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, Rod Stewart and George Best in the late 20th century to Naomi Campbell, Kylie Minogue and Eva Longoria more recently (plus a long etcetera in between), the Port has been a magnet for visiting (and resident) international celebrities for the past five decades.
Of course, many famous visitors take meticulous measures not to be spotted – be it by an intrepid paparazzo leaping out from behind a parked Bentley or a gushing fan seeking an autograph – in which case they either 1. only venture into Banús well-disguised in a baseball cap and sunglasses (a la Antonio Banderas) or 2. stay away altogether.
For the latter, there has long been an excellent alternative “luxury playground” just along the beach from Puerto Banús, past San Pedro de Alcántara and at the western end of Marbella municipality: Guadalmina.
In fact, during her most recent (at least publicised) visit to Marbella in 2013, that’s exactly where Naomi Campbell was holed up after a day’s shopping and lunching in the port. It is also (as we have noted here previously) where former Spanish prime minister José María Aznar and his wife, Madrid mayoress Ana Botella, have a holiday home, as well as several national heavyweights of the ruling Partido Popular. Plus one former prominent party figure who is unlikely to receive too many dinner party invitations if he ever visits his one-time Guadalmina haven: Luis Bárcenas, the PP’s former treasurer who is alleged to be the mastermind behind a multi-million-euro political corruption network and was recently was released on bail from jail.
So what is it that draws such an illustrious group (apart from Bárcenas!) to this exclusive residential urbanisation? Originally a sprawling farming property (mostly used for sugar cane), Guadalmina’s emergence as an ultra-select pillar of Marbella high society dates to 1959, when two of the town’s original tourism pioneers (Norberto Goizueta and Ricardo Soriano, the Marques of Ivanrey) decided Marbella needed an attraction based on sport – specifically golf.
When the first nine holes were opened at Guadalmina (named after the river that encircles part of the course) in 1959, it was only the second course on the Costa del Sol (after Málaga Parador). This “South” course was subsequently increased to 18 holes, a second “North” course was built across the road, and in 2008 the then Spanish monarch, King Juan Carlos, granted Guadalmina Golf Club the title of “Royal”.
In the intervening years, the former aristocrat’s estate has also become home to a deluxe hotel and spa on the beach, top restaurants and other leisure amenities, and a tastefully developed residential area that stretches from the sea inland to the northern extremities of Marbella, with homes ranging from sumptuous penthouse apartments to palatial villas.
The exceptional property featured here is quintessential Guadalmina. Located in a quiet cul-de-sac, just five minutes from the hotel and beach, it combines an original Moorish design with contemporary luxury – and is entered through a stunning courtyard with an antique Italian fountain.
Special Selections
We appreciate your taking the time to read about this exceptional property, but perhaps it’s not exactly right for you? If not, we invite you to have a look at our other special selections for:
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Okay, so the decision’s been made to move to Guadalmina and buy this (or another) luxury property: now it’s time to relax and enjoy this serene setting with a spot of sports watching on the TV (as against celebrity spotting in Banús). Apart from golf, sport doesn’t get much more sedate than cricket (well, perhaps croquet and lawn bowls), and the World Cup is currently being played in Australia and New Zealand, so to add a touch of elegance to our viewing posture and keep track of the match playing times, we take a look at the latest release from Hublot (official timekeeper of the competition): the Classic Fusion Chrono cricket watch developed especially for fans.
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Okay, so the decision’s been made to move to Guadalmina and buy this (or another) luxury property: now it’s time to relax and enjoy this serene setting with a spot of sports watching on the TV (as against celebrity spotting in Banús). Apart from golf, sport doesn’t get much more sedate than cricket (well, perhaps croquet and lawn bowls), and the World Cup is currently being played in Australia and New Zealand, so to add a touch of elegance to our viewing posture and keep track of the match playing times, we take a look at the latest release from Hublot (official timekeeper of the competition): the Classic Fusion Chrono cricket watch developed especially for fans.