Casa Siempre

La Zagaleta is one of Spain’s most luxurious mountain retreats. Just 25 km from the coast, it is just a short drive from the bright lights of Marbella and the buzzing Costa del Sol. It is an extremely private, secure enclave in Benahavis, unparalled for the quality of its amenities and villas. Benahavis is part of the prestigious ‘Golden Triangle’ along with Marbella and Estapona. The retreat’s two enviable 18-hole golf courses designed by Bradford Benz offer some exceptional play, along with views to die for. With its dramatic mountain range backdrop and La Zagaleta’s elevated position, the 360 degree panoramic views are sensational, down towards the Mediterranean Sea, taking in Gibraltar and North Africa as well as the majestic mountain peaks. Within the estate, guests can enjoy the golf, a fabulous equestrian centre and a wonderful clubhouse.  

Benahavis, the village, might be small but it is home to many fabulous restaurants and is known as the ‘Gastronomic Corner of Andalucia’. It is home to the Sabor, a Malaga catering school. Many of the dishes in the restaurants are Spanish but with a modern twist. One of the most typical dishes is marinated pork fillet following a very traditional recipe but you will also find fresh fish from Estapona and Marbella and cuisine from many corners of the world.
If the resort golf is not enough, there are many prestigious golf courses in the Benahavis area including El Higueral Club de Golf, La Quinta, Gran Flamingo Golf, Los Argueros designed by Seve Ballesteros, Los Flamingos Golf and Monte Mayor Golf. There is even a Golf Academy complete with practice ground and putting green in the village. It is a wonderful area to enjoy a walk or cycle, exploring the fauna and flora as well as the views. The terrain is traversed by the Guadalmina, Guadaiza and Guadalmanza rivers. The Guadalmina River offers great canyoning opportunities with its many waterfalls and plunge pools. The top attraction of Benahavis is its natural surroundings and uniterrupted views of mountains, woodlands and rivers. The village itself is picturesque with well-kept narrow streets and squares flanked by Andalusian whitewashed houses. The delightful Parque Torre Leoneras Park contains the ruins of a medieval tower and a lake. The 10th century Montemayor Castle is mostly ruins but still has several sections of walls and the Queen’s Tower standing. Benahavis boasts a lovely car boot style Sunday market in the grounds of a shrine. Benahavis’ Holy Week has some of the loveliest processions on the Costa del Sol. The annual Benahavis Fair takes place in August and the whole village enjoys processions, fairground rides, fireworks, eating and drinking. There are also summer concerts and culinary events in the many Benahavis restaurants.

For Mediterranean glamour, Marbella holds its own with the French Riviera and other hot-spot destinations in Europe. It is little wonder that Marbella remains as popular as it does with the rich and famous. Michelin-starred restaurants, manicured, challenging golf courses, marinas bustling with high-end yachts, chic, designer boutiques, glitzy entertainment and never-ending golden sandy beaches are all in abundance. The Arabic characteristics of Plaza de los Naranjos, the old part of Marbella are endearing together with balconies adorned with beautiful, vibrant flowers. The square’s restaurants place their tables in a small formal garden bordered by orange trees. You will find a labyrinth of narrow pedestrian streets laid with red tiles and crazy paving and beautiful plazas full of trendy, upmarket bars and restaurants and unique shops offering souvenirs, olive oil, local pottery and lace. The buildings are all whitewashed, wrapped in bougainvillea and topped with terracotta roofs, many dating back to the renaissance. Alameda Park is just a few steps south of the Old Town and feels like a private garden. There are marble walkways, fountains and benches, all under a thick canopy of tropical foliage. Many of the benches are clad with azuleos, classic Andalusian hand-printed tiles. The handsome walkway, Avenida del Mar, leads from the park to Playa de la Venus, next to Marbella’s first class marina. It enjoys palm trees and bronze sculptures designed by Salvador Dali. The central Plaza de la Iglesia is very beautiful and often hosts bustling markets and concerts. Besides the typical Andalusian cultural events, there are annual festivals dedicated to music including the Marbella International Opera Festival held in August, the Marbella Reggae Festival in July plus the Marbella International Film Festival is held in June.

A few kilometres east of old Marbella is the swanky and trendy Puerto Banus. Boutiques, super yachts and luxury sports cars meet your gaze everywhere in this fast-set resort. There is another Salvador Dali sculpture, the large Rhinoceros which weighs 3.6 tonnes. Puerto Banus was designed and built in 1970 by local property developer Jose Banus. It is fantastic for star spotting. 

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