History
Marbella as a city and the consolidation of its physiognomy began during the Muslim domination of Al-Andalus, with its distinctive urban and architectural configuration. Until then, there were enclaves of various peoples (Visigoths, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines) that, after their abandonment, disappeared, as evidenced by various though scarce archaeological remains. The remnants of Rome’s presence in the fortified settlement on Escuelas Street in the Old Town are noteworthy.
In 711, Muslims commanded by Al-Tariq entered Spain through a place that would pay homage to his name: Tarifa. The geographical proximity of this location to Marbella explains the rapid arrival of the Arabs within a few years. The construction of the castle or alcazaba was their most important work, where the walls of ashlars and the three Ionic capitals embedded in it can still be admired.
Due to its military function, it had to be remodeled during the Nasrid period with a walled enclosure around the medina or city. This layout currently delineates what is now the historic Old Town, whose perimeter was formed by the streets of Peral and Portada to the north, Huerta Chica to the west, from Fortaleza to Muro Street to the south, and Arroyo de la Represa to the east. In 1485, the Muslims handed over the keys of Marbiliya to the Catholic Monarchs, who granted Marbella the title of City, very noble and very loyal. This is the period when the castle, the walls, and the watchtowers are reinforced.
From then on, properties began to be endowed to religious institutions, which were founded as a paradigm of the new doctrine. Today, we contemplate the Hermitage of Santiago, the Convent of the Trinity, the Hospital of San Juan de Dios, the church of Santo Cristo, and the Hospital de Bazán. At that time, Marbella was defended by a walled enclosure around the urban core: to the north, the Castle, with its citadel and three towers (Santa Catalina, with its drawbridge, El Chorrón, and El Cubo); to the south, the Vela tower; to the east, the New tower; and to the west, the Fixo tower.
Due to its military function, it had to be remodeled during the Nasrid period with a walled enclosure around the medina or city. This layout currently delineates what is now the historic Old Town, whose perimeter was formed by the streets of Peral and Portada to the north, Huerta Chica to the west, from Fortaleza to Muro Street to the south, and Arroyo de la Represa to the east.
In 1485, the Muslims handed over the keys of Marbiliya to the Catholic Monarchs, who granted Marbella the title of City, very noble and very loyal. This is the period when the castle, the walls, and the watchtowers are reinforced. From then on, properties began to be endowed to religious institutions, which were founded as a paradigm of the new doctrine. In this way, today we contemplate the Hermitage of Santiago, the Convent of the Trinity, the Hospital of San Juan de Dios, the church of Santo Cristo, and the Hospital de Bazán.
At that time, Marbella was defended by a walled enclosure around the urban core: to the north, the Castle, with its citadel and three towers (Santa Catalina, with its drawbridge, El Chorrón, and El Cubo); to the south, the Vela tower; to the east, the New tower; and to the west, the Fixo tower.
The city was entered or exited through three gates: to the northwest, through the Ronda Gate (now Plaza del Puente de Ronda), named for being the starting point of the road to the town of the same name, and future Calle Ancha; to the south, through the Puerta del Mar (its approximate current location would be Plaza de José Palomo) and to the east, through the Puerta de Málaga (now Plaza del Puente de Málaga), where the road to the provincial capital began.
The 16th century was a period of great urban expansion, as revealed by the new layout of its streets to make them more passable, a work that highlights the now emblematic Plaza de los Naranjos and Calle Nueva, which connected the latter with the Puerta del Mar.
Within the walled enclosure, the population was distributed in four nuclei or neighborhoods: in the center, the old Medina, surrounded by the neighborhoods of Puerta del Mar, Pedraza, and del Castillo. The urban layout, with 44 narrow streets, 4 small squares, and one large square, is preserved, with slight variations, to this day.
These streets bore – and still bear – names of figures from the conquest: Mendoza, Buitrago. From distinguished natives: Alderete. Others reflected the prevailing religious spirit: Remedios, Virgen de los Dolores, Cruz, Trinidad, Caridad, Misericordia, Gloria, Soledad. Or simple appellations given by common people, straightforward expressions like: Pasaje, Panadería, Nueva, Álamo, Viento, Apartada, Muro, Pelleja, de los Caballeros (where large mansions were located).
During the 17th century, Marbella expanded beyond its walls, developing towards the North, with the aforementioned Calle Ancha as the central axis. A century later, to the East, the Barrio Nuevo (now popularly known as El Barrio) would develop around the old Camino de Málaga (currently Málaga Street), where the Cruz del Humilladero stands, under which Ferdinand the Catholic gave thanks to God for the conquest of Marbella on June 11, 1485.
