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Check some of the articles we wrote about Costa del Sol, properties, activities, etc...

October Music in Marbella

October Music in Marbella

There's always plenty to see and do in Marbella, and the onset of autumn doesn't mean staying in and putting the heating on! October sees the cooler weather moving in, although we will still enjoy sunshine filled days for a while yet, even if an extr
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Posted On 26 Sep 2018

Picasso Premiere with Banderas… and Julio Iglesias to Sell Costa Estate

Picasso Premiere with Banderas… and Julio Iglesias to Sell Costa Estate

Well, first a clarification. It is true that Antonio Banderas will be in Málaga next week for the world premiere of National Geographic’s TV series “Genius: Picasso”. What is less clear, however, is if Julio Iglesias actually is planning to se
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Posted On 16 Mar 2018

Chris Froome Prepares for Return to Competition in Mijas

Chris Froome Prepares for Return to Competition in Mijas

Cycling enthusiasts are well aware of the attractions of the Costa del Sol’s highways and byways. Whether it is a brisk training run along the coast with a local club or a leisurely ride in the mountains with friends, the Coast offers wonderfully d
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Posted On 9 Feb 2018

Riveting Davis Cup Match in Marbella Between Spain and Great Britain

Riveting Davis Cup Match in Marbella Between Spain and Great Britain

The message from the regional minister for tourism and sport was clear. According to Francisco Javier Fernández, speaking during the official presentation in Marbella of the Davis Cup first round match between Spain and Great Britain, “This enable
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Posted On 2 Feb 2018

Costa-Born Celebrities… From Picasso to Banderas

Costa-Born Celebrities… From Picasso to Banderas

Some of the names will be unfamiliar to non-Spaniards but Málaga city and the wider Costa del Sol has been the birthplace of many renowned figures across a broad section of fields. In politics, for example, Blas Infante, considered to be the “f
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Posted On 27 Oct 2017

Global Golfing Pedigree on Show at Royal Valderrama

Global Golfing Pedigree on Show at Royal Valderrama

In 1966, the Costa del Sol was just starting to emerge as a fledgling tourist destination. Keen for foreign revenue to jumpstart Spain’s economy, the then regime successfully promoted Torremolinos as an attractive holiday resort for European famili
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Posted On 20 Oct 2017

“Veroño”… Hard To Find Better Autumn Weather

“Veroño”… Hard To Find Better Autumn Weather

It’s a seasonal phenomenon almost peculiar to the Costa del Sol. And happily so for those of us living or holidaying here… Residents and regular visitors will be aware that October is, arguably, the most pleasant month of the year in southern Spa
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Posted On 13 Oct 2017

From Veteran Showman John McEnroe to Rising Star Jon Rahm

From Veteran Showman John McEnroe to Rising Star Jon Rahm

The Costa del Sol enjoys enduring appeal as a popular playground for sports lovers. Last year, for example, an impressive 530,000 people travelled to Andalucía to play golf, and most of them were based on the Costa del Sol (a.k.a. the “Costa del G
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Posted On 29 Sep 2017

Top International Women’s Golf on the Costa del Sol

Top International Women’s Golf on the Costa del Sol

After leading the United States to victory in the recent Solheim Cup captain Juli Inkster complained that the women’s game deserved much more media coverage and corporate support than it was receiving. It is a valid argument. The harsh reality
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Posted On 15 Sep 2017

The Secrets to Enjoying a Long Life in Spain

The Secrets to Enjoying a Long Life in Spain

We are always delighted to note that Spain ranks highly in several aspects of the good life. Now BBC Travel has referred to the 2017 World Happiness Report to delve into another key index of global contentment – how long we live – and Spain is up
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Posted On 18 Aug 2017

Anastacia Opens Star-Studded Marbella Festival… including Banderas Gala

Anastacia Opens Star-Studded Marbella Festival… including Banderas Gala

The spectacularly transformed surroundings of a former quarry in the heights of Marbella are once again hosting Europe’s premier summer fiesta of music, entertainment and gastronomy. The sixth annual edition of Marbella Starlite Festival was off
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Posted On 14 Jul 2017

The Attractions of Working in Spain… and Filming a TV Series

The Attractions of Working in Spain… and Filming a TV Series

Much is reported about how popular the Costa del Sol is for people seeking a holiday home in the sun. As tourist numbers increase, and property sales continue their upward progress, many of these same people are also making their stays more permanent
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Posted On 7 Jul 2017

Trump in Marbella… and (Another) Honour for Antonio Banderas

Trump in Marbella… and (Another) Honour for Antonio Banderas

Okay, not Donald Trump – but not fake news either. The US President’s younger (and less famous than Ivanka) daughter, Tiffany Ariana, spent four days in Marbella this week with her boyfriend Ross Mechanic as part of a European holiday tour. Th
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Posted On 30 Jun 2017

Costa del Sol… Still the Coolest Place To Be

Costa del Sol… Still the Coolest Place To Be

Certain scandal-loving tabloid newspapers and gossip blogs in the UK invariably have great fun around this time of the year featuring bizarre stories about life on Spain’s costas and islands. It has to be conceded that, yes, some of the so-called h
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Posted On 16 Jun 2017

From Pamela Anderson to Foreigner and the Beach Boys

From Pamela Anderson to Foreigner and the Beach Boys

Baywatch star Pamela Anderson inaugurated the celebrity soirée season in Marbella last month, appropriately on the beach, and now Foreigner will be launching an exceptional summer concert schedule. The legendary rock band will be celebrating their 4
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Posted On 9 Jun 2017

Beachwatch in Marbella with Pamela Anderson

Beachwatch in Marbella with Pamela Anderson

It might still only be May and not officially summer for nearly another month but the celebrity fiesta season is already beginning in Marbella. The first international star set to step out on our Mediterranean shores is former Baywatch star Pamela An
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Posted On 26 May 2017

Top European Tour Action on the Costa del Golf

Top European Tour Action on the Costa del Golf

The Costa del Sol is resoundingly back in vogue after maintaining a relatively low profile on the international professional golfing scene for several years. From a premier European golfing destination that had hosted several major tournaments every
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Posted On 11 May 2017

Why Antonio Banderas Lives on the Costa del Sol

Why Antonio Banderas Lives on the Costa del Sol

Regular readers will have noticed that we are assiduous chroniclers of the latest exploits of Antonio Banderas. Our motivation is essentially three-fold. In the first place, he is the Costa del Sol’s most famous citizen – currently alive, that is
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Posted On 5 May 2017

Antonio Banderas Promotes Major Cultural Project for Málaga

Antonio Banderas Promotes Major Cultural Project for Málaga

After suffering a heart attack earlier this year, Antonio Banderas has decided to ease back on his frenetic global schedule and spend more time on the Costa del Sol, where he has a villa (eastern outskirts of Marbella) and penthouse (Málaga city).
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Posted On 28 Apr 2017

Spring Snippets, Beer… and Antonio Banderas

Spring Snippets, Beer… and Antonio Banderas

  In the same week that Antonio Banderas was honoured with the “Biznaga de Oro” award at this year’s 20th Málaga Film Festival, a survey named him among the top three personalities that Andalucians would like to have a beer with. Un
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Posted On 7 Apr 2017

Marbella and Benahavís… Gourmet Capitals of Southern Europe

Marbella and Benahavís… Gourmet Capitals of Southern Europe

It truly was a crème de la crème of top international chefs. Every year Dani García, whose growing restaurant portfolio includes his two-star Michelin star establishment in Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa, brings together an elite group of ch
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Posted On 31 Mar 2017

Coast on the Move… and Festival Honour for Banderas

Coast on the Move… and Festival Honour for Banderas

A good sign that an area’s economy is in healthy shape is when global investors start paying attention and put their money where their expert business instincts are. That in turn encourages local authorities to loosen their budgetary strings, and t
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Posted On 17 Mar 2017

Cool Costa, Andalucía Day… and Antonio Banderas

Cool Costa, Andalucía Day… and Antonio Banderas

Long-time residents and regular visitors already know it: Spain is one of the world’s most appealing holiday and residential-tourism destinations. It is always pleasing, however, for our rosy view of the country – and specifically the Costa del S
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Posted On 24 Feb 2017

Star Property for Exclusive Celebrity Tastes in Marbella

Star Property for Exclusive Celebrity Tastes in Marbella

Last week we took a trip down memory lane to recall the 1989 Costa del Sol visits of two international celebrities who had sadly just passed away, George Michael and Carrie Fisher. A third major figure with even closer links to the Coast also left us
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Posted On 6 Jan 2017

Costa Memories… George Michael, Carrie Fisher and Antonio Banderas

Costa Memories… George Michael, Carrie Fisher and Antonio Banderas

The sad news this past week of the deaths of pop star George Michael and actress Carrie Fisher brought back memories of their respective visits to the Costa del Sol in 1989. Michael was in Málaga as part of his Faith World Tour, arriving barely two
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Posted On 30 Dec 2016

Princess Diana, John McEnroe… and Stellar Golf

Princess Diana, John McEnroe… and Stellar Golf

When Princess Diana made what was intended to be an unpublicised private visit to the Costa del Sol with two Sloane Ranger girlfriends in 1994, it all went pear-shaped from the start. The holidaying trio (unaccompanied by bodyguard detectives) made i
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Posted On 16 Sep 2016

Banderas, Nadal… and Positive Market News

Banderas, Nadal… and Positive Market News

The focus at this time of the year tends to be directed more towards holiday than residential tourism, especially as Spain is the in vogue European destination for summer travellers. However, it is also true that many people visiting the Coast in Aug
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Posted On 5 Aug 2016

Tom Jones, Banderas Charity Gala… and Friendship

Tom Jones, Banderas Charity Gala… and Friendship

The reasons why so many people are drawn to the Costa del Sol, either as a regular holiday destination or to settle permanently, are well documented. They range from the classic (climate, beaches and culinary) to the more contemporary (transport conn
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Posted On 29 Jul 2016

Celebrity Watch… Seal, Djokovic and Ambrosio

Celebrity Watch… Seal, Djokovic and Ambrosio

Seal stepped out into the centre of the stage, began strumming his guitar and looked over the heads of the audience at Puente Romano tennis club in Marbella. “There’s a rumour,” said the singer-songwriter, “that Novak Djokovic is in the house
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Posted On 22 Jul 2016

Princess Grace, Antonio Banderas…and Bikinis

Princess Grace, Antonio Banderas…and Bikinis

They were just like any other couple visiting the Costa del Sol (well, kind of) and they came to the same conclusion that millions of tourists have been making every since. Great climate, exquisite cuisine and genuinely amicable locals… Prince R
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Posted On 15 Jul 2016

Barack Obama and the Spanish Connection

Barack Obama and the Spanish Connection

The year was 1988 and 26-year-old Barack Obama was travelling from London to Kenya. As he later recounted in his “Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance” memoir, published in 1995, he switched off the overhead light and closed his
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Posted On 10 Jun 2016

Marbella Luxury Weekend… and Hugh Grant

Marbella Luxury Weekend… and Hugh Grant

It’s now June and one of the Costa del Sol’s favourite spring-summer pursuits, celebrity watching, is really warming up right on seasonal cue. This week, the Daily Mail led the headlines with the news that Hugh Grant, his Swedish TV producer girl
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Posted On 3 Jun 2016

Celebrity Watch… Mel Gibson and Antonio Banderas

Celebrity Watch… Mel Gibson and Antonio Banderas

The man sitting quietly in the corner of a cafeteria in Ronda looked familiar. Sporting a full greying beard, partly concealed behind sunglasses, casually dressed and accompanied by his girlfriend, he was unrecognisable to most people who had crossed
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Posted On 20 May 2016

From Manolo Santana to Rafa Nadal

From Manolo Santana to Rafa Nadal

Manolo Santana will always be remembered as one of the greats of Spanish tennis history. He will, however, also be fondly recalled for coining one of the most memorable phrases in the annals of sports commentary. Over half a decade ago, he was quoted
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Posted On 13 May 2016

Santana and The Corrs Headline Starlite Festival

Santana and The Corrs Headline Starlite Festival

Starlite Marbella has accumulated an impressive portfolio of performers since its launch in 2012. Audiences have been able to enjoy dozens of top concerts covering a diverse spectrum of genres and international stars, from Lenny Kravitz, Bryan Adams
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Posted On 6 May 2016

Macaulay Culkin at Home But Not Alone in Antequera

Macaulay Culkin at Home But Not Alone in Antequera

Celebrity spotters would have had to be really on the ball this past week to catch the first Hollywood star of the spring season visiting Málaga. No use lurking on the Puerto Bánus frontline, or sneaking into an exclusive Nueva Andalucía golf club
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Posted On 29 Apr 2016

The Danny Willett Effect… and Gareth Bale

The Danny Willett Effect… and Gareth Bale

It is the ideal marriage. No, not Danny Willett and Gareth Bale (more of them later). But rather… on the one hand, Europe’s premier golf destination and on the other, a huge pool of golfers who like to travel and be able to play any time of the y
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Posted On 22 Apr 2016

More Good News… and More Banderas!

More Good News… and More Banderas!

There is a popular Spanish saying, “No hay dos sin tres”, which roughly translates as “these things always come in threes”. For a third consecutive week, Málaga-born actor, director, producer, writer, fashion designer, Easter religious brot
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Posted On 15 Apr 2016

Continuing Good News … and Banderas the Footballer

Continuing Good News … and Banderas the Footballer

The definitive figures are now being released for the first quarter of Spain’s reinvigorated real estate market and the news is good – at least for popular residential-tourism areas like the Costa del Sol. More of that later… but main prioritie
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Posted On 8 Apr 2016

Showpiece Homes, Luxury Living… and Banderas

Showpiece Homes, Luxury Living… and Banderas

In recent years Antonio Banderas’s presence at Easter celebrations in his Málaga birthplace has become one of the Holy Week’s most glamorous highlights. He traditionally rents a hotel room overlooking the main processions, to entertain family an
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Posted On 1 Apr 2016

European Tour Returns to Valderrama

European Tour Returns to Valderrama

Back in 1980 when the Eagles rock band broke up, drummer Don Henley declared that the band would play together “when Hell freezes over”. In 1994 they returned to the stage together in California, where guitarist Glenn Frey joked, “For the recor
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Posted On 12 Feb 2016

Showpiece Homes, Luxury Living… and Golf

Showpiece Homes, Luxury Living… and Golf

Over the past year the role of the Costa del Sol’s tourist board has been transformed into a more streamlined marketing operation – for the benefit of both visitors and expatriate residents. As business development director Lynn Mitchell expla
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Posted On 20 Nov 2015

Showpiece Homes, Luxury Living… and James Bond

Showpiece Homes, Luxury Living… and James Bond

Unless you have been marooned on a remote Antarctic iceberg or your internet server has been down for several months it will be almost impossible not to know that the new James Bond film is now out. Non-fans are no doubt overcome with bemusement t
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Posted On 6 Nov 2015

Showpiece Homes, Luxury Living… and Cycling

Showpiece Homes, Luxury Living… and Cycling

There is something about an international professional cycling race through an urban setting that enthuses even those of us who prefer to follow these kinds of robust sporting pursuits from the comfort of an armchair with a chilled beer and remote co
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Posted On 21 Aug 2015

Showpiece Homes and Luxury Living… Nagüeles

Showpiece Homes and Luxury Living… Nagüeles

It is one of the most discreetly select residential areas in southern Spain but over the next few weeks its sedate, tree-lined streets will be witnessing a flurry of activity as they come under the international spotlight. Well, perhaps not all the s
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Posted On 24 Jul 2015

Showpiece Homes and Luxury Living… Los Monteros

Showpiece Homes and Luxury Living… Los Monteros

He was born in Málaga city, he had settled in the US and become a Hollywood star, his wife was pregnant and they were looking to buy a holiday home on the Costa del Sol. The question was, where? For Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith the decis
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Posted On 8 May 2015

Showpiece Homes and Luxury Living… Guadalmina

Showpiece Homes and Luxury Living… Guadalmina

A favourite summer pastime among visitors to Marbella, as well as residents on holiday or enjoying a day off, is to order a drink in one of Puerto Banus’s frontline bars and spend a pleasant couple of hours celebrity spotting. From Sean Connery, Ro
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Posted On 20 Feb 2015

Showpiece Homes and Luxury Living… Puerto Banús

Showpiece Homes and Luxury Living… Puerto Banús

[caption id="attachment_2621" align="alignright" width="300"] Peaceful garden setting in Puerto Banús[/caption] The modern-day Puerto Banús renowned as an international hub of luxury and glamour had more discreet and aristocratic beginnings –
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Posted On 16 Jan 2015

Dazzling Stars of Spanish Cuisine

Dazzling Stars of Spanish Cuisine

[caption id="attachment_2315" align="alignright" width="300"] El Lago Restaurant in Elviria[/caption] The air was heady with expectation, the guests resplendent in their gala finery, and the rich aromas already starting to waft from a veritable ce
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Posted On 21 Nov 2014

Crème de la Crème of Spanish High Society

Crème de la Crème of Spanish High Society

[caption id="attachment_1811" align="alignright" width="300"] Photo: Gonzalo Etcheverry-SMPC[/caption]   The faces might not be all that familiar to foreign visitors, unless they are assiduous viewers of the ubiquitous “prensa rosa” TV
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Posted On 29 Aug 2014

Sly and the Family Expendables

Sly and the Family Expendables

Security was almost as tight as that for a CIA-sponsored special-ops military mission into the dark heart of enemy territory. Well, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration. Nevertheless, when a select group of journalists – including Villa Marbella
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Posted On 11 Aug 2014

Lights, camera… and spectacular action

Lights, camera… and spectacular action

Generally considered to be the supreme master of the turntable – or at least the most internationally renowned – electronic music DJ and producer David Guetta brings his dramatic show to Marbella on 1 August. To be held in the San Pedro de Alc
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Posted On 25 Jul 2014

Mixing party pleasure… with positive business

Mixing party pleasure… with positive business

[caption id="attachment_1589" align="alignright" width="300"] Global Gift Gala in Marbella[/caption] As the party mood continues in grand style on the Costa del Sol – including the Global Gift Weekend on 19-20 July – the positive festive vibe
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Posted On 18 Jul 2014

Starry Soirée in Sparkling Summer Setting

Starry Soirée in Sparkling Summer Setting

[caption id="attachment_1515" align="alignright" width="300"] Gala glamour from 2013 Festival[/caption] The countdown has begun for the most glamorous date on Marbella’s summer calendar. Now in its third year, the Starlite Festival is a month-lo
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Posted On 4 Jul 2014

Golden era for world’s “most interesting golfer”

Golden era for world’s “most interesting golfer”

It didn’t seem as though life could get much better for Miguel Ángel Jiménez. Back in December 2013, he extended his own record as the oldest winner on the European Tour, with victory in the Hong Kong Open (part of the tour’s international netw
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Posted On 23 May 2014

Luxury lifestyle fit for a prime minister

Luxury lifestyle fit for a prime minister

[caption id="attachment_1225" align="alignright" width="300"] Ultra-select Marbella home[/caption] Early risers in the Guadalmina urbanisation often spot a diminutive yet commanding figure jogging through the tree-lined avenues, closely followed b
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Posted On 10 May 2014

Brangelina looking for a house in Marbella!

Brangelina looking for a house in Marbella!

Marbella has had an affinity with the jet set crowd since it rose to international fame in the early 1960s. Often touted as a playground for famous faces and well-heeled types, this town is always inundated with stars taking their holidays here in th
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Posted On 5 Sep 2013

Russian TV premieres in Marbella

Russian TV premieres in Marbella

Anyone living in Marbella will no doubt have noticed the sizeable number of Russian expatriates arriving here over the past few years. Astute locals will have spotted an increasing amount of roadside adverts in Russian, the new weekly Russian newspap
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Posted On 28 Aug 2013

Spotting celebrities in Marbella

Spotting celebrities in Marbella

It’s renowned for its beautiful coastline, its all year round sunny climate and its abundance of wealth, yachts and sports cars. Now it seems Marbella is also becoming the best place to do a bit of celebrity spotting too. Although the Costa del
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Posted On 11 Jul 2013

Take me to Marbella!

Take me to Marbella!

They are a trio of pre-teen pop princesses whose first record looks set to become a sensational summer hit. At just nine years old The Lecheritas have risen to fame after their song ‘Take me to Marbella’ became an overnight success on the Inte
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Posted On 4 Jul 2013

Looking forward to the Global Gift Gala 2013

Looking forward to the Global Gift Gala 2013

One big event well worth making time for in your diary this summer is the 2013 Global Gift Gala in Marbella. After the phenomenal success of the premier event, the Global Gift Foundation has announced the return of another star-studded gala on the 3r
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Posted On 27 Jun 2013

Summer concerts in Marbella

Summer concerts in Marbella

It is only a matter of weeks now until the annual Starlight Festival begins in Marbella, with more big stars confirmed to perform than ever before! This charitable, star-studded event will be held in the new auditorium at La Cantera in the Sierra
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Posted On 18 Jun 2013