Estepona has a population of some 48,000 inhabitants which increases substantially in summertime. Its privileged positioning amongst the mountainous landscape of Sierra Bermeja and the 21 kilometres of coastline of its municipal district, make it into an important holiday destination, ideal for the partice of watersports, golf, mountain sports and adventure.

ESTEPONA PROMENADE

Furthermore, the town has a series of special, entertainment attractions: Selwo Nature Park, school of equestrian art "Costa del Sol" and, of course, a modern conference centre and a renowed maritime yachting harbour. The oldest human remains found in Estepona are from the Copper and Bronze Ages. Amongts the numerous Phoenician and Roman settlements, the ruins at the mouth of the Guadalmansa River stand out; these could have belonged to the Roman town of Salduba. The Arabs were the founders of the city of Esstebbunna, the origin of the present day Estepona. In 1456, it is conquered by King Enrique IV of Castilla and a little later is totally destroyed. At the beginning of the Sixteenth Century, Los Reyes Catolicos ordered the reconstrucction of the walls of Estepona, due to its excellent, strategic position, and makes use of 30 families for its repopulation. In 1729, Felipe V grants the "Privilegio de Villazgo" to a prosperous population of more than 600 inhabitants, which carries on growing even nowadays.

     

ESTEPONA MARINA

Worth visiting: the ruins of Castle of Nicio, "La Torre del Reloj", the beacon towers, the remains of the Castle of San Luis, the Church of Ntra. Sra. de los Remedios, the house of Los Marqueses de Mondejar and, obviously, the unusual Plaza de Toros (Bullring), which houses the municipal museum of Estepona.

     

FLOWER'S SQUARE

As far as festivities are concerned, one must point out: "Las Fiestas Mayores", at the beginning of July; "La Virgen del Carmen", which is celebrated on the 16th of July, with a colourful, maritime procession; the night of San Juan, in which the "Juas" are burnt; and the 15th of May, the feast of San Isidro. In the field of agriculture, Estepona produces annually an important quantity of citric fruits, apart from growing a series of products very much in demand like aloes.

In its more than one hundred restaurants, one can enjoy a splendid culinary offer, from the most traditional cuisine to the most innovative or international. Classic dishes in its cuisine are the country soup (sopa campera), "sardinas al espeto" or "sardinas a la teja", and the different varieties of fried fish. Their own produced from milk of Esteponera goat, recognised as a breed and winner of numerous national and international competitions.