Located along the famous Costa del Sol in southern Spain, Marbella is an incredible community steeped in history. Some evidence has suggested that the earliest known inhabitants were possibly the Phoenicians, who were known to establish small trading outposts along the Iberian coast throughout much of antiquity. Other historians believe that the discovery of Carthaginian pottery nearby indicated that Marbella was once within the realm of its sprawling Mediterranean empire, too. Regardless of its exact origins, historical records are certain that Marbella had become a Roman town called “Salduba” amid Rome’s conquest of the Iberian Peninsula in the 2nd century B.C. Traces of Roman influence can be seen throughout modern Marbella today, such as the three beautiful Ionic capitals that still exist within a ring of historical fortifications. Nevertheless, Marbella’s time as a Roman town eventually ended when the Roman Empire collapsed throughout the 5th century A.D. In the power vacuum that followed, the Visigoths briefly controlled the area until the Umayyad Caliphate crossed the ocean from North Africa and seized the territory in the 8th century. The city subsequently became integrated into a growing Islamic civilization referred to as “Al-Andalus” by its new Muslim residents. The Umayyads and their descendants then began transforming the community’s appearance, constructing a series of unique townhouses and commercial structures that featured a stunning array of Middle Eastern design aesthetics. Perhaps the greatest building project the Muslims oversaw was the creation of an imposing walled citadel that prevented attacks from both land and sea. Marbella even assumed its current name then, with the very first iteration spelled as “Marbal-la.”   

In 1485, the Catholic Monarchs of Spain—Queen Isabella I of Castile and Fernando II of Aragon—peacefully obtained the settlement in one of the last phases of the Reconquista. Now part of Spain, Marbella assumed the position of an important provincial capital that dominated the politics of the region for generations. Its economy remained firmly rooted in agriculture for centuries thereafter, especially once sugarcane became the primary crop grown at the numerous farms populating the surrounding countryside. But Marbella began to experience yet another period of significant change when industrialization began to arrive in the 19th century. In 1828, one of the first modern industries to initially appear in Marbella was mining, with businessman Manuel Agustín Heredia founding an iron-ore smelting company called “La Concepción” downtown. While his blast furnaces were only active for three decades, their presence presaged the construction of many more factories throughout the late Victorian era. Then in the 20th century, Marbella’s manufacturing sector was joined by another lucrative trade—tourism. Following the aftermath of World War II, the beaches near Marbella rapidly became popular vacation destinations due to their fantastic weather and turquoise water. Recognizing the economic potential, a European aristocrat named Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg started developing upscale resorts in Marbella and the rest of the Costa del Sol. His investment transformed the region into an incredibly attractive seasonal retreat for travelers throughout the world. Marbella has since retained its illustrious identity as a premier holiday destination, particularly among cultural heritage travelers eager to experience its luxurious character and fascinating heritage.

When José Luque Manzano first had the El Fuerte Marbella designed back during the 1950s, he requested that the architectural team use Mid-Century Modern aesthetics as their source of inspiration. An offshoot of the earlier International and Bauhaus movements, Mid-Century Modern essentially sought to portray a seemingly contemporary, futuristic aesthetic that reflected the popular concepts of civil progress of the era. Professional architects mainly utilized the style from the 1930s to the 1960s, when Western society was rapidly undergoing huge transformations both social and technological in nature. It seemed to many at the time that the world’s way of life was truly on an upward path of mobility. Western architects thus embraced the design ideals of function, simplicity, and rationality in order to create sleek-looking structures that possessed a communal purpose. Mid-Century Modern designs made explicit use of vertical, flat lines as such, as well as irregular rectangular shapes so to convey a lack of formality. Overt ornamentation was typically abandoned, too, with monochromatic brickwork, steel, and concrete serving as the essential building blocks for the exterior. Inside, most of the rooms were subdivided into split levels, giving a sense that the structure had undergone a significant change in elevation. Modernist buildings featured wide, open spaces filled with natural light that represented practicality and comfort. (Large windows often served as the primary way in which the architects achieved such a feature.) The introduction of spacious windows even sought to better incorporate nature into the overall design, making the surrounding landscape seem as if it were part of the building  

But El Fuerte Marbella displays Andalusían-inspired architectural concepts that were first introduced in Spain by Muslims throughout the Middle Ages. Indeed, the architectural legacy that they left behind have been cherished in the country ever since. Successive generations of Spanish people have thus sought to replicate this form of Andalusían architecture within their own building projects, as well as to safeguard any surviving examples. Berber and Arab origin, the Muslims that arrived in Spain had originally settled almost all of the Iberian Peninsula at the dawn of the Early Middle Ages. Establishing small kingdoms, the Muslims subsequently resided in the region for years. But while their civilization was eventually gone by the 15th century, many aspects of their culture endured thereafter. Perhaps one of their greatest legacies was their grand architectural designs. Influenced tremendously by Islamic design principles from the Middle East, the Iberian Muslims created brilliant edifices that embraced the concepts of rhythmic linear patterns, vegetative design, and elaborate geometric shapes. A combination of wood, stucco, and tiling—most notably “zellij”—constituted the building materials, although architects added more resources when attempting to emulate the design much later in modern times. One of the greatest components to this kind of Andalusían building style involved the “horseshoe arch,” which consisted of a perfect curve that bulged outward from the base. Furthermore, the local Muslims had decorated their structures with onion-shaped domes that were generally topped with a pointed spire. Cultural heritage travelers today can witness this historic architectural form throughout much of Spain in places like Alhambra, Granada, and Córdoba. 

Diana Dors, actress known for her roles in such films like Yield to the Night, Deep End, and Tread Softly Stranger.  

Lola Flores, singer, actress, and dancer widely celebrated one of the most iconic figures in flamenco and Andalusian folklore. 

Audrey Hepburn, actress known for her roles in such films like Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Roman Holiday, and My Fair Lady.   

Frank Sinatra, singer and actor part of the famous Rat Pat known for selling 150 million records worldwide.   

Elizabeth Taylor, celebrated actress known for her roles in Cleopatra and The Taming of the Shrew.   

Richard Burton, actor known for his roles in Cleopatra and Where Eagles Dare.   

Sean Connery, actor known for his roles in Goldfinger, The Untouchables, and The Hunt for Red October.  

Timothy Dalton, actor best remembered for playing James Bond in The Living Daylights and License to Kill.  

Conchita Montes, actress best remembered for her roles in movies like Life on a Thread, El último caballo, and Nada.  

Jean Cocteau, artist known for his contributions to the Surrealist and Dadaist artistic movements.  

Rafael Alberti, one of Spain’s most influential poets hailed for being a part of the celebrated “Generation of '27.”  

Edgar Neville, film director and playwright best remembered for such works like Life on a Thread, The Last Horse, and El crimen de la calle Bordadores. 

Walt Disney, legendary cartoonist and founder of the Walt Disney Company.  

Adolfo Suárez, Prime Minister of Spain (1976 – 1981) 

Scent of Mystery (1960)