The Most Beautiful Buildings in Marbella

The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación is old Marbella’s main church. Constructed in the 16th and 17th centuries, it is notable for its ornate and perfectly preserved entrance and its pretty bell tower. The latter is particularly attractive on sunny days, when its bold whites and yellows contrast stunningly with the spotless blue of Andalusian skies.

Hotly debated is the issue of whether the Ana Maria flamenco bar shows the real thing or a watered-down, rip-off version for tourists (entry is €25). Never mind that, though, because it’s lovely just to look at. Simply and happily painted in the blues and yellows you see so much of in Andalusia, it looks like something straight out of a kid’s colouring book. The building next door isn’t bad, either.

Wander up Calle Hospital Bazán in Marbella’s old town and you’ll soon encounter the Moorish arches of the former Bazán hospital. It was built in the early 16th century and originally also contained a chapel in which members of the local Bazán family were buried (Don Alfonso Bazán left money in his will for the hospital’s construction). Nowadays, it houses the city’s Contemporary Engravings Museum.