BUILDINGS OF INTEREST

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Torremolinos

THE LADRONES TOWER This is one of the first Almenara Towers to be found within the Municipality of Marbella coming from the Malaga direction. It is situated close to the port of Cabopino and the projections or machicolations known in Spanish as Ladroneras and therefore the name of the same. The tower was most probably built in the Muslim period, due to the shape, the materials used and the way in which the beams have been laid. The building is a cone shape, some 3,65 m in width and 14,60 m high, distributed inside in 3 rooms and a terrace. The Town Hall is actually planning the rebuilding of the same, which is to be carried out shortly.

THE LANCE DE LAS CAÑAS TURRET Situated in the area of Las Chapas (Marbesa Urbanization), we find this turret with a war like vocation. It is a considerable size for a turret (10,85 m high and 53,53 m wide, in the shape of a hove, due to the central floor in the shape of a elongated circle, with two slanted buttresses at the back). The turret dates back to the second half of the 16th century and the materials used are rubble masonry with adornments and brick corners. The interior is divided into two storeys and an attic where the artillery was stored; the entrance is situated on the right hand buttress at some six meters from the ground.

THE TORRE REAL TOWER Situated on the right hand margin of the Rio Real river, the name of which it seems goes back to the time when the Catholic Kings, after having conquered the city, settled in the area. It seems that the building dates back to the 16th century, due to the materials used and the trunk shape of the building. It is 10,85 m high and 7 m wide at the base and 5,25 m at the top. It is built in stone with mortar and the entrance is some 6,5 m from the ground.

THE ANCÓN TOWER Situated at the height of the beginning of the road to Istán, it seems that the name is due to a word that is no longer used, meaning (small path) and is most probably the scenery on which the tower was originally built. There are no references as to the date in which the tower was built although it was most probably in the Christian era. It is trunk shapes and the materials used are stone and mortar and the dimensions are: 11,90 m; 7,40 in diameter at the base and 5,20 m at the top with the entrance at some 6,90 m from the floor.

THE TORRE DEL DUQUE TOWER This tower is to be found next to the main entrance to Puerto Banus (at the key) and it seems that the name is due to the Duke of Cadiz and Arcos, Don Rodrigo Ponce de Leon, who was councilor to the Catholic Kings. Its shape and the techniques used to build it allow us to confirm that this is a Muslim tower. It is shaped like a prism, built in stone and brick, being 10 m high and 4,20 m wide. The door is 7,20 m from the ground.

THE TORRE DE LAS BÓVEDAS TOWER The construction of this tower dates back to the Christian era (16th century), built to store the artillery. It is situated close to the "Las Bovedas" Roman Baths, the tower is trunk-cone shaped, although less sloped than some of the previously mentioned towers, the materials used to build it are based on rubble masonry. The tower is 13 m high and 8,30 m wide at the base; the entrance is 6,75 meters from the ground.

PLAZA DE LOS NARANJOS (THE ORANGE SQUARE) This square was built after Marbella was conquered by the King Fernando the Catholic in 1.485, being an imitation of the those already existing in the Castilian Cities although in this case without arcades. Within the square one can find the Town Hall, the Jail House, the Santiago Hermitage, the chief magistrates building, the Public Granary and the Corn Exchange. We can also find a fountain in the square that was built in the year 1704.

TOWN HALL According to the inscription on the facade, the Chief Magistrate, Juan de Pisa in the year 1568, ordered the construction of the building. There are also other commemorative plaques with references to the water collection, the enlargement of the building with the construction the forged iron balcony, destined for the authorities to be able to watch the festivities held in the square. Inside the building we would highlight the Mudéjar Arms situated in the Commission Room (Ancient Capitol) and the paintings in the Temple within the Hall of Justice in which one can see Felipe the Seconds' Shields, as well as other symbols allusive to justice and religion.

ERMITA DE SANTIAGO This is the most ancient religious construction in the city, dating back to the 15th century, after the conquest of Marbella. It is a simple building as it has one sole room, in a box shape.. It is actually the headquarters of the Santisimo Cristo Del Amor, Maria Santisima de la Caridad and San Juan Evangelista Brotherhoods.

THE CHIEF MAGISTRATES HOUSE Built in 1552, the stone facade of the building is to be highlighted due to the Gothic-Mudéjar styles mixed with Renaissance styles. The house forms part of the architectonic style of the Orange Square. THE SANTÍSIMA TRINIDAD CONVENT Situated in the Viento Street, the convent originally occupied the whole block up the actual Church Square. The building of this commenced at the end of the 15th century and was royally founded. The monks that originally occupied the convent were assistants at the Encarnación or Bazán Hospital. The interior part of the convent conserves the cloister with interesting columns and a Gothic style Chapel.

THE REAL DE LA MISERICORDIA O DE SAN JUAN DE DIOS HOSPITAL Situated in the San Juan de Dios street, the construction that has been royally founded dates back to the 16th century. It was initially built to help passers by in need. The building combines renaissance, Gothic and Mudéjar elements. We would highlight the elaborated stone entrance, the wooden door with the royal shield, and that of the San Juan de Dios Order and the roof of the chapel with its interesting Mudéjar Armour. It is actually the headquarter for the Nuestro Padre Jesus a su entrada en Jerusalén, and Maria Santisima de la Paz brotherhoods.

PALACE OR "HOSPITAL DE LA ENCARNACIÓN" OR "DE BAZÁN" Situated on the Hospital Bazán street, it seems to have been built in the 16th century over 3 Arab homes making the rooms asymmetrical. Renaissance, Gothic and Mudejar elements have been combined in the construction of the same. In ancient times it was the home of Don Alonso de Bazan, Mayor of Castillo and Perpetual Regent of the city. Reformed and conditioned with great taste, it is presently used ad the Museum for Contemporary Spanish Engravings, considered to be one of the best in the world by critics.

NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LA ENCARNACIÓN CHURCH The initial dating of the church goes back to 150; It began to be built in 1618, although the actual building was constructed at the beginning of the 18th century. The structure is a basilica type with three naves in Baroque style. The portal is stone and is Rococo style. Inside and in the part destined to the choir, we would highlight the Sol Mayor Organ, considered to be one of the most important to have been built in Spain in the past 125 years.

THE MIRAFLORES FARMHOUSE In the year 1706, Don Tomás Francisco Dominguez y Godoy built a country house on a plot known as the Prado de San Francisco. As well as building the lodging areas, he also provided the house with an oil and sugar mill. The building underwent various modifications and enlargements over the years until in the first half of the 19th Century Don Antonio Dominguez Albuquerque finally shaped the house as what it is today, and it was precisely in those years when the building began to be known as the Cortijo de Miraflores. After having been abandoned for many years, the actual municipal team is now finishing the rebuilding and conditioning of the house in order for it to become an exhibition hall and an area for other types of cultural activities, among which it will be possible to see how the ancient system worked to extract oil from the olive.

THE SANTO CRISTO CHURCH Considered to be one of the most ancient Christian buildings in Marbella, the construction of the same dates back to the 16th century although the building was enlarged in the 18th and a camarin tower was added. The church has one sole nave and inside we would highlight the choir area, which stands at the foot of a Toscana column that plunges into the baptismal pool situated underneath.

THE CALVARIO HERMITAGE Situated next to the church and the parish with the same name, this simple building from the 18th century is situated on a small Hill known also with the name of El Calvario. It is a single roomed building although it has another small room next to it that at some point in time served as home to a hermit. The arched doorway with a pointed top opens among the moulds and are all crowned with an ocelot. To the right of the facade is a small rectangular entrance with a half pointed archway with a concave and convex finish.