estepona tourist guide costa del sol tourist guide

Located in the Costa Del Sol, 45 minutes from Malaga airport and 15 minutes
from Marbella, Estepona is one of the few coastal towns that have succeeded in
maintaining its pueblo charm and character despite the spectacular growth it
development is carefully planned to ensure the preservation of its identity.

History
Estepona is originally a Roman settlement. It however
preserves the remains of Moorish fortifications,
watchtowers and an 18th century parish church. The
town’s modern name is probably derived from the
Moorish Astabbuna. Nevertheless, in the historical
sense, nobody really knows when the town was
founded. One may believe that it might have been
during the Roman era. It is therefore assumed
that Estepona existed a lot earlier than the Moorish
epoch. As the latter settled in this region the
longest, they have left numerous reminders of their
culture of which very few monuments have
unfortunately been saved.
In 1457, Estepona was reclaimed by Enrique IV of
Castile from the Moors and from this moment on
the history of the town was fully recorded.

Marina Estepona
Estepona has the best-equipped marina in Europe. Located at the West End of
the Paseo Maritimo, it is a delightful place for a stroll and there are some
magnificent boats moored there. There are also a variety of tapas bars and
restaurants; a selection of international cuisine; but above all, it has excellent
fish restaurants that provide a stunning array of local dishes.
The marina is also the place to be after midnight. In summer time, the port
comes alive, there are plenty of bars, and clubs open till dawn. Reinaldo is a
popular and favourite meeting place. Chico diez is one of the liveliest and Attico
the place to be at the moment.

Estepona port also hosts a car boot sale (Rastrillo) on Sunday morning, which is
well worth a visit and an open-air market every Wednesday in the “Avenida
Juan Carlos”. The market and car boot sale are usually in the morning starting
at around 8am until 1pm and offering everything from souvenirs to rugs, clothes
and food.

Main sights
Estepona is a town with a lot of character and an interesting history, reflected
by the large amount of old buildings in town, cobbled alleyways and two
delightful plazas.

Estepona's most important monument is the Parish Church of La Virgen
de Los Remedios (The Parochial Church of Our Lady of the Redemption).
Built in the 18th century, it is formed by three vaulted naves and a dome
over the transept. It was used as a monastery by the Franciscan fathers
from 1725 until 1766, before being abandoned in 1835.

The Torre Del Reloj (clock tower) is all that remains of

a church built under Enrique De Castile around 1473

and is the oldest ecclesiastic building on the Costa Del

Sol. The church replaced the Moorish Mosque when

Enrique De Castile captured the town in 1457.

There are also a number of historically interesting

houses, which used to be the homes of aristocrats,

such as the Marquis of Mondejar and the Casa de la

Borrega.

The watchtowers of Roman/Phoenician origin were

restored and enlarged under Moorish rule, later

becoming valuable as a defence against pirates.

La Ermita Del Calvario. This chapel is located in a little visited area inland,
just outside town.

The Castillo El Nicio. Located on the slopes of the area known as El
Padron, it is part of a Moorish settlement that used to be of importance
during the Arab occupation.

Roman villas. There are several sites of roman towns located in the
district, amongst which the most outstanding are the one in Torres and in
the Park of Antena

Eating Out
Estepona Marina offers a selection of tapas bars and bistros, fish restaurants
and also international food. The Marina is also the place to be for those that
want to dance the night away. Most bars are open till dawn and have live music
as well as Spanish and disco music.
Reinaldo is a long time favourite. Located right at the entrance of the Marina, it
is one of the most popular bars in Estepona. The clientele tend to be regulars
and the music excellent. It is open everyday from midday until dawn.
The Attico and Chico Diez are also quite good and are completely packed on
weekends.
There are also a number of bars in the old town in Calle Real but the Port is the
place to be with a selection of bars only few doors away from each other.

Useful numbers
Emergency/First Aid        952 80 06 83 or 061
Red Cross                       952 80 39 99
National Police                952 80 36 00 or 091
Local Police                     952 80 02 43
Guardia Civil                    952 80 10 87
Fire Brigade                    952 80 44 83
Main Bus station             952 80 02 49
Taxis                               952 80 29 00
Tourist office                   952 80 20 02

Located at the junction of Avenida Juan Carlos and the seafront promenade,
the tourist office is open Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to
20.00 and Saturday from 9.00 to 14.00

Beaches