Alameda Park

Alameda Park is the main public garden of Marbella, a shaded green space in the middle of town, between the old quarter and the seafront, and it is the place where residents go to sit, stroll and meet. It lies on Avda. Ramón y Cajal, within easy walking distance of the Plaza de los Naranjos, and it offers a quiet contrast to both the historic lanes of the Casco Antiguo and the busy beach promenade. The park has been a feature of the town for a long time, and it grew into its present shape as Marbella, in Spain, changed from a small fishing and farming town into one of the best-known resorts of the Costa del Sol. Its tall trees, some of them very old, give shade on a coast where summer sunshine is strong, and visitors often remark on how cool it feels beneath the canopy.

The garden is laid out with paved paths, avenues and flower beds, and it has a mix of local and exotic planting. Palms, ficus trees, rubber trees and other species from warmer parts of the world stand beside Mediterranean shrubs, and in spring and summer the borders are bright with flowers. A distinctive touch is the series of benches covered with Andalusian tiles, azulejos, painted with scenes and designs that refer to the history and traditions of Marbella, so that sitting down becomes a small lesson in local culture. Several fountains add the sound of water, and one of them, the Fuente de la Virgen del Rocío, with an image of the Virgin of El Rocío, one of the most popular devotions in Andalusia, is a central feature. Birds are common in the branches, and children use the open spaces to play.

The atmosphere is relaxed and local. Older residents meet to chat, parents bring small children, and people eat lunch on the benches, while cafes, bars and shops around the edges offer places to sit for a drink. The park is a good place to rest at midday, when the sun is hot, and it is calm in the morning and late afternoon, when the light on the foliage is at its best. Entry is free, and the park is open every day during daylight and into the evening.

The park also acts as a link between the old town and the sea. Leaving by the southern side, visitors can follow the Avenida del Mar, a pedestrian avenue that leads down to the seafront promenade and is lined with a series of bronze sculptures by Salvador Dalí, an unusual open-air gallery that is popular with visitors. The beaches are a short walk beyond.

Marbella’s Old Town is a short walk away, and the park can be reached by local buses, lines L-1 and L-3, and public car parks are found on the Avenida del Mar and elsewhere nearby, since parking on the street is difficult. Visitors usually spend an hour or two here, combined with a walk through the Old Town to see the Iglesia de la Encarnación and the Town Hall.