Marbella is located on the
shores of the Mediterranean, betweenMalaga and
theStrait ofGibraltar, and the slopes of the Sierra
Blanca. The municipality covers an area of 117 kmē and is crossed by the
highway and the Mediterranean Motorway, which are main entrances to the city.
With 130,549 inhabitants, according to the
census of 2008,Marbella is the second
municipality in theprovince
ofAndalusia and the
eighth in population. Furthermore, it is one of the most important tourist
towns on theCosta del Sol and, throughout
most of the year, is the center of attraction for international tourism mainly
because of its climate and tourist infrastructure.
However, although less known, the city also has significant
archaeology, six museums and scenic areas, and a busy cultural calendar, with
events ranging from reggae to the opera.
A pioneer of the Spanish steel industry during the 19th
century,Marbella
experienced a continuous expansion and growth throughout the last decades of
the 20th century, developing an economy based on construction and tourism to
visitors and temporary residents of medium and high purchasing power.
The development of the tourism industry and the prosperity
derived from it (the town is between 7 and 10% of GDP in Spain, according to
some sources) have attracted a diverse population but have also increased the
activity of international organized crime, which, together with the
institutional corruption scandals, have marked the contemporary image of Marbella.
