Guadalmina, Marbellas sweet spot!
As you visit Marbella you will discover various new areas, each with its own charm and unique characteristics, in this outstanding city we can find in addition to Puerto Banus and its high end boutiques, mountainous areas, forests, countryside, beaches with wonderful sand dunes, entertainment areas and tranquillity. It all started on The Golden Mile. Marbella went from being a small fishing village concentrated in the old town, to begin to be a place of residence for the European nobility, which helped expand the city. Construction began before that on several main areas foreseeing the advantages that could arise for each type of resident. Therefore expanding Marbellas nuclear areas and finding an ideal residential area in Guadalmina, as previously this area was uninhabited, the area began to slowly grow and become a neighbourhood of large unique villas, with exclusive neighbours, with beach and surrounded by golf courses.
The area was named after the Guadalmina River, a short coastal river spanning 28kms in length, starting in the Sierra Bermeja Mountains. From Benahavis it forms the place of ‘Las Angosturas’ where the permanent water comes down from the Sierra and arises from the karst aquifers, surging next to San Pedro de Alcantara. The river serves as a separation between the municipal areas of Estepona and Marbella. In the past this was a great defensive strategy point for the mountain town of Benahavis, due to the water barrier that it formed. The water was also used to be able to power flour mills. Close to the rivers opening are the remains of the Basilica of Vega del Mar (a 4th century early Christian temple) and Roman baths from the 3rd century.
Guadalmina was a small farmer’s village west of San Pedro de Alcántara, in the midst of corn, peat and sugar cane fields; Guadalmina had a soft landscape, with abundant flora and a beautiful wide beach. It was the idea of a Basque businessman, Norberto Goizueta, who invisioned for the first time how Guadalmina could develop and began the construction of the Guadalmina Golf Club. Inaugurated in 1959 after the completion of the South Course, this was the beginning of what would be a European golfer’s revolution. Only a few years later in 1965, the course hosted the Spanish Championship, which was the first of several International tournaments to take place on the course.
The first building works that took place in Guadalmina were a collection of spectacular and refined villas next to the sea, with stunning gardens that could be compared to small parks. Due to the variety of properties that Marbella has always been able to and continues to offer, the area boasts apartments, townhouses in traditional Andalusian village style and much more… all making the most of the sea and golf views, which due to its well positioned north and south golf courses that emulate parkland.
Guadalmina is divided into two areas: Guadalmina Alta and Guadalmina Baja divided by the main road the N-340, which boasts easy connection and access to Puerto Banus and Marbella town. Even though Guadalmina does not have a town centre as such it offers many activities and services. Apart from the aforementioned golf course, Guadalmina has its own commercial centre with shops, cafes, boutiques, restaurants and services such as dentists, interior designers, lawyers, etc. Many residents and visitors when in Guadalmina choose to spend their time in the Guadalmina Hotel, charming their guests with their spectacular beachfront facilities and golf club. We should though not forget one of Guadalmina’ most attractive points which is its natural beauty and greenery. Guadalmina offers many walkways and paths throughout for people who want to get out from the busy city centres and have as stroll through a beautiful location. One of the most famous walks is called the ‘Acequia del Guadalmina’, which path was open to the public in the summer of 2014, by adding a wooden bridge to connect from the “Angosturas del Guadalmina” to the main road. It is a practically flat route, which runs alongside the river parallel to the river bed, starting next to the Benahavis road. Along this route you can enjoy magnificent views by following the river along its naturally curvy bank. This area boasts fauna and flora with predominating botanical species such as the European Olive, the Pistacia Lentiscus and Rosemary. With regards to fauna you can see rabbits, foxes, genets or birds of prey.
The low density that the area of Guadalmina offers, its proximity to Marbella, its tranquillity, wonderful social life and its beautiful beaches, have all helped make this area a small paradise. Do not hesitate to contact us if after this brief summary, you would like to know more about Guadalmina. The opportunities offered in today’s market may be sweeter than that in other areas, maybe with a little help from the old sugar crops! Sweeten your morning coffee with a bit of Guadalminas’ golf and beach. We look forward to your call and would like to thank you on behalf of Marbella Unique Properties team.