During our holiday in Puerto Banus a visit to the historic old town Marbella or (Casco Antiguo) was recommended to us by the staff at our hotel the Melia Marbella Banus.
We had a taxi from the hotel and it was a quick 10 minute journey into the centre of Marbella.
The old quarter can be easily missed it is hidden amongst the modern buildings lining one of the main roads through Marbella.
You walk through a side street between the modern buildings of Marbella and you are transported to what it feels like stepping back in history.
It is a simply stunning place to visit with whitewash buildings, cobbled streets just what you would expect from a traditional Andalucian town
We really enjoyed wandering through the winding cobbled streets of the old town and looking at some of the fantastic architecture and history.
The colour of the plants housed in pots and baskets across the old town was spectacular and gave us inspiration for our own garden at home.
You can get lost in the labyrinth of small streets through the old town but that is part of the fun, turning the corner and seeing which street, courtyard or square you will discover next.
Right in the middle of old town Marbella is the impressive Plaza de los Naranjos (Orange square) which has restaurants and great individual shops all centred in orange trees.
The girls loved browsing some of the fantastic shops for unique Spanish presents (and shoes!) and it made a nice change not having the usual high street chains.
The old town of Marbella dates back to roman occupation and there is still evidence today with the walls of the Moorish Castle still visible. The old church in the centre is also so impressive.
There are some fantastic little shops around the old town and some great places to stop for a drink and lunch.
After leaving the old town we walked through lovely central areas with some beautiful fountains and benches.
We took a walk down the Avenida del Mar in central Marbella which showcased some fantastic succession of giant Dali sculptures on the walkway down to the beachfront and harbour, which was disappointing when compared to the fantastic marina in Puerto Banus.
Whilst Marbella in parts itself I found just like any other busy city based around seaside tourists and all the usual promenade businesses and high rise hotels, this old town area of Marbella is a million miles away. If you are on holiday in the Marbella/Puerto Banus area I would definitely recommend a visit to the old town, it is nice to see some of the real Spain.