some 30,000 precious volumes, with the focus on the teachings of the Koran.
Buying a property to live permanently in Marbella also means being able to visit the Roman villa when the hordes of tourists have returned home and the enjoyment of Marbella’s treasures is handed back to its inhabitants. The Roman villa at Rio Verde has some beautiful mosaics to offer as well as Roman baths. Dating back to the 1st century AD, the villa and baths were once part of the ancient Roman city of Cilniana.
The black and white mosaic tiles depict a very unusual design of tables groaning under food, kitchen utensils that seem to spring straight out of the wish list of a modern celebrity chef and even shoes are displayed among the floral patterns, bird heads and geometric designs.
Marbella property is more affordable than ever at the present time. Changing one’s lifestyle for the better means embracing new experiences. There are few places in Europe where relocation can truly be a life-changing experience, but the Costa del Sol is certainly one of them.
With Malaga Airport located just to the east and Gibraltar Airport to the west, Marbella is blessed with excellent transport options, making a property viewing visit easy and convenient.