Marbella, the lungs of the Costa del Sol

The arrival of spring brings a breath of fresh are to our bodies and immune systems. Leaving behind winter colds and related illnesses, as flowers begin to bloom, our bodies are eager to breathe deeply again and renew themselves with the fragrances of spring and the new seasons air. In addition to the lifestyle it offers: with spectacular properties, fine dining restaurants, luxury shops… Marbella is above all a natural paradise, where it’s unique climate and its beautiful landscape makes the difference for those choosing a city to visit or to reside permanently. With more good weather guaranteed on its way; Marbella Unique Properties wanted to review some of the most important green areas the city of Marbella has to offer and highlight a few particular developments.

According to one of the latest reports published by the World Health Organization (WHO) Marbella is described as one of the European cities with the cleanest air among larger cities, ranking third in Spain. Its low density of traffic (a factor also extremely important for good quality of life), its wide stretch of coastline, its unique micro-climate and the distribution of the city itself (with great facilities for walking or cycling) add to the fact that Marbella is one of the 10 cities with the most green areas per inhabitant in Europe. The urban lungs of the Costa del Sol. Most of the green areas are located in the centre of the city, but obviously we can find many more as we look further afield.

Marbellas city centre boasts its most representative park “Parque de la Alameda” considered the pride of Marbella for a long time. This huge green area, the main lung of the city, dates from the 18th century and occupied an area of 20,000 m2 (20% of the urban area).

Nearby we find “Parque de la Constitución” one of the most peaceful areas of the city. It stands out for its thick vegetation, its well-kept lawns, its playground and its small star gazing observatory. Most importantly is its beautiful auditorium, with capacity for 600 people and where all kinds of shows and events take place during the summer season.

Further away from the beach “Parque Vigil de Quiñones”. These 3 hectares of forest park are within walking distance of the town centre and are home to natural local vegetation. It has several sports facilities as well as full BBQ installations for great family days out with tables and benches for picnics.

As a curious and unique city fact; we would like to point out a park that is not very well known, located west of Puente Romano, near La Trinidad on The Golden Mile, is a very peculiar green area. The Royal Saudi Arabian family park, part of the palace but built on a separate plot for private family use, houses a spectacular now iconic detail. The stone paved walkway is designed to create a silhouette of a traditional Arabian sword; known as a Saif or Shamshir, which can be best appreciated from an aerial perspective. A unique fact when looking at Marbella from a different perspective.

Finding properties near these parks leads us to the city centre where the most predominant options are apartments. Outstanding developments such as Don Gonzalo or the Senator Building for having some of the most spectacular apartments and best locations in the city itself, but we can also find townhouses and villas in close by residential areas.

If we leave the centre of the city and go up the mountain we reach the area of Nagüeles, a great residential area that we talked about in one of our previous blogs. Here we find “Parque Pinar de Nagüeles” at the foot of La Concha Mountain with an abundance of amenities to offer such as: barbecues, tables, benches, fountains, playground, large parking area etc… In addition to a dog area where your pet can play and socialize as well as home to a well-known youth hostel. Some of the most prestigious residential areas on the Costa del Sol, such as Sierra Blanca or Cascada de Camojan, are located in the wider area of Nagüeles, with a wide range of townhouses, making it a fantastic area to settle down and start a Marbella life.

Nueva Andalucia boasts the most visited green areas but they are not parks as such, this area is known as the golf valley. Offering beautiful apartments in gated developments and luxury villas with incredible views over Las Brisas, Los Naranjos and Aloha golf courses. La Dama de Noche, Aloha Gardens and Los Naranjos are just some of the most popular developments that can be found in the area. They also offer excellent rental returns for both short-term and long-term rentals. If we continue towards the northern part of Nueva Andalucía we discover “Lago de Las Tortugas” (Turtle Lake). A beautiful natural space boasting a large lake with abundant vegetation such as eucalyptus trees and views to the La Concha Mountain. It has picnic areas, parking, children’s park, a jetty and a recreation area.

Continuing west, we find San Pedro which nicely finishes our variety of park areas in Marbella and its surroundings. Here we highlight “Parque Forestal de los Tres Jardines”, to the north of San Pedro town, with over 10,000 plants divided into three park areas with different vegetation: the Arabian Garden, the Mediterranean Garden and the Subtropical Garden. Without a doubt it is a delight for lovers of the outdoors and gardens with great diversity.

There are many more parks in addition to the above mentioned, other areas with great parks and unique hiking routes include: Guadalmina, Marbella East,… and many others, offering a different way to enjoy the cities green areas. We recommend that you take advantage of the sun and the city, go out, take a deep breath and breathe in the purest air on the coast.