THE FOCUS nature
T
he people who come to Marbella tend to be lovers of hedonism, sport, glamour, the social scene or simply enjoying a great quality of life in a wonderful climate and setting. It is fair to say this area is not exactly at the top of the list of those whose main interests are nature, wildlife and open spaces, desolate and beautiful enough for endless hikes and exploration. That said, nature is far closer to us than many realise. Of course, we have parks, seaside promenades and nice green zones in common with other towns and cities across the continent, but once again Marbella proves that it is different, for unlike many a place of its size and type, open nature really does begin where the built-up areas end. In this article, we’re going to highlight just a few of the natural wonders that exist within a short distance of where we live, work and relax – hoping that you will be inspired to visit them and explore natural Marbella for yourself.
Touching the sierras Most of you will associate Sierra Blanca with an exclusive residential area set upon the lower reaches of La Concha Mountain, but of course the suburb is named after the mountain range that this iconic peak forms part of. We see La Concha every day, not realising that it is part of a physical and conceptual barrier to the Marbella we know and the beginning of a largely unknown world where nature still rules supreme. Residents of places such as Sierra Blanca, La Mairena, La Quinta and Benahavís are perhaps more attuned to the natural side of Marbella, for these are residential areas still set amid open
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Moonlight on Istan Lake
tracts of nature, where dog walkers, hikers, equestrians and bikers love to explore the hills, wooded groves and streams that form the contact zone between civilisation and the wild. It is as if we touch the sierras at such points of contact, and the contrast is all the greater for the fact that, unlike most towns and cities, Marbella does not border extensive agricultural areas but instead goes straight into untamed wilderness. A popular spot on the edge of residential Nueva Andalucía is Lago de Tortugas, or ‘Turtle Lake’, a sizeable stretch of water bordered by trees where you get a real sense of being on the edge of another world as you spot terrapins, fish and ducks on the water, and see majestic eagles hovering above. This really is where Marbella and the Serranía de Ronda meet, however tentatively, especially when you realise that the large manmade lake of Istán lies close by, itself on the mountainous side of the urban/rustic divide. But in reality there are more such ‘green fingers’ that probe well into the heart of Marbella, especially now more and more beauty spots are being declared construction-free zones. Such areas include the protected reaches of the Sierra Blanca, which extend all the way towards the Aloha Golf Course in Nueva Andalucía, not two kilometres removed from Puerto Banús and its beaches. In addition to magnificent unspoiled views from this eastern part of Nueva Andalucía across to La Concha Mountain, this largely unknown area bordering the course is rich in birdlife, squirrels, ancient trees and a stretch of the umbrella pine for which Sierra Blanca was once famous.