Nueva Andalucia is a well thought out and attractive area just west of Marbella where, as its name suggests, the villas and apartments are based on traditional Andalusian architecture and design.

The bullring marks the entrance to Nueva Andalucia, while the road climbs towards the mountains affording magnificent views of the coast. On a clear day, you can even see North Africa off in the distance. Sports enthusiasts can find plenty on offer here with tennis, paddle tennis and a gymnasium. For golfers in particular, the area could not be more ideal. There are several magnificent courses within virtual putting distance, including Las Brisas, Los Naranjos, Aloha Golf and La Dama de Noche, which is floodlit for night time play. All the Nueva Andalucia golf courses are surrounded by stunning scenery with a backdrop of mountains.

Nueva Andalucía is also fast becoming known for its international cuisine which ranges from a down home American deli to the ultimate in cordon bleu. It also boasts one of the most popular commercial centres in the area, Centro Plaza comprising quality shops, restaurants, bars and offices, as well as a supermarket, gymnasium and beauty parlour. In other words, this thriving commercial centre has everything that the consumer might want - from taking care of the weekly shop, to buying unusual and exquisite gifts, including carpets, antiques, luxury toiletries and, not surprisingly perhaps, everything you may need for the golfer in the family. There is also an excellent street market ("rastro") held next to the bullring here every Saturday morning.

Aside from recreational, sport and commercial facilities, Nueva Andalucía has several schools, including the international Aloha College. It is also home to one the Costa del Sol's just two casinos, which boasts a vast gaming room as well as various other facilities.

For both residents and visitors, Nueva Andalucía is ideally situated, just a few minutes drive from the glitz and glamour of Marbella and Puerto Banús, yet close to the natural beauty of the Sierra de Ronda mountain range and San Pedro Alacantara, a refreshingly unspoilt pueblo with an appeal all of its own.

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Puerto Banus is located just west of Marbella, before you reach the small town of San Pedro de Alcantara. This is the place to be pampered yachtside and ogle those fabulous luxury yachts while sipping a drink at one of the many open air restaurants and bars. The setting is close to ideal, with its impressive mountain backdrop and ocean views.

Since its inception some forty years ago, the port has steadily grown and now features a casino, commercial shopping centre, a Corte Ingles department store, marine observatory and a multi cinema with films shown with their original soundtrack.

Nightlife buzzes at Puerto Banus with your choice of alfresco bars, piano clubs and discos while during the day this is a window shopper´s dream with several of the world renowned fashions houses featured here, in addition to small, interesting shops and boutiques.

If you really want to have a bird´s eye view of the port´s magnificent position, then regular boat trips are the ideal solution and available on a regular basis from the central promenade.The beach adjacent to Puerto Banus holds a European blue flag.

Every Saturday morning at Puerto Banus by the bullring is a very popular street market where you can pick up all sorts of bargains.

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Marbella's motto is "A Way of Life" and, certainly, this luxurious resort town seems to have it all and is, once again, rising to the fore as a favourite location with the rich and famous, as well as more ordinary folk who are willing to pay just a little bit extra for southern Spain's answer to St Tropez.

Not too long ago, Marbella sharpened its image still more thanks to a considerable investment initiated by the town's colourful and controversial late mayor, Jesus Gil which resulted in a massive landscaping drive.

But Marbella has a down to earth side as well, an air of individuality which can be best appreciated by exploring back streets in the old part of town. One of the prettiest places is the fabled 'Orange Square' which is located just off the main street in the older district and is also home to the 16th century town hall and tourist office where you can pick up a detailed map and visitor information.

Your visit might very well inspire you to consider living in Marbella, if so click here for an introduction to the neighbourhoods that make this such a charming place to live.

Back to Orange Square, or "La Plaza de los Naranjos", as it is called in Spanish, expect to meet with stately buildings, small shops, art galleries, bars and bistros and is a hub of activity day and night. And, depending on the time of year, the colours here can be vibrant, with the trees and exotic tropical plants set against a backdrop of dazzling white buildings and a deep blue sky.

Be sure to explore the honeycomb of surrounding narrow streets where homes and shops intermingle to create the atmosphere of a small village, rather than a cosmopolitan town. There are numerous excellent restaurants to choose from, ranging from those specialising in the predictably pricey exclusive cordon bleu to the gritty individuality of a backstreet Spanish bar where the Serrano ham is gently cured by tobacco smoke and the tapas are both tasty and filling.

Back towards the coast is the La Alameda park where you can book your personal horse and carriage to travel in style or, if you prefer, stroll on towards the sea along the Avenida del Mar. This is arguably one of the most delightful promenades on the costa, flanked by classy restaurants and bars and mercifully free of concrete skyscrapers, glass bottom boat trips, imported shells and I love .... T. Shirts that are fast bringing a sameness to coastal resorts, whether they be in Pathos, Cyprus or Portimao, Portugal.

From Guadalalmina to Cabopino, the Marbella coastline stretches along some 26 kilometres of sunny beaches bathed by the Mediterranean and where you can enjoy traditional fish and seafood favourites like sardines on a spit, fried fish and the incomparable paella. There are also two large parks in Marbella which provide some welcome shade to spend some time with a book. The amphitheatre at Constitution Park (once the garden of a private residence) is frequently used for concerts and plays in the summer. Casinos, clubs and just about every sporting activity under the sun, few places can match Marbella for world class tennis, sailing and golf. There are also three pleasure craft harbours here.

However for the ultimate in coastal charisma it would be hard to beat Puerto Banus, just west of the town. This is the place to be pampered yachtside and watch the world go by or window shop at one of several of the world renowned fashion houses and boutiques. The port has grown considerably over the years and now includes a casino, commercial shopping centre, El Corte Ingles department store, marine observatory and a multi cinema with films shown in their original soundtrack. The nightlife is buzzing here with alfresco bars, piano clubs and discos which are open dusk until dawn.

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