Laura Harrison

TEFL Course Advisor

Cactus Worldwide Ltd

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Marbella lies on Spain's southern coastline, in the heart of the Costa del Sol and with the stunning Sierra Nevada mountains as a backdrop.

In recent decades, Marbella has earned a reputation as a playground for the rich, the famous and their entourage of ‘wannabes’! Amongst this type of visitor, the most popular area is the “Golden Mile” – the aptly named beach and promenade that runs from Marbella to glitzy Puerto Banus. Anyone after a glimpse of Armani’s yacht or a Hollywood A-lister would be best advised to head straight for this star-studded marina town – you’ll need a full wallet for dinner and drinks with a harbour view, though!

Although the boutiques and bars that cater for this side of life are obvious in Marbella as well as Puerto Banus, Marbella itself has still managed to maintain a real sense of history and culture.

The old town of Marbella, unsurprisingly, is the most authentically Spanish area, with its narrow streets, tapas bars, shops and galleries. The central point of the Old Town, still partially surrounded by the ruins of an old Arab wall, is the lovely Plaza de los Naranjos (Orange Square) with its brightly coloured flowers, orange trees and ancient buildings. Away from the beach in this part of town you can find much more affordable, and authentic, options for eating, drinking and entertainment – it’s a great place to experience Andalucia at its best.

Marbella is nice and temperate all year round, but if you want to get a real taste of Andalucian culture the best time of the year to go is June – this is when the annual Feria takes place. The festival honours the patron saint of Marbella, San Bernabe, and comprises the usual eating, drinking and dancing that the Spanish do so well!

Taking a Spanish course in Marbella during the festival will mean that you can learn as much about its origins and traditions as possible, and staying with a host family will allow you to attend with local people who know the best things to do and the best ways to celebrate.

For more details on how we can help find you the perfect Spanish course for you, jut click the link to our own page (above).