Essential Magazine, September 2025

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La Quinta: Exceptional penthouse with unrivalled views and a private pool, located within the exclusive gated community of The View. 3 beds, 3 baths, living area approx. 218 m², terrace approx. 281 m². Price: €2,995,000, E&V ID W-02WBRF.

Beachside · Guadalmina: Stunning second-line beach villa featuring spacious outdoor living areas, a private pool, and exceptional design. 7 beds, 6 baths, built area approx. 585 m², plot approx. 2,206 m². Price: €4,500,000, E&V ID W-02ZVQK.

Golden Mile: State-of-the-art penthouse with a private pool within a 5-star gated community, just steps from the beach. 3 beds, 3 baths, living area approx. 142 m², terrace approx. 270 m². Price: €3,975,000, E&V ID W-02XXG9.

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Los Monteros: Exceptional newly built villa just steps from the beach, featuring sea views, a rooftop terrace, gym, and private pool. 6 beds, 8 baths, built area approx. 787 m², plot approx. 1,415 m². Price: €8,750,000, E&V ID W-02XXT3.

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c» GO TO SPOTLIGHT

24 Uttarakhand – Hollywood of the Himalayas

38 Granada

52 ME Marbella by Meliá

60 Centro Plaza – 35 Years

68 Real de La Quinta

78 The Playmakers Inspirational Youth Theatre

86 Ferrari Amalfi

94 Margaret Qualley

» GO TO TRENDS

106 What’s Cool

110 Salomón Doncel

118 Hot New Films

122 Cool New Series

126 New Book Releases

130 Grok 4

204

» GO TO LIFESTYLE

138 Azurean Marbella

148 Gregor Flaute – Art Intuition

156 Max Mara Resort Collection

164 Top Products for Eyebrows

166 Bach Flower Remedies

170 Can Cats and Dogs be Friends?

» GO TO ENTERPRISE

174 Redefined Luxury by Gilmar

180 Alura Living by Exxacon Smart Living

186 AI – Implications and Concerns

190 Business News

198 The Vibe

» GO TO GOURMET

204 Noyane by Chef Richard Sandoval

210 Nieves Barragán of Legado

216 Best Countries for Chocolate

220 Xalte – Sea Salt form Mexico

224 White Wines to Savour in September

Nueva Andalucía

VILLA MILAN: AN EXTRAORDINARY RESIDENCE REDEFINING LUXURY LIVING NEXT TO LAS BRISAS GOLF

Villa Milan is an icon of modern design. Set on an expansive and private plot of over 2,500 m2 , this breathtaking villa redefines luxury living in Marbella's exclusive Golf Valley, harmoniously combines timeless Mediterranean elegance with sophisticated design to create a true resort-style residence with exceptional qualities throughout. The wellness and entertainment level, with direct access to the outdoor living, boasts a seperate guest apartment, tv lounge, bodega, gym, sauna, hammam, bar and games room. Further features include a lift, domotic system, Gazebo with outdoor kitchen, large terraces, Jacuzzi and garage.

VILLA ALLURE - THE DEFINITION OF LUXURY LIVING IN THE BEST LOCATION IN MARBELLA

Allure is definetely one of the most beautiful villas on the Golden Mile. A testament to impeccable craftsmanship, where every element has been thoughtfully curated. Offering an unrivalled living experience, seamlessly blending a prime location with spectacular sea and mountain views, magnificent architecture, and bespoke interior design. Expansive spaces with double-height ceilings, impressive entrance, utmost privacy, unparalleled quality, and resort amenities, including a gym, games room, bar, sauna, hammam, indoor pool, lift, 8-car garage, and high-end home automation. Allure embodies the pinnacle of luxury living in every sense.

Cascada de Camoján

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IAIN BLACKWELL PUBLISHER

SEPTEMBER A MONTH TO SAVOUR

The crowds are gone and the temperatures are great, making this one of the best months of the year here in Marbella.

In this edition, consider a potentially life-changing visit to Uttarakhand in the Himalayas. Closer to hand, immerse yourself in culture in the captivating city of Granada which once seen is never forgotten.

We present Marbella’s newest 5-Star hotel ME Marbella by Meliá, along with Azurean Marbella – an ultra luxurious project with branding from Hyatt. We also bring you an update on what is taking shape at

Real de La Quinta

Find out about Centro Plaza’s 35th anniversary, as well as theatre training opportunities here on the coast courtesy of The Playmakers.

Follow the distinguished career of rising star Margaret Qualley. Experience adrenalin onboard the new Ferrari Amalfi, and take inspiration from Max Mara’s new Resort Collection.

Finally, make a point of reserving a table at Noyane, a swish new dining venue from celebrity chef Richard Sandoval.

» GO TO CONTENTS

“NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. THE WORDS ITSELF SAYS ‘I’M POSSIBLE!”

Audrey Hepburn

EXCEPTIONAL PROPERTIES.

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Issue 310 – September 2025

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IAIN BLACKWELL director@essentialmagazine.com

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WRITERS Iain Blackwell, Subhasish Chakraborty, Michel Cruz, Alicia Duggan, Sam Hexter, Natalie Lehmann, Sebastián Lozano, Nael George Marar Maddie Quinn (A. Blackwell), James Sinclair STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Kevin Horn, www.photographermarbella.com

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A Clubhouse Beyond Expectation

Find mindfulness and life-changing experiences in the Himalayas. Immerse yourself in culture in Granada. Check in to the new ME Marbella by Meliá and check out the sleek new Ferrari Amalfi. Follow the stellar career of Margaret Qualley, and find about theatre training on the coast.

« BACK TO CONTENTS

sspotlight

24 Uttarakhand – Hollywood of the Himalayas

38 Granada

52 ME Marbella by Meliá

60 Centro Plaza – 35 Years

68 Real de La Quinta

78 The Playmakers Inspirational Youth Theatre

86 Ferrari Amalfi

94 Margaret Qualley

THE HOLLYWOOD OF THE HIMALAYAS UTTARAKHAND

There is an all enveloping awareness of a world that is veering more and more towards a ‘Planet and People First’ phenomenon, with the North Indian state of Uttarakhand, magnetised by the mighty Himalayas, truly evolving as New India’s most preferred Conscious Travel destination.

THE LURE OF THE HIMALAYAS

The Himalayas are indeed an enigma! Spanning an expanse of 2,500 kms in length and between 350 and 150 kms in breadth, with a maximum summit of approximately 9 kms above sea level, the greatest mountain range on Planet Earth is renowned for its rarefied grandeur and diversity in terms of geography as well as its centuries-old culture.

Legends and exhilarating tales of epic adventures and stellar mountaineering feats abound, glorifying the Himalayas. The quintessential richness of Himalayan folklore and mythology has drawn the imagination of the world since ancient times. No wonder, the adventure goes on in the form of everevolving prototypes, in humanity’s bid to fathom the sheer magnitude of the Himalayas. ›

In a world reeling under global warming and climate crisis, the Indian state of Uttarakhand comes as a breath of fresh air, with its snow-capped high Himalayan peaks like Nanda Devi (7816m), Chaukhamba (7138m), Panchchuli (6904m), and Trisul (7120m) standing like sentinels.

Uttarakhand’s topography is challenging, with the mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh to the Northwest, Tibet to the Northeast, Nepal in the

Southeast, and the state of Uttar Pradesh in the South. Both the Greater Himalayas and the Lesser Himalayan zones fall in Uttarakhand. ›

HOLLYWOOD AND THE WESTERN WORLD

Uttarakhand is the land of Yoga and Rishikesh is regarded as the Yoga Capital of the World. From ancient times, mystics and yogis have preferred the Uttarakhand Himalayas to engage themselves in Yoga.

In fact, the Kasar Devi Hill,

an eerie spiritual hub, has attracted not just the saints or the ‘Rishi’ of yore, but also great men and women of contemporary times. Those who have spent quality time here in search of spiritual solace include Bob Dylan, D.H. Lawrence, George Harrison, Allen Ginsburg, Uma Thurman, Sunyata Baba aka Alfred Sorensen, Steve Jobs…

Not many are aware that an exclusive Spiritual Retreat in Rishikesh was the place where the British

pop band The Beatles stayed and experimented with ancient Indian spiritual practices like Transcendental Meditation way back in 1968. The Beatles Ashram was originally established by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the 1960s and the Beatles were mesmerised by the Maharishi’s spiritual quest and the path he followed.

The epoch-making visit by The Beatles in February 1968 was a defining moment for spiritual India and the Western world’s perception of the ancient Sanatani Hinduism tradition. The band, consisting of George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr came with their wives and the whole of India, particularly the media paparazzi, went berserk as the news of their arrival in India was officially released.

Once the Band settled down at the Rishikesh Ashram and began taking lessons from

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, they dived deeply into their spiritual realms and the typical ashramlife, in the foothills of the Himalayas, inspired them to compose some of their best songs. The Band’s connection with India’s umbilical cord –‘Spirituality’ – was a significant milestone from the pre-existing point of view of the Western world’s perception of Indian spiritual ethos.

There must be a reason why the great Swamis, Hollywood celebrities, and tech wizards chose the Uttarakhand Himalayas over all others to immerse themselves in meditation and Yoga! Perhaps, these enlightened souls preferred the Uttarakhand Himalayas due to the tremendously pure combo package consisting of high altitude oxygen, carbon neutral surroundings, and the blessings of ancient saints. ›

MEDITATIVE TREKS & TRAILS

To explore the rarefied beauty of the Uttarakhand Himalayas, the quaint hill station of Almora, also popularly referred to as the Cultural Capital of Kumaon could be an ideal base. Almora is beautifully perched at an altitude of 1642 m and I must confess, the profundity of the jawdropping Himalayan peaks touches you immensely.

KASAR DEVI

I would give Kasar Devi a 5 star rating. If you are in search of true bliss, this is the place to be. Just 9 Kms from Almora, the Himalayan panorama surrounding Kasar Devi is breathtaking. And, when it comes to

soul enrichment, the entire Kasar Devi hill is actually a unique geomagnetic radiation field, similar to Machu Picchu in Peru and Stonehenge in England.

PINDARI GLACIER TREK

This is a moderately challenging trek and meant for experienced trekkers. You need to be reasonably fit as the trek advances through thick forest and one has to encounter swift

flowing Himalayan streams and rocky crests. Located at an altitude, which is all of 12,300 feet above sea level, the awe-inspiring sight of the Pindari Glacier at Zero Point has mesmerised trekkers from the world over.

For an exhilarating trekking experience you can embark on a journey from Almora to Kharkiya on a 4x4 drive and from thereon on foot. The stretch from Khati to Dwali is particularly challenging as the terrain is steep and the topography changes dramatically. However, all your trekker’s fatigue vanishes once you set up your camp and relax on the backdrop of the magnificent Pindari Glacier. ›

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DUNAGIRI TREK

One of India’s most hallowed Yoga and meditation hubs is Dunagiri. This has been the preferred place of practicing Kriya Yoga as propounded by the ancient Rishi – His Holiness Mahavatar Babaji. The meditation chamber (cave) is tucked up in Kukuchina on the Pandukholi mountain.

Spiritual seekers engage in deep meditation and Kriya Yoga as espoused by Mahavatar Babaji centuries back. Kriya Yoga has caught the attention of the world’s spiritual seekers as a tool towards attaining an elevated spiritual plane.

Mahavatar Babaji is believed to be around 2000 years old (assuming that he is alive). It was Swami Paramahansa Yogananda who first introduced Mahavatar Babaji to the world through his literary work, Autobiography of a Yogi

The trek to Dunagiri and the time you spend there in contemplation could be a life changing experience. Here in the lap of the

Himalayas, India’s ancient wisdom and Kriya Yoga techniques will lead you to the path of divinity. It is one of India’s best off-grid spiritual experiences to savour.

CORBETT NATIONAL PARK – THE LAND OF ROAR, TRUMPET AND SONG

The world famous Corbett National Park spreads over an area of 525 km2. The park initially covered 325 km2 but it was felt that the area was too small for species like the tiger and elephants which at times moved into the adjoining shooting blocks. Today, of course, there are no shooting blocks as such – the only shooting allowed is with a camera. This grassland is home to elephants, cheetahs, deer, sambar, hog deer, and of course tigers. Corbett National Park’s altitude varies between 385 meters and 1210 meters above sea level. The average temperature in summer is 42ºC and the average winter temperature is 4ºC.

THE WILDERNESS LEGACY OF JIM CORBETT

James Edward Corbett (1875 - 1955), one of the world’s greatest hunterconservationists, was a British-Indian naturalist, famous for hunting a large number of man-eating tigers and leopards in Kumaon.

In the days of yore, the entire region was teeming with man-eating predators and Corbett’s expertise was often sought by the

then British government. It is believed that these man-eaters of Kumaon had killed more than 1,000 people, leaving behind a trail of devastation on the entire populace.

The manner in which Jim Corbett rendered Kumaon free of the danger is the stuff of legends and finds expression in biographies and films. Corbett documented his exploits as a hunter in his bestselling books Man-Eaters of Kumaon and Jungle Lore wherein he lucidly describes his encounters with tigers and leopards of Kumaon.

As a mark of admiration, an exclusive wildlife reserve known as the Corbett National Park was dedicated to him. At a distance of 125 kms from Almora, it is considered by many as one of India’s top five wildlife reserves, which also has the highest density of tigers.

BINSAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY – BEAUTY & THE BEAST!

Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary is classified as an IUCN Category IV Species Management Zone and is home to leopards, Himalayan goral, musk deer, wild boar, jungle cats, Sumatran serow, rhesus macaques, and giant flying squirrels to name just a few. However, it is for leopards that Binsar is most famous. Binsar might not be on the bucket list of India’s wildlife parks like Ranthambore, Bandhavgarh, Corbett National Park, or Kaziranga, yet it is off the beaten track and compelling.

No other wildlife zone in India offers this kind of Himalayan spectacle – an uninterrupted view of a 300 kms stretch with powdery peaks like Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot, Kedarnath, Panchachuli, all lined up as if for a beauty pageant! ›

In spite of the onslaught of modernity, Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary has fiercely kept its biodiversity protected, vehemently forsaking attempts at commercialisation of the tourism phenomenon, which finds reflection on the solitary single road that criss-crosses the entire sanctuary.

SAFARI EXPERIENCE

In India’s Devbhumi Uttarakhand (Abode of Gods) a silent revolution is on, courtesy of Kumaon’s renowned wildlife safari operator, the Koranga family’s Wood Villas Safari. Chandan Singh Koranga, a proud Millennial Kumaoni

native, whose forefathers the late Dewan Singh Koranga and later on Shri Nandan Singh Koranga in particular, served with great distinction in one of the Indian Army’s oldest and most decorated infantry units, the Kumaon Regiment, has been operating wildlife safaris to Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary with tremendous zeal and innovation.

Prior to a typical jungle safari, Chandan Singh Koranga, who learned the intricacies of safari expeditions from his grandfather, can be seen in a hyper-excited mode, crafting the itinerary route to be followed during

the safari, mountain villages to visit, checking the condition of the 4x4 wheel-drive vehicles, arranging the logistics like tents, food, etc. In short, Chandan’s preSafari preparedness is worth emulating, as he leaves nothing to chance, knowing full well that one mistake on those treacherous wilderness trails could be disastrous! ›

According to Chandan Singh Koranga, “My late grandfather Shri Dewan Singh Ji was fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with Jim Corbett when the entire Kumaon Himalayas was infested and terrified by dangerous man-eaters (tigers and leopards). We grew up listening to stories about Corbett’s courage in confronting the big cats. However, for us Kumaonis, we do not consider tigers and leopards as predators; rather, we believe that their presence is an indication that our ecosystem is healthy. Perhaps this attitude originated from the great hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett himself, who first instilled in us the need to be sympathetic to the big cats.”

WRAPPING UP

People from across the world come to the Himalayas in search of peace and solitude. Practising yoga and meditation in the Himalayas can be a very purifying experience. The Uttarakhand Himalayas, which has been

the hub of Yoga & Meditation since ancient times, has emerged as contemporary India’s most idyllic region for Yoga practitioners. The oxygen concentration being high and with the easy availability of carbon neutral sites, the Uttarakhand Himalayas offers an irresistible invitation to indulge in a rejuvenating bodymind-soul purification journey.

FOR TAILOR-MADE TREKS & TOURS OF THE KUMAON HIMALAYAS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT: CHANDAN SINGH KORANGA, WOOD VILLAS, DHAMAS, UTTARAKHAND, INDIA. T: (+91) 7505001510

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UNDER THE CITY’S SPELL GRANADA

WORDS NATALIE LEHMANN PHOTOGRAPHY NATALIE LEHMANN AND SHUTTERSTOCK

The Alhambra

To prepare for this piece, I returned to a city I once called home. It was my first time back since living there as a student at the University of Granada. As I approached the city by car, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the first notes of Frank Sinatra’s Granada.

Granada, I’m falling under your spell And if you could speak, what a fascinating tale you would tell Of an age the world has long forgotten Of an age that weaves a silent magic in Granada today

The chorus rang in my head as the Alhambra appeared on the horizon, framed by the snow-clad Sierra Nevada mountains. As country homes turned to Art Nouveau façades, my memories of the compact and radiant Andalusian city washed over me.

Few films capture Granada’s elusive beauty, but Abid Khan’s Granada Nights does it justice. The film trails a young Erasmus student discovering the duende, the soulful, ineffable spirit of Granada. The opening scenes are everyday shots around the city scored with a guitar rendition of Isaac Albéniz’s Granada, conjuring nostalgia for a place at once mysterious and yet eternally beloved by its visitors.

Someday, I’ll return to Granada for more than a weekend. Its magic deserves more than a few days. If you’re visiting, stay at least a week – and should you crave variety, day trips to Ronda or Málaga are easy to arrange. ›

HISTORY AND THE ALHAMBRA

Granada’s past is intricate, woven with grandeur, conflict, and enduring beauty. Three moments in history, in particular, continue to shape its character.

The first: 1492. That year, the Catholic Monarchs, Los Reyes Catholicos, conquered the city, ending centuries

of Islamic rule under the Nasrid dynasty. Though the years leading to the Reconquista were tense, Granada had long thrived as a centre of coexistence. Jews, Christians, and Muslims collaborated in a flourishing age of scientific, architectural, and philosophical innovation. That cultural golden age was fractured by the Inquisition, which ushered

in forced conversions and religious persecution. Yet Granada remained irreducibly itself. Cultures lived shoulder to shoulder for centuries, and their influence remains etched into the fabric of the city. The result is a mosaic of Moorish and Catholic architecture, customs, and cuisine – one that feels uniquely, unmistakably Granadino. ›

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@ d u n e b e a c h m a r b e l l a d u n e b e a c h m a r b e l l a c o m

In 1829, writer Washington Irving travelled Andalusia and took up residence in the Alhambra, inspiring his famous collection of stories, Tales of the Alhambra This book helped turn global attention toward the crumbling palace-fortress and inspired Spanish architect José Contreras to launch its restoration. Over

generations, his son and then grandson continued the work, rescuing the Alhambra from decay and securing its future. The Tales of the Alhambra is a romanticisation of Moorish times and a wonderful book to read before your trip or as you explore Granada. There are tales you’ll hear on your guided tour of the Alhambra and some stories

you wouldn’t learn unless you spoke with a local. Today, as you climb past the Puerta de las Granadas, just behind the statue of Columbus kneeling before Queen Isabella, you’ll find a monument to Irving. It stands as a kind of spiritual gatekeeper to the Alhambra, whose gardens and palaces await above.

Step through the Puerta

Jardines de Generalife

de la Justicia and arrive at the Renaissance Palace of Charles V – an Italianate insertion among Moorish masterpieces. While the Alhambra’s core was built in the 13th century, this palace reflects the aesthetic ambitions of Spain’s post-Reconquista rulers. Touring the Alhambra early in your stay is essential. From the Alcazaba (citadel) to the Nasrid Palaces – the Court of Myrtles, the Court of the Lions, and beyond – each step reveals secrets carved in stucco and verses from the Qur’an inscribed into walls. ›

The Alhambra

As you learn the history of the city through the Alhambra, stories and facts will stay with you as you dine and shop in the city below. Honestly, you may

be so entranced that you’ll want to return for a second visit before departing.

A more recent event also shaped the city’s

soul: the Spanish Civil War. Granada fell quickly to Franco’s regime due to its conservative stronghold and religious institutions. The war, which claimed around 500,000 lives, was followed by a national Pacto del Olvido – a Pact of Forgetting – meant to promote reconciliation by avoiding accountability. Only in the past two dEcades have efforts to confront the era’s injustices gained momentum.

One of its most tragic losses was Federico García Lorca, the beloved poet and playwright, murdered at the war’s onset. His legacy lives on in the city – in his home, now a museum, in murals and graffiti, and most vividly, in his work. His death symbolised repression across artistic Granada and is still considered a catalyst for remembrance for the many victims who ‘disappeared’ at the hands of Nationalist forces. Lorca is a patron spirit of modern Granada: melancholic, musical, unflinching. ›

The Alcazaba, the oldest section of the Alhambra dating back to the 9th century.

Patio de Los Leones

THE ALBAICÍN, OR THE ALBAYZÍN

The Alhambra has overlooked Granada throughout history, only being towered over by the picturesque Sierra Nevada mountains. As you stand looking through an arched window of the Generalife Palace connected to the gardens of the Alhambra, you will look beyond onto the white-washed buildings of the Albaicín, the old Moorish city. Today, the bohemian quarter brims with artists’

residences, boutique hotels, and curated shops like Platonico and Chambo selling art, jewellery, ceramics, leather goods, and more. There are galleries and museums in the area wellworth a visit and dozens of plazas with Andalusian restaurants hosting guitarists who strum to the crowds all evening.

At the base of the Albaicín there are streets leading upwards lined with leather vendors and souvenir shops.

Along the Paseo de los Tristes, bordering the Darro River, there are shops like Hamman Al Ándaluz where you can soak in Moorishstyle baths that connect modern Granada to its Islamic past. The plaza at the end of Calle del Darro offers some of the best lowangle views of the Alhambra and plenty of restaurants to stop for a snack before making your way up to perhaps the best part of this neighborhood, its miradors. ›

Shops lining the Calle Calderería Nueva

These miradores, or viewpoints that crown the neighborhood, are scattered along the hill. San Nicolás is famous, but for an experience that feels cinematic, climb higher to Ermita de San Miguel Alto. If you’re able, go just before sunset. I took my family there one evening – we barely made it before golden hour peaked, but the panoramic view from the hill’s crest was unforgettable. I recommend taking a taxi from Plaza Nueva if you are pressed for time.

On your way down, book a flamenco performance in the cave venues of Sacromonte, the neighboring district traditionally home to Granada’s Romani community. There, centuries of rhythm, rebellion, and resilience echo off stone walls in a sensory immersion that will stay with you long after.

THE HEART OF THE CITY

Granada’s centre hums with life. Locals often use the main post office, los correos, as a central meeting point, referred to by younger crowds as ‘the Burger King’. Just beside it, you’ll find two of my personal favourite shops: El Tiempo Perdido, a charming bookstore, and 5V Calzado Artesanal, an artisanal shoe shop with handmade bags and hats.

For accommodation, proximity to the Cathedral offers an ideal base.

The Victoria Hotel (NH Collection) offers modern comforts and elegance near the city’s best shops and cafés. For opulence and heritage, look no

further than Hotel Alhambra Palace or Parador de Granada. Both transport you to another era while keeping you at the doorstep of the city’s greatest treasures. Evenings in Granada are best spent walking. Let your steps carry you from the university’s lush Botanical Garden (well worth a visit in the daylight), through Plaza de la Trinidad, past the Cathedral, and into Plaza BibRambla. Cobbled alleys and golden lamplight will guide you home. Before turning in, consider indulging in a scoop or a decadent Tartufa, their signature dessert, at Grillo, a beloved Italian ice cream parlor.

The ornate Capilla Real de Granada (Royal Chapel)

TAPAS CULTURE AND MEALS WORTH SAVOURING

There are very few cities where tapas are still widely free with a drink, Granada is the most well-known and consistent with this practice. Regardless of the type of cuisine, Granada restaurants will serve a tapa per drink, alcoholic or not. At some restaurants,

this will comprise a bowl of olives, in others you could receive a whole sandwich. Throughout my year in Granada, I made it my personal mission to seek out the best tapas and raciones available. For the best of Granada’s famously generous tapas culture, here’s a curated list of favourites – and know that there could be at least

fifteen more.

» Bar Poe

» La Bodega de Antonio

» Rollo

» Om Kalsum

» El Bar de Eric

» Los Manueles Reyes Católicos

» Bultaco Bar

» Bar Casa Julio

» Los Diamantes

» Rosario Varela

» Bar Potemkin ›

Sun setting on the Church of Saint Nicholas

Walking alongside the Cathedral on the Calle de Oficios

For elevated dining, Granada holds its own with a growing list of standout restaurants. Faralá and Albidaya offer contemporary, farm-totable experiences that blend innovation with regional flair. María de la O, housed in a 19thcentury mansion, delivers traditional dishes in a refined setting along the Genil River. Arriaga, with panoramic views, and the intimate Cala round out a city that caters rustic tradition and modern elegance.

After dinner or perhaps a flamenco show, settle into a

bar like NOIR, El Rinconcillo, or MEZZE. Whether you crave a vermouth on tap, a darkly stylish cocktail, or a glass of Andalusian wine, Granada has a stool at the bar waiting. For energy and live conversation late into the evenings, Hannigan & Sons is a local favourite.

For something more reflective and artistic, order a drink at Bohemia Jazz Café, where every corner has a story from across the world.

SAYING GOODBYE

Granada is not a city that can be fully explored in one visit. I spent a year here and

am still left with a to-do list of tapas bars, hikes, and hidden treasures. But that’s part of the city’s magic, there’s always more to see, more to feel, and more to remember.

Enjoy every minute, explore every hill, and as long as you can spot the top of the Cathedral’s tower or the Alhambra, you’ll never truly be lost – though you may wish you were. One visit, and you’ll fall under Granada’s spell. As Sinatra sang: The moonlit Granada will live again,

The glory of yesterday, romantic, gay, Granada. e

Tourists watching the sunset. Often times there are street performers singing and playing flamenco in the afternoons and evenings

Villa Sienna has just arrived on the market. Poised 300 m above Marbella’s coastline, this show-stopping villa enjoys stunning views across the Mediterranean Sea to Gibraltar and the African coastline beyond.

Villa Sienna is located in the 200-hectare country club estate of Real de La Quinta, surrounded by magnificent countryside and bordering a UNESCO Biosphere reserve, just 15 minutes from Marbella.

ME MARBELLA BY MELIÁ HOTELS

The renowned Meliá Hotels group has reopened its Puerto Banús hotel under the ME Marbella brand, following an extensive renovation involving a €20 million investment. The launch is part of the group’s ambitious €125 million investment in Málaga, with three more five-star establishments lined up for Málaga, Ronda, and Estepona. ME Marbella is the group’s most avant-garde line of hotels. It has been conceived as a carefully curated universe where every element of a hotel – from its architecture to its cultural and culinary offerings – is part of an integrated vision. Currently, ME by Meliá has eight hotels, spread across Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, and Mexico.

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF MELIÁ HOTELS

REINTERPRETING MODERN LUXURY

SETTISIGN

The ME Marbella Hotel was designed by Adriana and Álvaro Sans of Estudio ASAH, who paid homage to pure Mediterranean architecture, reinterpreted through their original vision. Organic forms, clean lines, and natural textures are married to nature-inspired hues, such as ochre from the mountainside, white from lime, and different shades of blue from the sea. There are 200 rooms in total, including 24 exclusive suites. The accommodations are sanctuaries of light, beauty, and serenity, offering views of the Mediterranean, Sierra Blanca, or the lush interior gardens. ›

A NOD TO BIOPHILIA

The interiors are inspired by organic forms and are envisioned as an oasis for leisure and dining. They boast fluid architectural shapes and are surrounded by vegetation, paying homage to the benefits of biophilic design for human health. The hotel’s heart is its stunning beach club, Oasis. Here, the captivating blend of architecture, water, and music makes it easy to forget one’s cares and feel embraced in the alluring textures, aromas, and endless sunsets.

SAVOURING THE BEST OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

ME Marbella is determined to elevate the dining experience

on the Coast, working alongside Pont Hospitality to offer guests and external diners three unique spaces. La Terraza Del Med celebrates the flavours of the Mediterranean with honest, local cuisine that draws from sea and land. Barlume offers a sophisticated yet laid-back experience, with offerings ranging from apéritifs to late-night dining, made with Mediterranean flair and topquality ingredients.

Last but not least is Solana – a chic poolside venue that blends the soul of Miami with the freshness of the Mediterranean. The Solana brand belongs to Miami’s Juvia Group, and it is making its debut in Spain thanks to the hotel and the Pont Hospitality

group. The Juvia Group was founded by Jonás Millán and Alexandra Millán in Miami, with a portfolio of ten iconic gastronomic concepts. The group has chosen Marbella to open the doors of its very first Solana in the world, ahead of future international openings, including a Miamibased location. Here, Chef David Vignaud’s menu, called Sun Cuisine, offers a balanced and innovative array of dishes such as the Solana Ceviche, Pacheri Carretilleros, and Côte de Bœuf cooked in a Josper grill. The extensive cocktail menu, curated by Keith Butler, mixologist at Juvia Group, offers exotic flavour blends, surprising touches, and unusual combinations. ›

AN ARRAY OF UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

Guests will enjoy many chances to immerse themselves in experiences that combine local authenticity and holistic well-being. These include artisanal ceramics workshops, beauty rituals, and a private tapas-and-stories tour guided by photographer Jesús Chacón. They can also opt for an electric llaüt (traditional wooden boat) journey

to discover the Coast’s underwater treasures, and an exclusive tasting of wines aged under the sea at Spain’s first underwater winery. Of course, there is plenty to enjoy at the resort itself, including a stunning outdoor pool, perfect for catching a few rays and forgetting about that long to-do list.

WWW.MELIA.COM

Where Dreams Become Marbella Living

7 Bed | 10 Bath | 2.013 m² Plot | 1.346 m² Built | REF: 5599MLV | 22.490.000 €

An architecturally unique, south-facing property located in the exclusive gated community of Sierra Blanca on Marbella’s prestigious Golden Mile. The main villa is thoughtfully laid out on a single level, featuring three spacious bedrooms, each with its own en-suite bathroom.

5 - 6 BED | 4 - 6 BATH THREE VILLAS AVAILABLE

PRICES FROM: 1.990.000 €

CASA OLIVO 4 BED | 4 BATH 786 m² BUILT | 3.722 m² PLOT PRICE: 3.600.000 €

Hacienda Las Chapas - 5308MLV

VILLA LA DIMORA

Marbella Golden Mile

SIERRA BLANCA, MARBELLA GOLDEN MILE

CELEBRATES 35 YEARS IN BUSINESS CENTRO PLAZA

A pioneering, stand-out facility when it was built some 35 years ago, Centro Plaza has stood the test of time and become a reference point for business and leisure in Marbella. Now, 35 years later, it reaches a major milestone in so young a city.

Centro Plaza was an ambitious project when it was launched in 1990. Marbella until then had been a very upmarket yet also seasonal destination that still lacked the momentum for year-round business, so the creators of and investors in the venture had a belief in both the city and their project that was gutsy and has proven to be entirely justified. This trailblazing complex of offices, shops, restaurants, clinics, and a state-of-the-art gym with private car parking facilities soon filled up and has remained that way, becoming exactly what it was intended to be – a beacon of business and leisure in Marbella and a focal point for commercial and

social life in Nueva Andalucía.

“This vision championed by Sr. Alfonso Fernández and Sr. Alberto Vidiella was founded on a strategic and privileged location overlooking Marbella just minutes from Puerto Banús,” says Carlos García Perujo, the General Manager of the complex. “Centro Plaza has remained so up to date because it has grown alongside its community and evolved to meet the needs of residents and visitors alike.”

“The success of the complex also stems from the vision of  Sr. Javier Banús, whose uncle, Sr. José Banús, developed the port area. His decision to create an openplan centre with a modernfor-its-time Mediterranean design gave it a timeless quality.›

The complex taking shape Centro Plaza today –at the heart of Nueva Andalucía-Puerto Banús

This architecture, which integrates sustainably with its surroundings, remains highly relevant today and is a cornerstone of Centro Plaza’s identity.” And yet, the ongoing success of Centro Plaza goes beyond the style and amenities it offers, as at the heart of it all is a dedicated team that works tirelessly to ensure the smooth operation of the complex. This involves

the coordination of the administration by Urbemar, as well as maintenance, gardening, cleaning, security , and the multitude of daily tasks undertaken by the team members to manage the process and keep the centre in peak condition.

A MIRROR OF MARBELLA’S EVOLUTION

“For this reason, my job for one is highly varied, and

it is this dynamism that I love. No two days are the same, and while I know how my day starts I never know how it will end. This makes every day a challenge, as well as an opportunity for growth, something I value greatly.” Communication is central within his small and close-knit team, given it has the capacity to respond quickly and efficiently to incidents, beautification plans, commercial initiatives , and work on budgets. Centro Plaza has grown with Nueva Andalucía and the history of the complex is therefore a mirror of the suburb’s own evolution. “Centro Plaza has adapted to the changing needs of the area and we have worked hard to keep a big picture perspective and maintain a diversified and relevant commercial mix.”

Outdoor dining with a view

VISITESSENTIALMAGA

Initially, the strategic location on the doorstep of a developing Nueva Andalucía made Centro Plaza a vital real estate hub, followed by law and accountancy firms, architectural practices, interior designers, and notaries.

Alongside this developed an offering of fashion boutiques, restaurants, clinics, beauty centres, supermarkets, and gyms, services that reflected the needs of a growing community, and in recent times it has also become a hub for the growing

Scandinavian community and business activity in the greater Marbella area, while remaining popular with all other nationalities too. “The Swedish presence in this spot dates back to the 1980s, but it has also been highly popular with British, Spanish, and other communities, forming a wonderful meeting point for the excitingly diverse Marbella society,” says Carlos.

Today, Centro Plaza remains a multi-sector centre with over 20 types of businesses active in 120 establishments. Without losing its identity, the establishments have evolved with careful conceptual

designs and services focused on maximising the customer experience.

“An excellent example of this is Spisa Food Market, a supermarket that also functions as a restaurant and social space, offering a multicultural and multilingual environment.” Carlos is pleased with an overall 98% occupancy rate and the growing presence of retail in recent years (100% full), with a focus on fashion boutiques, accessories, beauty products, food, florists, and décor. “This development reaffirms our commitment to a vibrant and diverse business model that keeps Centro Plaza vital and exciting.” ›

Elegant fashion boutiques

A state-of-the-art gym

NEW INITIATIVES

That process is also aided by initiatives that place the complex at the heart of the local community, such as the hugely popular Saturday morning market it has been hosting for many years. “On those days, commercial activity multiplies, offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy a unique atmosphere with high quality art and craft stalls, accompanied by the convenience of the shopping centre’s own services and the chance to

relax on one of the various terraces with spectacular views of La Concha and Marbella Bay. It’s a space where visitors are always surprised by something new.”

This September also sees the start of an ambitious renovation of the centre, the most comprehensive since its launch 35 years ago. “You could call it a 35th anniversary celebration and birthday gift,” says Carlos. “Centro Plaza has always been well maintained but

this year it will get a fresh new look, and thanks to the visionary architectural design, newcomers to the area might just think it was recently built and not conceived in the 1980s, since when it has been an integral part of life in Nueva Andalucía and Marbella in general.”

Here’s to the promising future of one of the region’s best-loved and most iconic landmarks.

WWW.CENTROPLAZA.ES

Beauty and wellness experiences

One of the restaurants and cafés of Centro Plaza

One of the interior design shops

SWANS Class of 2025

International Baccalaureate Diploma Examination Results

The Swans Class of 2025 has achieved remarkable success in both IB (International Baccalaureate) and IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) examinations this year. The dedication of our IB students is reflected by the 100% pass rate, with eight students scoring over 40 points (top 9%) and one earning a perfect 45 (top 1% of all IB students).

Scores of 38 and above are equivalent to AAA at A Level, with 45 points comparable to 4 A*s. Many graduates are now heading to prestigious universities worldwide, including the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), the UK’s top-ranked university for the past two years.

Congratulations to all Swans IB and IGCSE students - your dedication and resilience form the foundation for a bright future.

(I)GCSE Examination Results - Top Performers

Congratulations to the Year 11 students who excelled in their (I)GCSEs and are now preparing to embark on their IB journeys. The following students all achieved multiple grades 7-9 (equivalent to the traditional A*-A grades).

These outstanding accomplishments exemplify Swans’ unwavering commitment to nurturing a culture of success, excellence, and academic growth.

Well done on these incredible achievements and best wishes for continued success.

Swans School students are consistently accepted into the most prestigious universities in the world.

Imperial College London

University of Cambridge

University College London (UCL)

New York University (NYU)

Kings College London

University of Edinburgh

University of Manchester

London School of Economics (LSE)

University of St Andrews

University of Bath

University of Amsterdam

Trinity College Dublin

University College Dublin (UCD)

Loughborough University

IE University, Madrid

Universidad Complutense, Madrid

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio, Madrid

1971

David Cornez

9 A**(9) to A (7)

Iga Grzenkowska

9 A**(9) to A (7)

Nicolás Guajardo-Fajardo Villena

9 A**(9) to A (7)

Cecilia Jones Maganto

9 A**(9) to A (7)

Christopher Chabowski

8 A**(9) to A (7)

Tianxin Chen

8 A**(9) to A (7)

Daniel Pritchard

8 A**(9) to A (7)

Nicolas Cunliffe

7 A**(9) to A (7)

Anna Mudra

7 A**(9) to A (7)

Danila Suslikov

7 A**(9) to A (7)

Noelia Torell

7 A**(9) to A (7)

John Tricker

7 A**(9) to A (7)

Olha Mudra

12 A**(9) to A (7)

MARBELLA’S NEW RESIDENTIAL COUNTRY CLUB RESORT TAKES SHAPE REAL DE LA QUINTA

Marbella’s newest exclusive living environment is taking shape in the valleys and hills behind Nueva Andalucía, and it’s a thing to behold.

WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF GRUPO INMOBILIARIO LA QUINTA

Afew years ago, the exciting news broke that a new country club would be created in the valleys just north of Nueva Andalucía, surrounded by protected nature reserves yet closely connected to the coast and all its amenities. Speaking of amenities, Real de La Quinta, as the residential country club resort is called, boasts an impressive list of facilities and on your doorstep services that is generous even by Marbella standards. Among these are a sports club encompassing tennis and paddle tennis, a sixhole golf course, a spa with a professional gym, indoor pool,

and wellness centre, as well as concierge services provided for the residents of this gated secure community – but also a set of firsts for Marbella, including a manmade lake that includes such features as a lakeside restaurant and panoramic terrace, a lagoon swimming pool with sandy beaches, a children’s park with its own chiringuito, and a host of non-intrusive water sports free of the noise and pollution created by petrol engines.

The country club will also contain the Angsana Real de La Quinta Hotel and Branded Residences by the Banyan Tree Group, complete with its own exclusive dining and wellness attractions. ›

The lake at Real de La Quinta taking shape

Real de La Quinta caught the imagination from the outset, and this showed in the continued popularity of the apartment complexes built there to date, including Los Olivos, Quercus, and Palmitos, which sold out rapidly and have since earned their buyers a solid increase in value. The same is true of other apartment complexes within the resort developed by Grupo Inmobiliario La Quinta, Sabinas and Enebros, each more beautifully styled, finished, and luxurious than the previous one. They found a keen market for quality homes in a

beautiful country setting close to Marbella, with new owners settling in as the country club’s infrastructure of a wellengineered road network, its technical facilities, lake, and golf course were being developed. ›

Sunset views from Romero

The panoramic setting of the pool at Mimosas

TAKING SHAPE

Just as the Real de La Quinta community has begun to take shape, so the eagerly awaited lake and adjacent sports and leisure hub is now becoming visible. The golf course has been laid out and seeded, the lake has already had its first phase of filling and will be completed next year, and the sports, wellness, and restaurant hub of the

country club are standing. All are expected to be completed in time for a joyous launch during early spring next year, a fact that has residents of Real de La Quinta understandably excited. Next year, their exclusive country club living environment will truly become a reality, with top leisure, sports, and wellness facilities along with dining, and a panoramic setting with

stunning views of the sea, nature, golf, and lagoon, as well as the Marbella skyline. If Real de La Quinta apartments and villas have been sought after, this will only increase when the country club’s hub around its scenic lake come into effect, followed by the golf course and the Angsana spa hotel. ›

On top of the world in a Romero penthouse

Marbella at your feet

ROLLER BLINDS CURTAINS

In addition to new villas and private plots available, two new apartment complexes take style and luxury convenience to a new level. Mimosas and Romero are the pinnacle of what has been created at Real de La Quinta so far, two state-of-the-art penthouse and apartment complexes that make the choice between villas and apartments increasingly difficult to make. In truth, Mimosas offers all the advantages of a villa – including luxury, space, style, privacy, amenities, and even private parking – without any of the associated disadvantages in terms of maintenance, gardening, and security.

The spectacular new lake at Real de La Quinta

The luxurious apartments at Romero

“ That said, each project has a focus, character,and appeal of its own,” says Marisol Serrano, Commercial Director of Grupo La Quinta. “With Mimosas, we thought not only of superlative styling, qualities, and optimal use of design and space, but also focused on the cycle of life. In other words, creating homes made for many different phases and needs within a lifetime.” This is especially true of the ground floor apartments at Mimosas, which in addition to a private garden and swimming pool also feature a leisure space of 100m2 that can be made into a games and entertainment area, a children’s playroom, a gymnasium, or a private office, with direct access to

your parking spaces.

“It’s a very flexible concept that is ideal for families, people who entertain a lot or work from home, who have adolescent children or elderly relatives living with them, or indeed a great solution if you need live-in assistance,” says Marisol. “Until now, such options were mostly limited to larger villas but now we offer them combined with the convenience of an apartment community.” By comparison, Romero is a more conventional offering, if you can say that of modern residences with sleek, timeless architectural design, beautiful interior spaces, unbeatable views, and a threestorey communal zone with

gym, coworking space, and panoramic rooftop chill out area.

“At Real de La Quinta, each project is unique, and each successive one better, but all form part of a BREEAMcertified sustainable country club community that offers quality of living on the edge of Marbella,” says Marisol proudly.

LA QUINTA GRUPO INMOBILIARIO

AVDA. TOMÁS PASCUAL 6, OFICINA 6, URB. LA QUINTA GOLF, BENAHAVÍS TEL: (+34) 952 762 400

EMAIL: INMO@ GRUPOLAQUINTA.COM WWW. REALDELAQUINTA.COM

Open plan living at Mimosas

THE PLAYMAKERS

INSPIRATIONAL THEATRE FOR MARBELLA YOUTHS

The Playmakers is a new theatre school, opened by seasoned international educator and former drama teacher, Andrew ‘Andy’ Atkinson. This month, Andy shares all the news about his new school for students aged eight and upwards, highlighting the many benefits that theatre brings to young minds. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE PLAYMAKERS

There’s a good reason why educators and psychologists so often recommend theatre as a pastime for young people. Studies have shown that kids who participate in theatre have improved reading comprehension, higher grade point averages, and increased odds of graduation and college success. Theatre also aids in emotional development, helping children and young adults understand their own

and others’ emotions, build social bonds, and grow in self-confidence. It teaches many social skills as well, including verbal and body expression, reflective capacity, teamwork, responsibility, and commitment.

As a former theatre kid myself, I would add that playing characters who are sometimes vastly different from oneself is one of the most liberating experiences a child or teen could have. Theatre allows one to tap into one’s most creative, confident, and sometimes

even comic side. As students reach the end of their school journey, these sensations are arguably more important than ever. The last few years of high school (or sixth form) can be immensely pressureinducing. Kids these days face a host of academic and social pressures.

Amid studying dates, memorising countless formulae, and completing arduous reading lists, one subject shines for its invitation to be fearless, bold, and free: theatre. ›

The Playmakers students

The Playmakers doesn’t just centre on acting; it embraces all aspects of theatre performance and production, including acting, singing, dancing, and stagecraft classes. Every term, auditions are held and a complete play or musical is performed. Andy explains, “I decided to open The Playmakers because there was nothing like it on the Coast. The Playmakers isn’t just a oncea-week-type school. It offers a more immersive after-school programme from Monday to Saturday. Of course, kids can attend the school once a week, but they can also come every day from Monday to Saturday.” What’s more, this school isn’t just for those who want to act. Some students attend the school only for singing or dancing, while others attend all these classes.

“We wish to give kids a real understanding of what it’s like to form part of an actual production,” says Andy, elaborating, “We hold auditions, then start rehearsing every Saturday. Currently, we are rehearsing for the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. There are opportunities for everyone, including those playing lead roles, members of the choir, dancers, cast, and crew.”

Another fantastic feature about The Playmakers is its team. Andy is backed by highly experienced teachers and performers, many of whom have an impressive CV featuring performances in top venues in the UK and beyond. Moreover, every season has new exciting offerings, one-off workshops, talks, and more events that can motivate and inspire

students.

To discover exactly what’s on, visit The Playmakers website, where you will find the full programme for the autumn season. Exciting additions include a live music option (yet to be confirmed), with teacher Ivan leading a small band of musicians, who will hopefully constitute a live orchestra for musicals. Students will also find a range of specialised classes such as musical comedy dance (combining jazz and contemporary dance), acting (focused on text-based drama and monologues with the potential for taking LAMDA exams in the future), and a technical stagecraft course featuring scenic design, costumes, lights, and sound.

The playmakers additionally offers advanced singing courses,

Older boys and young adults also attend the school

Andy and his students

choreography classes for the upcoming musical, and conceptual dance-drama classes, which centre on physical expression and dramatic performance alongside innovative corporate techniques, all of which are used to tell a story. There is another course on the principles of acting and

presence. It approaches the craft of acting through a fullbody focus, breath, and scene study, developing the art of being present and connected on and off the stage. There are courses for different groups of students, including singing classes for all levels, acting classes for older students (focusing on acting techniques, improvisation, building characters, and confidence), and courses for first-time actors combining games, role-play, and performing short scenes from musicals. There are also opportunities for those seeking to join oneto-one or small group courses in acting, singing, or dance. ›

Drama trust exercises

Live music lessons

Students tapping into their creativity

Students with their performance masks

This is undoubtedly an exciting and ambitious project, one that reveals Andy’s vast experience and love for the theatre. His life story reveals the significant role that the performing arts have played throughout his career, and his passion for travel and discovering other cultures. “I trained to be a teacher in the UK, and until I was 25, I lived there. My parents moved a lot, so I lived in England and Scotland for a while before relocating to Argentina. I spent 10 years in Argentina, and my experience there is what inspired me to become a drama teacher. For the last 15 to 20 years of my former career, I was a head teacher at an international school

run international schools in London and worked for the International Baccalaureate (IB). During my time as a teacher, I taught theatre and humanities.”

As a former educator and director of schools with strong leadership skills, Andy decided to open his first business, returning to his original passion – one he always held great love for – through his many travels and adventures. “I’m going back to what I used to do, but this time, I’m running a business, because there is a demand for a comprehensive private theatre group that gives kids the chance to hone the different talents involved in theatre production.

Playmakers because I want kids to be involved in creating and producing a play every term; I want their ideas to count, and I want them to have fun.”

Andy wishes to stress that The Playmakers is far removed from the idea of ‘hothousing’ kids (pressuring them to perform at higher levels than they are comfortable with). Nor is the school exclusively aimed at children who wish to dedicate themselves to the theatre in a professional capacity. Instead, the school gives children the chance to tap into their creativity, engage in mindful activities, and leave stressors, expectations, and demands behind for a few joyful hours a week.›

Students raiding the costume store

Choreographer Ivo and students

When I comment to Andrew that my days in high school theatre were the happiest of my school life, he tells me, “That’s exactly the feeling I want kids to experience. I want them to know the wonder of acting, singing, dancing, and honing the technical side of theatre production.” All these pursuits celebrate the arts and the vital role we all play in their survival. Robin Williams’ character in Dead Poets Society

famously said, “Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive

for.” Anyone who has ever acted, directed, written, or worked in stagecraft for a theatrical production would undoubtedly add the theatre to Williams’ list. For me, theatre was not just an escape, but also a unique chance to discover more about my resilience, confidence, and adventurousness. If you’re ready to give your child the same gift, The Playmakers is a great place to start. e

Dance class action

David, the Musical Director

WORDS SAM HEXTER PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF FERRARI

FERRARI AMALFI THE ROMA’S SUCCESSOR

Ferrari’s latest grand tourer arrives with sharper looks, more power, and unmistakable Italian flair. The Amalfi replaces the outbound Roma as Maranello’s most refined, everyday Ferrari; but it packs an even bigger punch and more sophisticated styling.

Marbella’s roads are no stranger to Prancing Horses, but 2025 sees a newcomer slide onto the scene with all the style, sophistication and snarling power one would expect from Ferrari. Enter the Amalfi, the highly anticipated spiritual

successor to the Roma. While it shares its predecessor’s more leisurely but supremely capable GT ethos, the Amalfi carves a sharper, more focused identity of its own, with evolved styling, brawnier performance, and a contemporary Ferrari tech suite that nods firmly to the future.

In Ferrari’s current lineup, the Amalfi sits comfortably as the grand tourer with attitude. It’s not as hardcore as the 296 GTB nor as exotic as the SF90, but it’s far more than just a pretty face. This is the car you take from Marbella to Milan, all while turning heads and soaking up miles with luxurious ease. ›

The Roma was Ferrari’s answer to ‘la nuova dolce vita’ – a modern reimagining of ‘60s Italian elegance. The Amalfi continues that lineage but dials up the drama. The minimalist, flowing simplicity of the Roma remains at the heart of the Amalfi’s design, but there are now subtle tweaks,

sharper creases, a more assertive front grille – doing away with the somewhat controversial mesh chin of the Roma – and distinctive new headlights that echo the aggressive stare of Ferrari’s mid-engine lineup.

Around the back, you’ll spot a slimmer, more angular set of tail lamps and a cleaner integrated

spoiler. The whole look leans more performance coupé than classic GT – a subtle nod that this car isn’t just about coastal cruising. While the Roma was softly spoken, the Amalfi certainly presents with confidence and takes on some bolder styling choices.

Under the hood, the Amalfi houses Ferrari’s

VISITESSENTIALMAGA

updated 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 – a familiar heart, but one that’s been refined to deliver a thrilling 630 horsepower and 760 Nm of torque. That’s a small but meaningful bump over the Roma’s 620 hp, pushing the Amalfi from 0-100 km/h in just 3.3 seconds and on to a top speed north of 321 km/h. That’s pretty ballistic for continental grand touring.

But this car isn’t just about brute force. The new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, lifted from the SF90 Stradale, ensures seamless shifts whether you’re threading through Ronda’s mountain passes or ripping up coastal roads. Improved chassis dynamics and adaptive suspension strike that perfect GT balance: silky

comfort when you want it, and composed aggression when the mood takes you. The Amalfi also benefits from perfect 50-50 weight distribution for pure poise mid corner.

Open the sculpted doors and you’re met with a cockpit that blends tradition and tech. Inside, the Amalfi pairs modern luxury with classic driver focus – think hand-stitched leather, sculpted bucket seats, and a clean, symmetrical layout. Ferrari has wisely moved back toward physical buttons for key controls, ditching the alltouch approach – a welcome return to tactile precision for purists and grand tourers alike. It also boasts some trick customisable ambient lighting to suit your mood, whether

it’s Sunset Champagne or Midnight Mischief.

Options? You bet. Ferrari’s Tailor Made program is alive and well on the Amalfi, giving owners access to any imaginable colour combos: hand-stitched leathers in virtually any hue, carbon fibre inlays, Alcantara everything, or even bespoke embroidered logos and roofliners to match your yacht’s interior. You dream it, they’ll build it. For a price.

Speaking of which, the base price in Europe sits around €240.000 before options, but it’s unlikely anyone leaves Maranello’s configurator without nudging that up to or beyond €300k. Worth it? If you’ve made it this far, you already know the answer.›

In the world of luxury GTs, competition is fierce, but few deliver pure, visceral emotion like a Ferrari. The Amalfi goes head-to-head with Aston Martin’s new Vantage, offering a similarly elegant silhouette and V8 bravado. Then there’s the Bentley Continental GT Speed – heavier, more opulent, but with an unmistakable presence. Porsche’s 911 Turbo S still tempts with everyday usability and clinical pace, while Maserati’s GranTurismo Trofeo provides Italian flair at a (slightly) more accessible price point.

But let’s be honest, for many buyers, none of that matters. Because owning a Ferrari isn’t about spec sheets or comparisons. It’s about what it says when you arrive, how it makes you feel over 7,000 rpm, and the lineage you step into when that engine fires into life.

The Amalfi doesn’t reinvent Ferrari’s GT playbook, it refines it. It’s more powerful, more aggressive, and more aligned with the brand’s modern design language. And yet, it hasn’t lost sight of the original charm that made the Roma so beloved. If the Roma was

the gentleman’s coupé, the Amalfi is the rakish heir –sharper jawline, louder laugh, same silk shirt.

For those lucky enough to own one, the Amalfi isn’t just a new Ferrari. It’s a new chapter in living beautifully, the Italian way. e

» POWER 631 bhp (640 PS)

» TORQUE 760 Nm

» 0-100KM/H 3.3 seconds

» TOP SPEED 321 km/h

» MARKET ALTERNATIVES Aston Martin Vantage, Bentley Continental GT Speed, Porsche 911 Turbo S, Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo

» PRICE From €240.000

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MARGARET QU ALL EY

ARRIVED

This month, Margaret Qualley’s latest film, Honey Don’t, is playing at the cinema. Discover what makes its lead actress one of the top young performers of her generation.

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

Many film lovers first came across Margaret Qualley in the hit series The Leftovers, a show about the complexity, depth, and deeply subjective nature of grief. The series touches upon the aftermath of a global event called the ‘Sudden Departure’, in which two percent of the world’s population mysteriously

vanishes. Qualley played the role of Jill Garvey, the daughter of police chief Kevin Garvey. The part was complex and required an actor capable of delivering the rebellion of the teenage years, the confusion caused by the event, and the pain caused by grieving. Although Jill’s parents are both still very much present, in a way, her mother, Nora, has departed, too. Nora has joined a cult whose sole aim is to serve as ‘living reminders’ to the world that

the Departure happened, and that life can never go back to normal. The cult members believe they have been rejected by God and make every attempt to disturb people’s attempts to forget or move on. Qualley was hailed for her subtle, layered performance. She glowed with the freshness of youth, while perfectly demonstrating the extent to which death can also kill the living and impact the mental and emotional being of the young. ›

The Leftovers

Those who enjoyed Qualley’s magnificent performance in The Leftovers probably didn’t care much when they discovered that she was the daughter of A-lister Andie MacDowell, of Three Weddings and a Funeral fame. Her trajectory shows that she didn’t take the easy road that so many nepo babies do today, living the L.A. lifestyle and immediately jumping into blockbuster films. Rather, she spent her early years living on a ranch in Montana and, at the age of four,

moved with her family to a small town in North Carolina.

Her mother and father, though divorced, clearly educated her well, instilling values like advocacy in Margaret and her three older siblings. The actor told AnOther Magazine recently that her childhood passion was environmental responsibility. She said, “I was a vegetarian who was selling recycled globalwarming bracelets for charity and sifting through the trash bins, being like:

‘You didn’t recycle this!’ and putting up pictures of cows being slaughtered. I was so annoying, passionate, and gangly.”

Margaret was also heavily into dance, so much so that at the tender age of 14, she left home to accept an apprenticeship at the North Carolina Dance Theatre. Further down the track, she gained another apprenticeship at the American Ballet Theatre and also won a place at the Professional Children’s School in New York City.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Eventually, however, she decided that she didn’t want to be a dancer for the rest of her life. She wrote her mother, telling her she would be staying in New York and pursuing modelling. True to form, she paved her own way, asking for no favours and dropping no names. ›

The

Substance

Margaret made her catwalk debut at New York Fashion Week in 2011 and has walked for brands as prestigious as Alberta Ferretti and Chanel Haute Couture. To this day, she continues to display her talent for modelling. At Paris Fashion Week Spring/ Summer 2024, she opened the Chanel Haute Couture show dressed in an all-white, ballet-inspired outfit, including a jacket with a ruffled collar, a midi skirt, white tights, and black shoes. The show paid tribute to ballet and the history of Chanel’s connection with dance, and the former dancer was the perfect choice to set the tone.

She also attended London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art summer program and briefly studied at New York University before leaving to focus on professional acting. She appeared on the screen for the first time in 2013 in Gia Coppola’s film Palo Alto Her casting was a lucky coincidence. She happened to be on set while visiting her then-boyfriend, Nat Wolff, and she was offered a job on the spot. That same year, she was

cast in The Leftovers, and the rest is history. Margaret has since appeared in numerous films, including The Nice Guys (with Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe) in 2016, the Netflix sci-fi film IO in 2019, and the FX miniseries Fosse/ Verdon, also in 2019, which garnered her nominations for an Emmy and a Critics’ Choice Television Award for her performance.

Many would say that her big break was landing the

role of Pussycat (a Charles Manson clan member) in what Quentin Tarantino has called his best film of all time – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Another standout role was in the 2021 Netflix miniseries Maid, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie. ›

She has also tried her hand at producing, taking the helm of the 2023 erotic thriller Sanctuary. In the same year, she appeared in director Yorgos Lanthimos’ surrealist film Poor Things, alongside Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo. The year 2024 was a busy one, as she starred in Ethan Coen’s comedy road film Drive-Away Dolls, Yorgos Lanthimos’ Kinds of Kindness, and the highly acclaimed body horror film The Substance, alongside Demi Moore. The Substance was certainly a one-of-a-kind film, blending black comedy, horror, and social critique elegantly and creatively. Margaret has also completed many quirky projects like the Spike Jonzedirected commercial for KENZO World, in which she puts her dancing talents on full display, and the short promotional film L’Américaine for American fashion label Tory Burch.

This year, her fans are waiting with bated breath for Ethan Coen’s new detective comedy film Honey Don’t!, in which she will appear alongside comedic great Aubrey Plaza and Captain America actor Chris Evans. Margaret plays Honey O’Donahue, a small-town

private investigator who investigates a series of strange deaths connected to a mysterious church and its connections to a religious cult. Aubrey Plaza stars as MG Falcone, a police officer, and Chris Evans as Reverend Drew Devlin, the cult leader.

Despite her busy schedule, she leads a relatively quiet life alongside her husband,

Jack Antonoff – a talented musician who has produced and co-written songs for influential artists such as Taylor Swift, Lorde, Lana Del Rey, St. Vincent, Pink, Kendrick Lamar, Sabrina Carpenter, and Doja Cat. He has already curated beautiful soundtracks for films like Love, Simon (2018), Fifty Shades Darker (2017), One Chance (2013), and Minions: The Rise of Gru

(2022). Along the way, he has won no less than 11 Grammy Awards, including Producer of the Year three consecutive times (2022–2024). You will be hard-pressed to find many interviews where Margaret discusses her private life. Unlike the typical nepo baby, she is letting her work do the talking – and audiences are certainly listening! e

Meet Marbella’s Salomón Doncel, who this month will receive the ‘Emerging Scholar’ award at the Sorbonne University in Paris. Preview top movies and engaging series being released this month for the big and small screens. Find out how Grok 4 stands up to Chat GPT4.

what’s cool?

WORDS BY IAIN BLACKWELL

THE NEW PAGANI HUAYRA CODALUNGA SPEEDSTER

Inspired by the racing cars of the 1950s and 1960s, the Huayra Codalunga Speedster is Horacio Pagani’s personal tribute to those who see the hypercar as an expression of essential beauty. Every surface is sculpted to elongate the silhouette and soften its visual impact, while the roof is a completely new element, seamlessly integrated. Each car takes shape through a direct dialogue with the client, with no limits to vision or desire.

WWW.PAGANI.COM

SALAMAR AT THE DAIA SLOW BEACH HOTEL

Located inside the Daia Slow Beach Hotel in Conil, and enjoying beautiful views of La Fontanilla Beach and the sweeping majesty of the Atlantic Ocean, Salamar restaurant is for those who understand travel as an experience of reconnection with their surroundings. Its menu is a declaration of love for traditional Cádiz cuisine, reinterpreted with contemporary sensitivity and a deep respect for natural ingredients.

WWW.RESTAURANTESALAMAR.COM

JEULIA NOW IN MADRID

Jeulia, the global jewellery brand recognised for its diverse and innovative designs, recently opened its first physical store in the world in the Príncipe Pío shopping centre in Madrid, one of the most emblematic enclaves in the city. Here you can find the brand’s most beloved and best-selling collections, including Hug Me, Heart, and Amore, as well as new themed lines, such as Luna Astra, Sunset Desert, and Midsummer Night.

WWW.JEUALIA.COM

THE RANGE ROVER HOUSE

In the idyllic setting of Mykonos, pearl of the Aegean Sea, the Range Rover House was a showcase of design, innovation, and elegance. Selected clients and guests were able to get to know the Range Rover SV Fifty-Five edition, marking the brand’s 55th anniversary, the Range Rover Classic, and the Range Rover Sport SV. Select activities included driving experiences, sailing on a Riva luxury yacht, and tastings from Michelin-starred chefs.

WWW.RANGEROVER.COM

THE NH COPENHAGEN GRAND JOANNE

The NH Copenhagen Grand Joanne has officially joined the NH Hotels and Resorts portfolio. Located in the heart of the dynamic and modern Vesterbro district, the Joanne with 162 rooms and suites, is situated in a historic building which has been operating as a hotel since 1928 and was completely renovated in 2023. Today, it harmoniously combines Scandinavian design, local craftsmanship, and contemporary hospitality.

WWW.MINORHOTELS.COM

JUL’S IBIZA

Located on the Sa Caleta road, Jul’s is much more than one of the most unique gastronomic spaces in Ibiza, thanks to the charm of its culinary experience of pure flavours and the fresh raw materials that give life to Mediterranean dishes. In this iconic space, Champagne, fine wines, and cocktails come together with service, music, and style to create a special atmosphere that is the maximum expression of fine dining.

WWW.JULSRESTAURANT.COM

THE ROCKSTER CROSS 2

Teufel presents its new Rockstar Cross 2 portable speaker in a robust casing with an adjustable carrying strap. With an all-terrain design and IPX5 protection against rain, it can deliver up to 46 hours of powerful immersive sound with deep bass thanks to its two-way acoustic system and exclusive Dynamore technology. Its long autonomy, USB-C fast charging, and power bank function are ideal for use anywhere.

WWW.TEUFELAUDIO.COM

HOTEL ARTS BARCELONA

The luxury beachfront Hotel Arts Barcelona, famed as an artistic urban resort, pays tribute to the iconic city through its new rooms and suites from the renowned design studio Meyer Davis. Using natural materials, the architects have sought to reflect the balance between the sobriety of Catalan design and the golden age of Catalonia when the port of Barcelona absorbed the influences of the distant world.

WWW.RITZCARLTON.COM

SalomónDoncel–fromMarbellatoTokyo (Location:Azabu Jūban,Tokyo)

SALOMÓN DONCEL-MORI ANO URBA NO

This September, Marbella-born Salomón Doncel-Moriano Urbano receives the ‘Emerging Scholar Award’ at the prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris – and it all began with Japanese cartoons.

The young man who grew up on the shores of the Mediterranean developed an early interest in Japanese cartoons that would pave the way for his academic and professional career.

“My fascination with Japan began as a child growing up by the sea in Marbella,” says Salomón. “I spent countless hours watching and reading some of the greatest masterpieces, such as Sailor Moon, Lupin III, Detective Conan, Ranma ½ and Dragon Ball. Even then, I didn’t just want to be part of the audience; I dreamt of joining the creative process behind those stories. Little did I know that one day that dream would come true, and I would end up translating the very series I loved and admired the most: Sailor Moon.”

Learning Japanese would

turn out to be Salomón’s bridge to that world, allowing him not only to understand it from within but also to share it faithfully with new audiences through his work as a translator. He first moved to Japan in 2008, returning again in 2017, now seemingly for good. “Tokyo is a seductive place, it has a way of capturing you once it enters your life,” says the cartoon fan turned academic who now also teaches Japanese studies using Manga and what is known as Otaku culture, a youth-driven subculture that focuses on fascination with cartoons, anime, gaming, and fantasy worlds. As it is often associated with withdrawal from mainstream society, it is regarded as something of a social problem in Japan, but as Salomón tells us, Otaku Culture says a lot about the zeitgeist of a nation.

POP CULTURE AS A REFLECTION OF SOCIETY

“There is far more to pop culture than mere entertainment. It is where a society whispers its truths. Japanese anime and manga reflect dreams, anxieties, and philosophies that formal culture sometimes hides. They blur the lines between art and entertainment, and can be playful, tender, or philosophical all at once.” In Salomón, an early love for Manga evolved into a love for the country, culture, and language from whence it came, and subsequently in a deep understanding not only of the artform but also the modern Japanese society underlying it. He credits his ability to absorb another culture so intensely to his upbringing in multinational Marbella. ›

MICHEL CRUZ

“Otaku culture is a mirror of modern Japan’s contradictions. It comes from a society that values harmony but quietly struggles with urban isolation, academic pressure, and the demands of a hypercompetitive life. Through anime and manga, you see stories that speak to every layer of that reality: the pain of social withdrawal, the uncertainty of an ageing population, the quiet visibility of LGBTQ lives, and the longing for connection in a crowded but sometimes lonely country. What fascinates me is the scale and diversity of the market; there is truly a story for everyone. In Japan, children, teenagers, adults, and even seniors can find narratives that reflect their own concerns, often with a depth you rarely see on global platforms. Pop culture in Japan is not just entertainment; it’s a living chronicle of the society that creates it. Hopefully, someday more of these stories will travel across languages so the world can

see the full richness of Japan’s pop culture.”

WESTERN VERSUS JAPANESE ARTFORMS

“Western pop culture has given the world unforgettable heroes and iconic stories. What sets Japanese Otaku culture apart is the way it invites you to inhabit its worlds rather than just observe them. Marvel and Disney create princesses and heroes, but in anime and manga, those roles are often subverted. In Sailor Moon, the princess rescues the prince, reversing the traditional fairy tale dynamic, while a character like Son Goku in Dragon Ball shows that even someone outside royalty or privilege can exceed every social expectation through perseverance and heart. These stories empower audiences in a different, more personal way, often beyond Western stereotypes.”

Salomón is now being recognised for his ability to

bring this across to global audiences. “Translation is always a dialogue between cultures. Japanese works often carry unspoken layers of emotion, humour, and historical echoes that resist being boxed into another language.

One of the hardest parts is the economy of space: a single line in Japanese can contain a lot of ideas, and my task is to preserve its soul in a fraction of the words. It is a challenge I embrace because every choice shapes how another culture will see Japan, and make no mistake, Otaku culture has become not just a Japanese icon but also a soft power revolution.”

“It dissolves borders, creating a shared emotional space where a person in Spain, Brazil, or Egypt can feel the same thrill as someone in Tokyo. It has changed how the world regards Japan and how people imagine themselves as creators and fans. What was once a niche subculture is now

studied and taught at universities and cultural institutions worldwide.”

For Salomón, living in Japan is like inhabiting a constant dialogue between past and future, tradition and modernity. “I now live between Marbella and Tokyo, the two worlds that define who I am. At Aoyama Gakuin University I use anime and manga as bridges to deeper understanding. They are keys that open curiosity and lead to conversations about history, philosophy, and society. Most of my students at Aoyama Gakuin University are Japanese, and for them, encountering their own culture in an academic context through manga and anime can be eye-opening, so my work focuses not only on making Otaku culture known around the world, but also better understood in its country of origin.”

WWW.SALOMONDONCEL.COM

COMPILED BY MARISA CUTILLAS

HOT NEW MOVIES

A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY

» Director: Kogonada (Columbus)

» Genre: Drama

» Cast: Colin Farrell, Margot Robbie, Phoebe Waller-Bridge

A lonely man and woman meet at a wedding and decide to embark on an exciting and emotional journey together under the guidance of a magical GPS. They are prompted to enter doors to key moments from their past, including the man’s first heartbreak and the woman’s relationship with her dying mother. By facing their traumas, they discover how to embrace the present without any fear.

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

» Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood)

» Genre: Dark Comedy

» Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn

Leonardo DiCaprio plays Bob Ferguson, a former member of a revolutionary group who is on the hunt to find his kidnapped daughter. In the trailer, we see Bob’s mother-in-law tell him that he is unsuited for her daughter – a militant warrior who gives her all to combat an alt-right white supremacist organisation. Bob sets out to prove that he is every bit as courageous as his co-revolutionaries. He is given a helping hand by a new mentor, played by Benicio Del Toro.

DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE

» Director: Simon Curtis (Goodbye Christopher Robin)

» Genre: Drama

» Cast: Michel Dockery, Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael

The third movie in the Downton Abbey series of films sees the Crawley family members facing a brand-new challenge – the 1930s – with financial trouble and the threat of social disgrace beleaguering them. Lady Mary causes quite a stir, having divorced her husband, Henry, and become caught up in a celebrity scandal. Fortunately, Mary’s kin rally around her, providing her with the support she needs to head the household and restore the family to its glory days.

VISITESSENTIALMAGA

EDDINGTON

» Director: Ari Aster (Midsommar)

» Genre: Western

» Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Austin Butler, Emma Stone

Eddington is set in May 2020, during the height of the pandemic. Mayor Ted García (Pedro Pascal) implements a lockdown and enforces mask-wearing, based on state orders. A local sheriff, Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix), disapproves, arguing that the mandates violate freedom of choice. After numerous confrontations, Joe decides to run against Ted, recruiting two officers, Guy and Michael, to aid him in his campaign. Joe resorts to aggressive tactics, making serious allegations against Ted, leading to violent consequences that give rise to only one victor.

HIGHEST 2 LOWEST

» Director: Spike Lee ( Do the Right Thing)

» Genre: Thriller

» Cast: Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, A$AP Rocky Highest 2 Lowest is an American reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s crime thriller High and Low. The new film is set amid the hustle and bustle of modern-day New York City. Music mogul, David King (Denzel Washington), is targeted with a ransom plot, which forces him to find his son’s kidnapper, risking both of their lives in the process. The film marks the fifth Denzel WashingtonSpike Lee collaboration and is one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year. e

COMPILED BY MARISA CUTILLAS

HOT NEW SERIES

THE MORNING SHOW

(S4, AMAZON PRIME)

» Genre: Drama

» Creator: Jay Carson (The Front Runner)

» Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, John Hamm

The team from the fictional UBA news network is back. Season 4 explores the aftermath of UBA’s merger with the NBN network and delves into the world of deepfakes, conspiracy theories, and corporate attempts to control media stories. Although plot details are being kept secret, showrunner Charlotte Stoudt told Deadline, “The thing I love about this show is it has the opportunity to speak to the moment. It is a show about truth, and we’re in this crazy time when truth is so contested, elusive, and pulled in every direction, so I think the tension between the gloss, glamour, and the sexiness of the show and the anxiety underneath gives the show its special sauce.”

ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING

(S5, DISNEY+)

» Genre: Murder Mystery

» Creators: Steve Martin (The Jerk) and John Hoffman (Northern Lights)

» Cast: Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, Martin Short

If you love thrillers laced with heavy doses of comedy, we hope you’ve already enjoyed Seasons 1 to 4 of Only Murders in the Building Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short will once again play three neighbours from a luxury Manhattan building who solve murders while hosting a successful true-crime podcast. Season 5 will see them delve into the shadowy corners of New York and uncover secrets connecting billionaires, mobsters, and the building’s residents. It will also explore the contrast between the old and new New York.

THE TERMINAL LIST: DARK WOLF

(S1, AMAZON PRIME)

» Genre: Thriller

» Creators: Jack Carr (Send Me) and David DiGilio (Eight Below)

» Cast: Taylor Kitsch, Chris Pratt, Tom Hopper

This series is a prequel to the highly acclaimed The Terminal List, which centres on the character Ben Edwards (Taylor Kitsch) and his rise from Navy SEAL to the CIA and explores the dark side of warfare and its ensuing human cost. The series is known for the authentic way it depicts military operations, intelligence work, and the emotional and psychological consequences of military service. With military veterans working as writers, actors, and advisors, it honestly portrays the mindset, brotherhood, and moral dilemmas faced by Special Operations soldiers.

DEXTER: RESURRECTION

(S1, PARAMOUNT+)

» Genre: Crime

» Creator: Clyde Phillips (Dexter)

» Cast: Michael C. Hall, Uma Thurman, Peter Dinklage

The world’s most beloved serial killer and justiceseeker, Dexter Morgan, awakens from a coma and heads to New York City, determined to find his wayward son, Harrison. However, when Miami Metro’s Angel Batista arrives seeking answers, Dexter realises that it can be hard to remain hidden, even in a city as large as New York. Another surprise comes in the form of Leon Prater (Peter Dinklage), a billionaire venture capitalist with a dark fascination for serial killers.

ALICE IN BORDERLAND (S3,

NETFLIX)

» Genre: Dystopian Science Fiction

» Creator: Haro Aso (Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead)

» Cast: Kento Yamazaki, Tao Tsuchiya, Hayato Isomura

Many critics say that Alice in Borderland is one of the most exciting fantasy/dystopian series of the past decade, and we heartily agree. Seasons 1 and 2 saw a bunch of brilliant, creative, strategic characters such as Arisu, Usagi, and Chishiya surviving a host of do-or-die games in a strange ‘limbo world’ set in the city of Shibuya, Tokyo. In Season 3, a select group of survivors of the previous ‘face card games’ are drawn back into Borderland for one final challenge. The young players must take part in a Joker card game that is more complex and dangerous than the stages they have barely survived. e

SOME EXCITING NEW TITLES BEING PUBLISHED THIS SEPTEMBER READING

WORDS ALICIA DUGGAN OF THE BOOKSHOP IN SAN PEDRO DE ALCÁNTARA , CC LA COLONIA LOCAL 21, SAN PEDRO DE ALCÁNTARA. TEL: 951 779 785. WWW.THEBOOKSHOP.ES

CIRCLE OF DAYS BY KEN FOLLETT

From master storyteller Ken Follett comes an epic tale of love, vision, and the birth of a monument that would shape history: Stonehenge. On the sun-scorched Great Plain, Seft, a gifted flint miner, seeks a new life with the girl he loves, Neen. Her sister Joia, a young priestess with powerful dreams, envisions a vast stone circle built to unite warring tribes. As drought deepens and tensions rise between herders, farmers, and woodlanders, Joia’s vision becomes both a symbol of hope and a spark for conflict. Together, Seft and Joia pursue a daring dream to create a monument that will endure for centuries, but peace comes at a price. Sweeping in scope and rich with historical imagination, Circle of Days is a bold reimagining of the mystery behind Stonehenge, and the people who dared to build it.

THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTUNE

BY RICHARD OSMAN

The Thursday Murder Club should be planning a wedding, not chasing killers, but trouble has a way of finding them. Joyce is immersed in flowers and first dances, Ron is dealing with family drama, Ibrahim’s giving therapy to a former crook, and Elizabeth is quietly grieving. Then a mysterious wedding guest pulls Elizabeth into a deadly game involving a kidnapping, a murder, and a criminal desperate to unlock an uncrackable code. Soon, the whole gang is back in action, navigating danger with their trademark charm and wit. As clues unfold and stakes rise, can they crack the case before the big day? Funny, warm, and filled with twists, The Impossible Fortune is another irresistible mystery from Richard Osman, proof that even in retirement, the Thursday Murder Club is far from finished.

THE SECRET OF SECRETS BY DAN BROWN

Robert Langdon returns in a gripping new thriller that blends cutting-edge science with ancient mythology. When the symbology professor travels to Prague to attend a lecture by noetic scientist Katherine Solomon, his new romantic partner, he expects insight, not chaos. Katherine is about to unveil a discovery that could upend centuries of belief. But when she vanishes after a brutal murder, Langdon is thrust into a deadly pursuit. Targeted by a secretive organisation and stalked by a killer born of Prague’s darkest legends, Langdon races across Prague, London, and New York to find Katherine, and stop a powerful secret from being unleashed. Explosive, intelligent, and fast-paced, The Secret of Secrets is Dan Brown at his thrilling best. An electrifying journey into the mysteries of the mind and the forces determined to control it.

T HE PREDICAMENT

BY WILLIAM BOYD

1963, Guatemala. As political unrest brews and a left-wing ex-priest edges toward election victory, MI6 sends reluctant spy and travel writer Gabriel Dax to assess the risks. Caught between the CIA and the Mafia, Gabriel quickly realises he’s entangled in more than just observation. When a high-profile assassination sparks chaos, he flees to Europe, only to be pulled back into danger by his MI6 handler, Faith Green. In Cold War Berlin, with President Kennedy’s visit looming, Gabriel uncovers a deeper, more perilous conspiracy with global stakes. Sweeping from Central America to Europe at the height of international tension, The Predicament is a razor-sharp tale of espionage, politics, and deception from master storyteller William Boyd, a gripping portrait of a man trapped in a world where nothing is what it seems.

THE HALLMARKED MAN BY ROBERT GALBRAITH

When a dismembered body is found in the vault of a silver shop near Freemasons Hall, police suspect a long-missing armed robber. But Decima Mullins is convinced it’s her vanished boyfriend and hires private detective Cormoran Strike to uncover the truth. As Strike and his partner Robin Ellacott investigate, they’re drawn into a chilling web of secrets surrounding Masonic silverware, a string of missing men, and a mystery far darker than they imagined. The case twists through London’s hidden corners, revealing more danger at every turn. Meanwhile, Strike faces a personal dilemma: Robin’s relationship with a police officer is growing serious, even as his own feelings for her become harder to ignore. Gripping, intricate, and emotionally charged, The Hallmarked Man is a powerful new chapter in the beloved Strike and Ellacott series. e

WHAT IS GROK 4?

WORDS MICHEL CRUZ

Grok is a ‘generative artificial intelligence chatbot’. In other words, an alternative to Chat GPT, but is it a straightforward competitor or does it provide a true substitute to the now hugely popular AI tool?

Grok was created by xAI, a stated public benefit corporation specialising in developing AI technologies. In essence, it is an alternative to ChatGPT, a large language model (LLM) machine-learning system that scours and then very cleverly filters the vast knowledge contained within the Internet. If you’re astute, you will have sensed that the filtering part of the process, which leads to the information finally being presented as ‘truth’, is both technically and ethically challenging, as it can be influenced to provide distorted or even manipulated results. It is this discussion that has led

many to question the absolute ‘truth’ in the information that such machine systems provide, and this is essentially what led to the creation of Grok.

The person behind the project was also one of the founders of OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. Elon Musk – a figure either loved or hated in this polarised and increasingly intolerant world, left the hugely successful enterprise over concerns about the direction it was taking, arguing that instead of providing honest, untampered results, ChatGPT was being ‘trained’ to further political agendas. After departing the company, he founded xAI to run in conjunction with X, the

new version of Twitter that he acquired for the same reason, stating that the public have the right to information that has not been doctored and to express their opinions free of censorship and political control.

TRUTH AND ACCURACY IN YOUR INFORMATION

The result is Grok, and now its latest version Grok 4, which competes directly with GPT-4. Essentially, the two systems provide the same information and solution-based service, but according to Musk his product is free of tampering and manipulation, which has garnered criticism from some quarters that it lacks the kind of man-made adjustments ›

VISITESSENTIALMAGA

that ensure political correctness. But what is political correctness exactly and where does one draw the line? We all agree that some opinions are offensive, but in today’s world one person’s honest attempt at truth is another’s offense. Allowing political entities to decide and especially police the information we have access to and the opinions we express is a dangerous game that amounts to censorship and can slide down the path of mass manipulation and loss of freedoms that we have taken for granted for so long and which were earned through much suffering.

Elon Musk says Grok is a ‘TruthGPT’ that he describes

as “a maximum truth-seeking AI that tries to understand the nature of the universe.”

In other words, he says it is free of political control and coercion. Whether it is also free of commercial manipulation is a question that has not yet been raised, but the truth is that the human race has been subject to the former for millennia and the latter for well over a century now. An online system that scours the vast collection of mankind’s accumulated knowledge to provide clear, unfiltered answers has to be desirable from a perspective of both technical accuracy and progress as well as ethical information flows in which

you and I are not treated as children or criminals and are free to decide what knowledge reaches us and process it for ourselves. Naturally there are limits to such expressions, and checks and balances can be easily installed using modern technology, but a healthy society would always prefer truth and honesty over censored, manipulated information that loses its veracity and accuracy in the process. From this point of view, Grok 4 is certainly worth a try to test and compare it for yourself, rather than follow the instructions of others – and that’s exactly what it’s all about. e

Magnificent Estate / Finca

Camino Nicola (Km 1064) – Río Velerín Between Marbella & Estepona

Size: 615,000 m² (6,616,400 sq ft) — approx. 1/10 the size of Gibraltar or 1/3 of Monaco

History: 2,150 years as a commercial farm (olives, grapes, mangoes, and shooting estate)

Access: Direct asphalt road from A7, approx. 12 minutes from San Pedro

Buildings: 2 houses (main believed Roman), 4 garages, ruined barn (formerly helicopter hangar), various outbuildings

Registered: Ruined houses + abandoned hamlet (Public Notary, 2002)

Land: 7 km internal tracks, 3 km border with Río Velerín

Neighbours: Large estates up to 15,000 sq ft built nearby (similar to La Zagaleta)

Owner invites offers.

PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE FRONT GATE

Be prepared to be impressed by Azurean Marbella’s branded residences, developed by the Azur Group in association with Hyatt. Be dazzled by the vibrant art of Gregor Flaute and the new Max Mara Resort Collection. Find out how dogs and cats can live in co-existence.

« BACK TO CONTENTS

lilifestyle

138 Azurean Marbella

148 Gregor Flaute – Art Intuition

156 Max Mara Resort Collection

164 Top Products for Eyebrows

166 Bach Flower Remedies

170 Can Cats and Dogs be Friends?

THE BEGINNING OF

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NEW LUXURY LIFESTYLE CONCEPT

AZUREAN MARBELLA

BRANDED RESIDENCES FOR A NEW ERA OF OWNERSHIP BY DESTINATION BY HYATT

PHOTOGRAPHY

A revolutionary concept is taking shape – one that promises to forever change how we perceive luxury living on the Costa del Sol. This is Azurean Marbella.

Azurean Marbella emerges not merely as another development, but as the manifestation of a dream that discerning individuals have harboured for decades: the seamless fusion of private homeownership with the unparalleled service and amenities of a world-class resort. Developed by the prestigious Azur Group, this is no ordinary real estate venture; it represents Destination by Hyatt’s inaugural foray into Marbella’s prestigious landscape, introducing professionally managed branded residences for a new era of ownership – one where signature service, iconic design, wellness-driven amenities, and seamless hospitality come together to create the ideal retreat. ›

The timing could not be more perfect. Marbella is experiencing an unprecedented boom in branded residential developments, with discerning international buyers increasingly seeking the security and prestige that comes with worldrenowned brands but also the evolving regulatory landscape that increasingly restricts traditional vacation rental properties. This surge reflects a fundamental shift in luxury real estate preferences: today ’ s sophisticated investors no longer simply purchase properties – they invest in lifestyles, in brands that

guarantee excellence, and in experiences that transcend traditional homeownership.

WHERE OWNERSHIP MEETS EXCELLENCE

Imagine a life of unparalleled luxury that has never existed in Marbella before – where every single aspect of sophisticated living is seamlessly orchestrated for you, leaving you free to embrace the moments that truly matter. Picture awakening in your private sanctuary, where every detail has been curated to perfection, yet knowing that beyond your threshold lies a universe of possibilities typically

reserved for the world’s most exclusive resorts. This is the essence of Azurean Marbella – a place where the boundaries between private ownership and fivestar hospitality dissolve into an extraordinary lifestyle experience, where gratitude lies and values growth in every thoughtful interaction. From the moment you arrive, you experience a grand sense of occasion with every stay, as the resort’s elevated, amphitheatric setting provides spectacular panoramic sea views over Gibraltar to the North Coast of Africa. ›

Breakfast in the fresh air

The 133 freehold residences, ranging from elegant one-bedroom havens to magnificent three-bedroom penthouses with private pools, are more than mere properties; they are gateways to a lifestyle previously unattainable. Each residence, meticulously

appointed by the renowned international design firm Room 1804, reflects a harmonious blend of contemporary elegance and timeless Andalusian charm, creating spaces that breathe with sophistication while embracing the warmth of Mediterranean living.

THE DESTINATION BY HYATT DISTINCTION

The significance of Destination by Hyatt’s entry into Marbella’s luxury real estate market cannot be overstated, particularly as the Costa del Sol witnesses an extraordinary boom in branded residences. International luxury

The entrance to a way of life

Modern style at Azurean Marbella

Tucked into a hillside with spectacular views

lifestyle brands, the most prestigious names in hospitality , are recognising Marbella’s unparalleled appeal as a destination where branded real estate can flourish. This trend reflects a sophisticated understanding among high-net-worth individuals that brand association provides not merely prestige, but guarantees of service excellence, investment security, and lifestyle consistency that independent developments simply cannot match.

As the hospitality industry ’s most revered name synonymous with impeccable service

and attention to detail, Destination by Hyatt brings to Azurean Marbella more than just a brand – it brings a philosophy of excellence that permeates every aspect of the experience. In an increasingly crowded market of branded residences, Destination by Hyatt ’s entry represents a gold standard, offering the peace of mind that comes with a legacy spanning decades of hospitality mastery.

Under the Destination by Hyatt umbrella, residents discover what stress-free homeownership truly means. The 24/7 concierge services, priority reservations, valet parking, and comprehensive

property management are not amenities – they are the foundation of a lifestyle where every need is anticipated, every desire fulfilled, with the grace and efficiency that only Destination by Hyatt can deliver.

For owners seeking the ultimate in convenience and investment potential, professional management of their property during absences ensures pristine maintenance and generates attractive rental income, transforming their residence into both a personal sanctuary and a valuable asset that appreciates over time. ›

A SYMPHONY OF AMENITIES

The resort’s extensive facilities read like a luxury traveller’s wish-list: an infinity panoramic pool that seems to merge with the Mediterranean horizon, an adults-only sanctuary for refined relaxation, and a comprehensive spa and wellness centre that serves as a personal retreat from the world’s demands. The fitness club, featuring both indoor and outdoor training areas, caters to those who understand that true luxury includes the pursuit of physical and mental wellbeing.

For the culturally inclined, the art gallery and congress salon provide venues for intellectual stimulation and social

engagement, while families appreciate the thoughtfully designed children’s facilities and teens’ lounge – spaces that ensure every family member finds their perfect sanctuary within this elevated community.

Yet perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the Azurean lifestyle lies in the extensive à la carte services that transform everyday living into effortless luxury. From in-residence housekeeping and personal chef catering to comprehensive residence management, transport arrangements, childcare, pet minding, shopping assistance, beauty treatments, and private butler service on demand

every conceivable need has been anticipated and elevated to an art form.

CULINARY EXCELLENCE IN PARADISE

Perhaps nowhere is Azurean’s commitment to the finer things more evident than in its culinary offerings. Positioned in the heart of Benahavís, renowned as the ‘culinary capital of the Costa del Sol’, the resort boasts multiple dining venues overseen by internationally trained chefs. From the all-day international restaurant to the signature fine dining establishment, each venue promises to transform meals into memorable experiences.

–

A prime location in the hills near Benahavis

The exclusive lifestyle club brings the sophisticated energy of Marbella’s legendary nightlife directly to the owner’s doorstep, creating an atmosphere where sundowner cocktails become evening celebrations under the stars.

THE PRIVILEGE OF OWNERSHIP

Azurean Marbella’s exclusive owner benefits program represents a carefully crafted collection of privileges that elevate ownership beyond mere property possession. With 60 nights per year for

personal stays, preferential rates for family and friends, and VIP pricing on resort services, owners enjoy the rare luxury of treating their own residence as their personal five-star retreat.

Meanwhile, preferential green fees at select golf clubs acknowledge that for many, the Costa del Sol’s exceptional golf courses are an integral part of the luxury lifestyle. ›

Five-star comfort and style

Spacious modern apartments

A VISION REALIZED

As we stand at the threshold of 2028, when Azurean Marbella will welcome its first guests, we witness the birth of a new paradigm in luxury living. This is not simply about acquiring property; it is about embracing a lifestyle where the distinction between investment and vacationing becomes beautifully blurred.

In an era where true luxury is increasingly defined by experience rather than possession, Azurean Marbella offers both: the security and pride of ownership combined with the indulgence and service of the world’s finest resorts. It represents the ultimate expression of modern luxury living – sophisticated,

sustainable, and supremely comfortable.

For those who have long dreamed of a life that feels like a retreat, where exceptional service is not an occasional treat but a reality, Azurean Marbella stands ready to transform that dream into a magnificent reality. In Benahavís’s golden hills, where the Mediterranean meets the

sky, a new chapter in luxury living is about to begin.

Welcome to Azurean –the place for every mood, the home for every dream.

ENGEL & VÖLKERS MARBELLA DEVELOPMENTS

TEL: (+34) 621 273 292 | (+34) 952 823 904

AZUREAN@ENGELVOELKERS.COM WWW.AZUREANMARBELLA.COM

The apartments come in different sizes and configurations

GREGOR FLAUTE ART INTUITION

“When I stand in front of a blank canvas, it’s because I’ve already dreamed of the painting I want to create.”

Gregor Flaute is a selftaught Spanish artist whose work fuses vivid colour, surreal imagination, and an unmistakably playful spirit. He lives and creates in a small village in the province of Sevilla, surrounded by forests and untouched nature – a setting that deeply nurtures his artistic inspiration. His paintings are intuitive, joyful, and dreamlike, often emerging from images he sees in his sleep or in moments of quiet reflection. Flaute works primarily in collage and mixed media, combining traditional materials like paint and canvas with unexpected objects: fabric scraps, mesh, balloons, forks, newspaper clippings – anything that feeds the tactile, layered world of his compositions. He believes that art should be experienced not just visually, but also through touch; texture plays a central role in his creative process.

Though painting began as a hobby, Flaute’s passion quickly found an audience. After casually sharing his artwork on the radio – where he has worked since 1999 as a host and reporter – his listeners responded with enthusiasm, prompting him to exhibit and sell his first pieces. Since then, he has devoted more of his time to art, and his work continues to gain recognition for its originality and warmth.

With a background in journalism and university teaching, Flaute is a natural storyteller. His artistic style is genuine and unfiltered –free from academic pressures or stylistic trends. He paints what he feels, guided by emotion, colour, and a desire to explore beauty in the unexpected. Each piece reflects not only his imaginative inner world but also his belief that creativity should be fun, freeing, and shared.

WWW.GREGORFLAUTE.COM @GREGORFLAUTE

ZUMO

For Max Mara’s 75th anniversary, Ian Griffiths staged a spectacular show at the Royal Palace of Caserta, weaving a Neapolitan fantasy of romance, cinema, and Italian flair. Inspired by icons Sophia Loren and Silvana Mangano, his Vesuvian Venus collection erupted with sensual tailoring, playful silhouettes, and a bold celebration of timeless Italian style.

RESORT COLLECTION 2026 MAX MARA

BEST PRODUCTS FORLUSH, WELLDEFINED BROWS

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1

2

If you love the look of full, beautifully arched brows, there are so many products that can help you achieve them in under five minutes. Below is a carefully curated selection of must-have products for perfectly styled brows that last all day. All items are available at leading retail and online beauty stores.

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

1 – ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS DIPBROW POMADE

A quick-drying, impermeable gel you can use to fill your brows or create your brow shape of choice.

2 – DIORSHOW BROW STYLER

A waterproof, 24-hour wear brow pencil with a retractable tip, to define and give fuller shape to the brow line with precision.

An iconic glue that keeps your brows in perfect place for up to 16 hours. 4 5 6

3 – BENEFIT COSMETICS GIMME BROW+

A volumising, water-resistant brow gel that comes in 10 shades.

4 – FENTY BEAUTY BROW MVP EYEBROW PENCIL + SCULPTING WAX DUO

For a brow game that slays, this pencil and wax duo allows you to style, sculpt, and set your brows your way.

5 – ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS BROW WIZ

An ultra-fine brow pen with Vitamin E and vegetable oils that is ideal for filling in sparse areas.

6 – BENEFIT COSMETICS GOOD PROOF BROW PENCIL

This buildable, smudge-proof, waterproof brow pencil glides on as smoothly as butter, so filling and shaping your brows is a breeze.

7 – NYX COSMETICS THE BROW GLUE

BACH FLOWER REMEDIES

Bach flower remedies (BFRs) are highly diluted solutions comprising brandy and water, the latter purportedly imbued with the energetic essence of various flowers. These remedies were developed between 1928 and 1935 by Dr Edward Bach, an English physician who postulated that certain flowers possess subtle healing energies capable of alleviating emotional distress. Bach asserted that dew collected from flower petals retains the vibrational qualities of the plant and could be harnessed for therapeutic use.

The core preparation of a Bach flower remedy is known as the mother tincture, typically a 50:50 mixture of water and brandy. Despite the use of botanical materials in their preparation, these

solutions generally possess neither the taste nor the scent of the original flower, owing to extreme dilution. Proponents of the system claim that the remedies contain an ‘energetic’ or ‘vibrational’ imprint of the flower, which they believe can be transmitted to the user, thereby exerting a healing effect on the emotional or psychological state. Bach flower remedies are usually administered orally, either individually or in combinations tailored to specific emotional conditions. According to adherents, each flower is associated with a distinct emotional attribute or imbalance. Users and practitioners select remedies based on an individual’s perceived emotional or psychological needs, with the belief that the correct remedy will restore inner harmony, prevent physical illness, and promote joy and happiness.

The most widely recognised of these preparations is Rescue Remedy, a proprietary blend comprising equal parts of five individual flower remedies: rock rose, impatiens, clematis, star of Bethlehem, and cherry plum. This combination is marketed as a remedy for acute stress or emotional upset.

Dr Bach’s philosophy was rooted in the belief that physical disease is the manifestation of emotional or spiritual disharmony. He theorised that illness arises when there is a misalignment between the soul’s purpose and the personality’s behaviours or attitudes. According to Bach, such internal conflict leads to negative emotional states, which in turn cause ‘energy blockages’ and a lack of harmony within the individual, ultimately resulting in physical disease. ›

Initially, Bach believed that early-morning sunlight passing through dew collected on flower petals transferred the healing properties of the flower into the water. He would gather these dew drops and mix them with an equal amount of brandy to preserve the solution, thereby creating the mother tincture. However, as the quantity of dew collected proved insufficient for large-scale preparation, he adapted the method. He began to immerse flowers in spring water and expose them to sunlight, believing this solar infusion also captured the plant’s healing essence. When weather conditions rendered this method impractical, he

recommended boiling the flowers in water as an alternative means of extraction.

Bach regarded his process as a union of the four classical elements.

As he wrote, “The earth to nurture the plant, the air from which it feeds, the sun or fire to enable it to impart its power, and water to collect and be enriched with its beneficent magnetic healing.” He valued the simplicity and naturalism of the process, which aligned with his holistic view of health and healing.

By the time of his death in 1936, at the age of 50, Dr Bach had formulated 38 distinct flower remedies, each associated with a specific negative emotional

state or psychological condition. These remedies, along with the philosophical framework underpinning them, continue to be used in various forms of alternative and complementary medicine, although their efficacy remains a subject of scientific debate. Nevertheless, they remain popular among holistic health practitioners and individuals seeking nonpharmaceutical approaches to emotional wellbeing.

FOR A REFERENCE GUIDE TO EACH OF THE 38 REMEDIES DISCOVERED BY DR. BACH, VISIT WWW.BACHCENTRE.COM AVAILABLE AT HOLLAND AND BARRETT, WWW.HOLLANDANDBARRETT.COM

Hospital Quirónsalud Marbella Avda. Severo Ochoa, 22 - 29603 Marbella Málaga

TIPS FOR HELPING YOUR CAT AND DOG BECOME

BEST FRIENDS

The adage that people who clash ‘get on like cats and dogs’ has unequivocally been put to rest. If you need proof of that, check out the long list of celebrities (including Drew Barrymore, Paris Hilton, and the Osbournes) who are proud pet parents to both kitties and canines. To ensure cats and dogs get on like a house on fire, timing is key. A study by researchers from Tel Aviv University involving approximately 200 pet

owners showed that the ideal scenario is one in which a cat is adopted before a dog when both are still young (under six months for kittens and one year for dogs). The study also showed that two-thirds of all homes surveyed report positive relationships between their cats and dogs.

WHY DO SOME CATS AND DOGS FIGHT?

In order to understand why cats and dogs can occasionally fail to tolerate each other, it pays to understand a bit about their respective natures. One

possible cause of conflict is crossed interspecies signals. That is, cats and dogs may not be able to understand each other’s nonverbal cues. For instance, when cats are happy, they purr; when dogs are joyful, they wag their tails. However, cats may misinterpret tail-wagging as aggression, since when they are angry or annoyed, they lash their tails about. Head positioning can also differ in these two species. A cat’s averted head can signal anger, while a dog in the same head position may wish to express submission. However, as is

VISITESSENTIALMAGA

ROMROF

the case with humans, pets, too, can learn each other’s languages – and in fact, that is exactly what happens in households where dogs and cats become best friends.

START WITH A GREAT INTRODUCTION

If you are introducing a new cat and dog, allow them to get used to each other’s smells before their first meeting. Give each pet the other’s toy or bedding, and when you do introduce them, separate them via a baby gate or door so they can observe each other while still feeling safe. Keep their first few meetings brief, ending while they are both calm. Wait for around a day or two before allowing them to explore each other without barriers.

SUPERVISE THEIR INTERACTIONS

For the first few weeks that

your dog and cat are in the same space, make sure you are present. Watch out for signs of aggression or annoyance, including tails bristling, growling, hissing, or one pet attempting to hide from the other. Intervene calmly if things get tense, giving each pet a bit of quiet time until they exit the ‘fightor-flight’ stage. If your pets are playing peacefully or resting near each other, offer them gentle rewards, such as a belly or neck rub, or a small treat. In contrast, if they are angry, avoid raising your voice or punishing them, as it can lead to negative associations between the time they spend together and your reactions. Instead, invest time and energy in training your pets. For instance, both cats and dogs who obey commands like ‘Leave it’, ‘Stop’, or ‘Stay’ are much easier to manage than those who continue

chasing each other or fighting after you have asked them to stop.

GIVING YOUR PETS SAFE SPOTS

Aim to give each of your pets a space that is all theirs – one they can go to when they need a little time to sleep or relax without another pet potentially interrupting. Most cat owners say their cats often find refuge in cat trees, especially those whose top rung has a covered house or a comfy bed for snoozing. It can also help to keep your pets’ feeding spaces (or their food and water bowls) separate, so that one pet doesn’t steal food from another.

LOVE TAKES TIME

If your pets tolerate each other but don’t seem to enjoy being too close to each other, know that many pet owners claim that true friendship between species can take weeks or months to develop. Rather than forcing interactions, let the relationship grow at its own pace. Some cats and dogs may simply accept each other over time, while others may seek each other out for companionship, entertainment, and warmth. e

Spanish real estate group Gilmar presents three luxurious new projects. See what makes Alura Living special, courtesy of Exxacon Smart Living. Consider the possible consequences as AI becomes increasingly powerful. Check out local events and business news.

« BACK TO CONTENTS

eenterprise

174 Redefined Luxury by Gilmar

180 Alura Living by Exxacon Smart Living

186 AI – Implications and Concerns

190 Business News

198 The Vibe

Casares Bay - Costa del Sol

REDEFINED LUXURY THE NEW LIFESTYLE ON THE COSTA DEL SOL

For decades, luxury real estate on the Costa del Sol was synonymous with stately villas, lush gardens and a classic aesthetic that evoked the Mediterranean glamour of another era. But that image is now a thing of the past. Today’s high-end buyer is looking for something very different: a way of living that’s more connected to the environment, to contemporary design, sustainability, and smart technology. A quiet yet profound transformation that has permanently reshaped the landscape of the luxury residential sector.

New developments in prime locations such as Marbella, Estepona or the city of Málaga no longer strive for ostentation, but rather for understated elegance, intelligent comfort, and strong environmental awareness. “Today’s buyer—mostly international, cosmopolitan and with a high purchasing power –demands modern design, large windows, integration

with the surroundings, and noble materials such as natural ston e, treated wood, and corten steel,” explains Alfonso Haro, Director of New Developments and Land at GILMAR in Andalusia. This trend is accompanied by a growing interest in energy certifications, aerothermal climate control systems, and full home automation – allowing temperature, lighting, security, and even water consumption to be managed via smartphone. Buyers are

looking not only for wellbeing, but also for efficiency and environmental responsibility.

FEWER SQUARE METRES, MORE EXPERIENCES

Another key shift is the redefinition of space. Luxury is no longer measured in square metres, but in how each one is experienced. “New developments prioritise smart layouts, generous terraces, open-plan living, high-quality shared spaces, and services that turn a home into a private club,” adds Haro. ›

VISITESSENTIALMAGA Z

ENILNO EROMROF

Penthouse duplexes with private pools, apartments with sea views or gardenlevel homes now coexist with shared amenities that include state-of-the-art gyms, infinity pools, wellness areas, coworking spaces, and 24hour concierge services.

It’s not just about living - it's about living well. With privacy, yes, but also a sense of community.

Location remains key, but with a subtle shift: proximity to services, and a balance between natural surroundings and urban life. Neighbourhoods like El Limonar in Málaga or the New Golden Mile in Estepona are gaining ground for their capacity to offer peace, sea views, access to schools, healthcare, fine dining and, of

course, the airport in under an hour.

Large estates in remote gated communities are no longer the priority. Buyers now seek well-connected homes with character, close to the sea and local culture. The Costa del Sol, with over 300 days of sunshine a year, remains a privileged destination – but one that is now enjoyed in a more contemporary and conscious way.

A NEW PHILOSOPHY THROUGH THREE DEVELOPMENTS

GILMAR, a benchmark firm in the high-end residential sector, has been quick to adapt to this new paradigm. Its latest developments on the Costa del Sol clearly reflect the changing face of luxury:

» Be Grand El Limonar, in Málaga city, is a prime example of how to blend heritage and modernity. This boutique development of just 18 exclusive residences combines the restoration of historic buildings with newly built architecture, just a few steps from the beach. With two panoramic pools, a gym, rooftop terrace, chill-out zones, and electric vehicle parking, it’s a lifestyle project for a discerning buyer who wants to live in the heart of the city without sacrificing peace and privacy.

» Balcón del Mediterráneo, located in the sought-after New Golden Mile of Estepona, takes the idea of living by the sea to its fullest expression. These modern residences offer three to five bedrooms, spacious

terraces, Mediterranean views, and premium communal areas. It’s a project that delivers both space and intimacy, with all the tech and security features expected by today’s global buyer.

» Casares Bay offers luxury on a human scale. This development of just nine homes overlooks both the sea and a golf course, surrounded by nature and defined by a clean, sober architecture that blends perfectly into the landscape. Ideal for those who seek exclusivity, serenity, and an authentic setting.

This new approach to luxury real estate is not a passing trend. It reflects a deep shift in the priorities of those investing in the Costa del Sol: quality over quantity, design over decoration, sustainability over excess.

Today’s buyer is not just looking for a property, but for a lifestyle. And in meeting that demand, the Costa del Sol has successfully reinvented itself as one of Europe’s most desirable destinations –not only for its climate, cuisine or culture, but for offering a way of living where luxury is no longer what you show… but what you feel.

GILMAR PROMOCIONES COSTA, TEL: (+34) 951 233 330

ALURA LIVING DESIGNED FOR ENJOYMENT

Just a short distance from the exclusive Finca Cortesin resort and country club, Alura Living offers comfort and lifestyle enjoyment in abundance.

WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF EXXACON SMART LIVING

From a perfect vantage point in the green rolling hills near the Finca Cortesin resort, the 99 apartments and penthouses of Alura Living look out upon the prestigious country club’s c hampionship golf course, nearby mountain ranges , and of course spectacular perspectives of the Mediterranean shoreline, Gibraltar, and Africa. On a clear day these landmarks appear close enough to touch and yes, this is a central location near to beaches, golf, wellness, fine dining, beach clubs, and the beauty of the Andalusian countryside, with the pretty white mountain villages of Casares and Gaucín within easy range. The same is true

of Sotogrande and Marbella, with Estepona just a short drive away, yet once inside this gated community it is you, nature, open skies, and the endless Mediterranean horizon.

From this peaceful, private setting most amenities are accessed within five to ten minutes, as Casares Beach, the championship golf course, spa, beach club, and the fine dining of Finca Cortesin, as well as Doña

Julia Golf are all two minutes away. Set midway between two growing international airports and an expanding range of leisure, shopping, and dining options, Alura Living is well-positioned for enjoying the better things in life. Added to this, and indeed making the most of it, is a private residential resort designed specifically with lifestyle enjoyment in mind. ›

The garden chill-out and barbecue area

LIFESTYLE LIVING

“The concept of creating homes and communities that offer an added value lifestyle experience has been at the forefront of Exxacon Smart Living since its founding well over twenty-five years ago,” says Juan Jesús Martínez, Commercial, Marketing & Sales Manager of Exxacon.

“We call it ‘Smart Living’ as the use of technology to enhance sustainable development and the lifestyle experience has been part of the equation from the outset too. As we started working this way long before it became fashionable, we have an edge thanks to almost a quarter of a century of

experience in doing just that – blending technology, design, and customer feedback to build homes that are as sustainable as possible and create communities around a philosophy of quality of life.”

For this reason, an Exxacon Smart Living home is never just a collection of specifications and amenities, but rather a cleverly thought-out blend of elements designed to offer ultimate value for money both in investment and lifestyle terms. “We build on our experience and interaction with our clients to make sure that every project we embark upon is better and more

rounded than the previous one, and it is the drive to keep improving that also guides our stylistic and conceptual creativity.”

The fact that this is also an approach to property development that has enjoyed great critical and commercial success is underlined by a long and proud portfolio of projects along the Costa del Sol and in other parts of Spain. “In each region and individual location, we adapt the offering to the specific setting, and in the case of Alura Living it was a joy to work with as it enjoys a wonderful location close to everything but surrounded by nature and spectacular views.”

A private residential resort close to beaches and golf courses

This combination of ingredients has formed the starting point for a stylish contemporary gated community of two- and threebedroom apartments and penthouses with panoramic terraces ranging from spacious to expansive – the largest measuring over 166m2 of outdoor living space.

The architectural styling is timeless and blends in with

the natural environment, complemented by gardens planted with indigenous greenery and of course those big sea and sky views. Inside, the properties are modern, spacious, bright, and enjoy an open-plan flow utilising the highest quality materials.

Alura Living is a residential resort complete with an adult swimming pool, children’s pool with solarium, a chill-

out area with barbecue, as well as a gym, a lounge and coworking space, sauna, hammam, and an outdoor calisthenics circuit. With so many excellent courses nearby it would be a pity not to practise the fine game, and with a professional golf simulator you can perfect your swing before you enter the course of your choice. ›

“Alura Living is a very well-rounded residential resort that blends privacy and home comforts with a very complete set of amenities in a setting that offers so much,” says Juan Jesús. “In essence, it is the synthesis of all the experience and knowhow that we as lifestyle-oriented developers have built up in order to offer not just value for money and a great investment, but above all a living environment designed for full enjoyment.” e

ALURA LIVING

CASARES COSTA

TEL: (+34) 680 483 131

EMAIL: INFO@TUSCANYGROUP.ES

WWW.EXXACON.ES/EN/DEVELOPMENT/ ALURA-LIVING

WWW.TUSCANYGROUP.ES/EN/ALURALIVING

Spacious modern homes

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

IMPLICATIONS AND CONCERNS

Some of us are old enough to remember what it was like to switch from the Yellow Pages to Google search. Another leap forward is the development of AI, as an alternative portal to the web, and is a threat to the dominance of Google search with its 200 billion dollars in advertising revenue.

On the face of it, AI can sound intimidating. It is a term wrapped in mystery, with headlines ranging from ‘AI will Save the World’ to ‘AI will Destroy Jobs, Democracy, and Humanity. I suppose the truth lies somewhere between these two extremes.

Artificial Intelligence is a force already shaping how we live, work, govern, and relate to each other.

Let us begin with a basic question: What is Artificial Intelligence?

At its core it refers to computer systems of algorithms that perform tasks that usually require human intelligence to process, but at a much higher speed and detail than human ability. That could mean recognising speech, translating languages, composing texts, identifying images, predicting behaviours, or making decisions.

There are two major types of AI:

The Narrow AI, which we use daily. It powers our phones, recommends movies, filters spam emails, and more. It’s specialised and good

at one thing only, but not adaptable beyond that.

Then there is Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), which would think and reason like a human. That is still theoretical, being developed. We are not there yet, and we may not be there for some time. However, this statement might be looked upon as narrow minded sometime soon as AI is evolving very rapidly.

For example, ChatGPT started less than three years ago, being the first AI public platform, and now I understand there are more than 18 similar platforms, and that could develop into thousands.

A common myth is that AI is some kind of digital brain. AI does not ‘think’ the way you or I do. It does not understand, feel, or care. It processes massive amounts of data, spots patterns, and calculates probabilities at a phenomenal speed that makes it powerful but also limited.

There is something critical to remember. AI is not neutral. It reflects the data it is trained on and the priorities of the people who built it. If those

inputs are biased, the outputs will be so too. This is why AI is not just a technical issue but more importantly a human one.

If we consider healthcare, AI can now detect conditions like cancer or diabetes, by checking medical scans more accurately than the human eye. For example, there is even AI that listens to your voice and detects signs of depression or Parkinson’s disease.

The challenge is that AI does not understand context. It would have been trained on data that does not include everyone, it might misdiagnose or overlook symptoms in certain groups of people. So, we have to ask, Is the system trained on representative data? Is it being used to support doctors or to replace judgement’?

In the Financial and Business world, AI helps banks detect fraud in real time. In retail, it predicts what customers will want to buy before they even know it. In logistics, it optimises delivery routes and supply chains. Many companies are using AI in hiring, scanning details, and evaluating candidates.›

It sounds efficient but some of these systems have been found to favour certain names, genders, ethnicity, or backgrounds over others. We need to admit that efficiency without fairness is not progress.

In the field of Education, AI is also making its way into the classrooms. Personalised learning systems adjust content based on how a student is performing. Virtual tutors can assist students one-on-one. What will happen when AI begins to replace face-to-face teaching? Or when students’ learning data is collected and sold? AI can enhance education but it should not replace the human connection between teacher and student.

In consideration of Government and the Law. Solicitors are saving fortunes in preparing their cases using AI. At the same time AI tools are now being used by law enforcement agencies themselves to analyse crime data and predict where incidents might occur. In court systems, AI recommends sentencing or bail out decisions based on risk scores.

Sounds smart, but for example one of the most

widely used risk assessment tools in the U.S. courts today was found to be twice as likely to falsely label black defendants as high risk compared to white defendants. That is very serious and not to be ignored which could be an indication of moral failure.

If AI is involved in decisions about people and their freedom, it has to meet the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and justice.

Generative AI has stirred up just as much excitement as controversy. There is an old saying that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ or ‘the camera never lies’. Now I guess that an AI-generated image can be anything you want it to be.

Today, anyone with a phone or laptop can generate a painting in the style of Van Gogh, compose a melody, or even draft a short story with the help of AI. It is a shift in how creativity works. Artists are beginning to collaborate with AI, treating it as a creative partner but with these new capabilities come big questions.

Who owns the work? Is it art if AI helped to create it? And what happens to professional

illustrators, composers, and writers whose work can now be mimicked in seconds? It’s not replacing human imagination, but it is expanding the boundaries of who can create, what, and how.

Generative AI now composes music, produces art, writes poems, even creates deepfake videos of people saying things they never said. It can be fun, inspiring, or harmful. Trump and others have been great material for such productions which were appreciated and enjoyed by many for their entertainment value. But let us give a thought to when we cannot tell the truth from fake. We’re entering a world where the line between ‘created by human’ and ‘created by AI’ is beyond recognition.

The important question becomes: What is fake and what is real? We need to consider responsibilities and challenges utilising AI in different fields.

Considering bias and discrimination. AI learns from data and if the data reflects historical injustice, then AI obviously will follow. That means we need diverse voices in the room when these systems are designed and deployed. We need audits.

We need ethical review boards. We need transparency. How do we challenge a decision made by AI that we do not understand? In healthcare, finance, and justice, we must be able to explain why AI made a particular recommendation. How does this affect our Privacy? AI systems feed on data. But that does not mean they are entitled to it. We need strong data protection especially when it comes to facial recognition, personal health information, and online behaviour. Consent must be meaningful and not buried in fine print.

Will AI cause job disruption? AI will change jobs. Some will disappear. Others will be created. This is not the first time technology has disrupted labour but it may be the fastest the world has experienced. We need

to invest now in retraining workers, modernising education, and building support systems that reflect today’s reality.

There are misinformation and deepfakes resulting from AI. AI can spread disinformation faster than we can respond. This is not science fiction. It is happening today. We need tools to detect fakes and we need media literacy so people can tell the difference.

We need to stay informed and learn the basics. We do not need a PhD qualification in algorithm learning, but we should comprehend and appreciate how AI is affecting our life by asking questions.

We need to ask how AI tools work. What data are they using? Are there biases? Who reviews the outcomes? Who speaks up if something does not feel right?

Technology moves fast but values do not change. Basic human values should be the same and AI will have to be modelled around them.

We stand at a crossroad not just of technology, but of trust and quality of life. We can use AI to concentrate power or to expand opportunity. To monitor people or to empower them to enhance judgment.

The future of AI is not inevitable. It is not prewritten. It will be shaped by the decisions that are made today. So let us choose wisely.

Let us build a future where AI serves people and not the other way around.

THIS TRANSCRIPT IS ADAPTED FROM A RECENT SPEECH GIVEN BY NAEL GEORGE MARAR TO THE MBI – MARBELLA BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

bbusiness news

COMPILED BY MARISA CUTILLAS

New Marbella Roundabout Bears María Bravo’s Name

The Marbella Town Hall has honoured the social commitment of Casa Ángeles founder and Marbella ambassador María Bravo in a moving ceremony attended by family, friends, and personalities such as Eva Longoria, Amaury Nolasco, and Brigitte Nielsen. The roundabout is located on Avenida de Istán, between Avenida Buchinger and Camino del Pinar, towards Camino de Camoján – just 100 metres from Casa Ángeles. Mayor María Ángeles Muñoz hosted the presentation, praising María Bravo’s extraordinary work leading Casa Ángeles since its founding in 2021, as well as her role as Marbella’s ambassador. She highlighted Bravo’s artistic, entrepreneurial, and philanthropic achievements, stressing her outstanding humanitarian work.

Grupo GS Presents GS Royal River Residences

Grupo GS, a leading developer in the luxury residential sector, has announced that it will soon be launching GS Royal River Residences, a new housing development located in the Golf Río Real urbanisation in Marbella. The new development comprises a total of 16 two- and three-bedroom homes, including penthouses with terraces of up to 200 m² and private pools, and ground-floor units with gardens. The project is situated just five minutes from the centre of Marbella and La Cañada shopping centre and a short distance from Los Monteros beach and the future Four Seasons Marbella Resort. WWW.GRUPOGS.ES

Grupo Starlite to Open the Starlite Beach Club in 2026

Following the tremendous success of the Starlite Occident Marbella festival, Grupo Starlite, alongside GAT Inversiones, is expanding its universe with the launch of Starlite Beach Club – a place where music, gastronomy, and lifestyle offerings will abound. The club, which will be located in the Laguna complex, will offer a pool area, signature gastronomy, and the magic of the Starlite experience. It will measure over 2,000m2 and will welcome over 600 guests. According to Sandra García-Sanjuán, creator and founder of Starlite Group, “Starlite is not just music: it is a sensory, emotional, and transformative experience, where every detail is designed to create unique and unforgettable moments, with soul, magic, and purpose. That is its DNA.”

WWW.GRUPOSTARLITE.COM

Jardin de Inspiración Open-Air Expo in Cajiz

The Jardín de Inspiración open-air expo, which enjoyed great success last year, will be returning to the sculpture garden of Casa el Ventorrillo in Cajiz, from September 26 to 28. The garden is located in the home of Swiss artist Anne-Barbara Lenzin, who has made Andalucía her second home. Lenzin is a ceramic artist whose sculptures are featured in the Cómpeta and Frigiliana Art Walks. The exhibition will also feature works by Lieuwke Loth, Christa Hillekamp, and Juan Moreno Martínez. On Saturday, August 27, there will be a special open-air concert by American blues musician Richard Ray Farrell.

SEATS ARE LIMITED; TO BOOK A SEAT, CONTACT ANNE-BARBARA AT CASAELVENTORRILLO@GMAIL.COM

Triple A Charity Gala Takes Place on September 13

Marbella’s most heartfelt gala returns this September with a night of glamour, entertainment, and purpose. The Triple A Charity Gala will be held on Saturday, September 13, at 8pm at the stunning Trocadero Arena Marbella, raising critical funds for Amigos de Los Animales Abandonados (Triple A) –a local non-profit shelter currently caring for more than 250 dogs and 400 cats. Guests will enjoy an unforgettable evening that includes a three-course gourmet dinner, live entertainment, an auction, and a raffle prize draw. The dress code is cocktail attire and tickets are priced at €125 per person. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE

DAMAC International Presents Its Flagship Development – The Delmore

DAMAC International, an Emirati developer specialising in ultra-luxury residential developments, recently introduced a new flagship project in the US to Marbella: The Delmore, a beachfront residential tower located in Surfside (Miami), designed by the prestigious Zaha Hadid Architects studio. The event was held at the Finca Ana María estate of the Marbella Club Hotel, and was attended by investors, senior executives from leading private banking institutions, acclaimed luxury hospitality entrepreneurs, and wealth management firms. The day symbolised a new stage in the relationship between Europe and America in the luxury real estate sector.

WWW.THEDELMORE.COM

Fundación Unicaja Exhibits Treasures from the House of Alba

Until January 11, 2026, lovers of fine art, history, and culture can visit the Fundación Unicaja Cultural Centre in Málaga to view authentic treasures from the House of Alba. The exhibition brings together more than 250 pieces, including paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, and documents from the palaces of Liria, Monterrey, and Las Dueñas. Some of these works, usually kept in private rooms, are being presented to the public for the first time. The exhibition will feature a special section containing original plans, historical photographs, decorations, and documents on the morphology, history, and composition of these residences.

WWW.FUNDACIONUNICAJA.COM

Lamalaka Beach Club Opens in Nerja

New beach club Lamalaka has opened in Nerja, and it’s already the talk of the town. Serving Mediterranean fare and with a wine list with over 50 choices, it seeks to redefine the art of seaside enjoyment. Lamalaka is divided into three complementary zones. The first, Lasala, is its gastronomic heart, the place where you can enjoy a varied menu ranging from southern classics like fried anchovies and tuna tacos to steak tartare, exquisite grilled meat cuts, and more. The second zone, Lajarana, is perfect for cocktails and a wide array of national and international wines. The third space, Lahamaka, is completely devoted to relaxation; here, you will find sun loungers and Balinese beds facing the sea.

WWW.LAMALAKANERJA.COM

The 10th Annual ‘Popi’ World Ham Festival, Ciudad de Estepona Takes Place

Estepona recently celebrated the 10th edition of the ‘Popi’ Ham Festival, Ciudad de Estepona, one of the leading events dedicated to Iberian products. The city’s seafront promenade hosted 65 exhibitors and over 200 professional ham carvers, marking the gastronomic festival as one of the largest of its kind worldwide. This year’s event godmother was popular Canal Sur Televisión presenter Eva Ruíz. The festival, which has been declared a ‘Festival of Touristic Interest’, lasted for several days and featured numerous musical performances by artists such as La Húngara, Kiki Morente, and Mojinos Escozíos.

WWW.AYUNTAMIENTO.ESTEPONA.ES

Marbella Positions Itself as Europe's Future Capital for AI-Powered Digital Privacy

Marbella is poised to become a leading European hub for AI-driven digital privacy and ethical technology. Digital privacy company PastWipe has announced plans to launch the PastWipe Technology & Innovation Centre – a facility dedicated to online safety, AI ethics, misinformation detection, and data protection. With over 2.8 billion people worldwide seeking to remove personal data from the Internet, the demand for privacy solutions is increasing significantly. PastWipe, specialising in digital reputation management, privacy protection, and content removal, provides discreet, AI-powered tools that allow individuals to reclaim control over their online presence.

WWW.PASTWIPE.COM

GC Studio Designs New Urban Retreat with a Coastal Soul

GC Studio, the Marbella-based firm led by Lucía Casaus and Alexis González, has overseen the design and interiors of a new penthouse in the exclusive Sierra Blanca Tower in Málaga. The residence, spread over two levels, has been meticulously planned with every detail in mind, perfectly blending classical elegance with contemporary flair. The design offers a unique sensory experience comprising natural light, sea views from every room, and an atmosphere of serenity. Warm colour palettes and refined textures abound, enhancing the sense of tranquillity. It embraces the concept of spatial fluidity, dissolving the boundaries between indoors and outdoors.

WWW.GC-STUDIO.ES

Irene López de Castro Presents New Exhibition in Málaga

The Diputación Provincial de Málaga and the Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País (SEAP) de Málaga present a new exhibition by artist Irene López de Castro at the headquarters of the SEAP. Entitled El Sueño de Tombuctú (Dream of Timbuktu), it reflects the artist’s longstanding fascination with Africa and its people. López de Castro's work is characterised by its spiritual and poetic essence. She has exhibited her art in a wide array of countries, including Italy, France, and South Korea.

WWW.SEAPMALAGA.ES

Virtual Reality Titanic-Themed Exhibition in Sevilla Titanic, Echoes of the Past in Sevilla offers visitors a unique virtual reality experience of walking through the legendary Titanic at full scale. Visitors can virtually view iconic parts of the Titanic, including its engine room and luxurious first-class decks, as well as the shared third-class cabins. For 45 magical minutes, they can interact with realistic recreations of passengers and crew, discover the secrets of the ship’s engineering, and learn about fascinating human stories that are essential in understanding the magnitude of the event.

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE THROUGH PLATFORMS LIKE WWW.FEVERUP.COM

MARBELLA GALA CONTRA EL CÁNCER

La Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer commemorated its 40th anniversary with their annual gala at Marbella’s Finca La Concepción. A record attendance of almost 700 supporters enjoyed a balmy evening with live music, DJ sets, a gala dinner, and a drone show. The event, which raised over €250.000, also featured a raffle with over 300 prizes and the presentation of a sculpture ’The Fighter’ by David Marshall to the actor Sergio Peris-Mencheta.

MWWW.CONTRAELCANCER.ES

ELYSIUM MARBELLA AND THE NOVAK DJOKOVIC FOUNDATION

EElysium Marbella recently hosted a special event at its Puerto Banús office together with the Novak Djokovic Foundation. Guests, including Ana Antić, daughter of legendary football coach Radomir Antić, and her daughter Ivana, shared personal stories about family, values, and what it means to be a champion. The evening highlighted the foundation’s ‘Path of a Champion’ program and reflected Elysium’s vision of creating homes defined by elegance, purpose, and lasting value.

WWW.ELYSIUMMARBELLA.COM

ME MARBELLA

BY MELIÁ

Marbella’s newest 5-Star hotel ME Marbella by Meliá launched with a fanfare at its beachside location close to Puerto Banús. Special guests Gala González, Águeda López, Amelia Bono, Paula Ordovás, Topacio Fresh, Diogo Duarte, and Roger Nieva joined the many invitees who came for an evening of celebration. The new venue offers a reinterpretation of modern luxury, centred around art, design, culture, music, and unforgettable experiences.

WWW.MELIA.COM

Relish in pan asian cuisine with a contemporary twist at trendy new venue Noyane. Meet Spanish chef Nieves Barragán, who has just launched Legado in London. Check out where the best chocolate is produced. Savour a chilled glass of fine white wine this September.

« BACK TO CONTENTS

ggourmet

204 Noyane by Chef Richard Sandoval

210 Nieves Barragán of Legado

216 Best Countries for Chocolate

220 Xalte – Sea Salt form Mexico

224 White Wines to Savour in September

BY CHEF RICHARD SANDOVAL NOYANE

Having opened this year in the early part of summer in a trendy location at the Hard Rock Hotel Marbella, its enticing pan asian cuisine and friendly staff make it well worth a night out.

Richard Sandoval is a pioneering celebrity chef whose hospitality group has over 60 restaurant concepts globally, including his flagship

Maya in New York. He is known for his innovative take on Latin American food, combining it with international flavours and contemporary twists to create unique and sophisticated dining experiences.

WORDS JAMES SINCLAIR  PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN

His new venue in Marbella is spectacular, with a superb split-level salon, enclosed kitchen, bar, and DJ booth. Its length offers a wide variety of seating arrangements with sturdy marble and wooden tables to suit all types of groups and numbers. But at this time of year, all diners will enjoy the stunning garden terrace with its lush vegetation and discreet table settings.

It was to this sumptuous expanse we were shown, following a very warm welcome from Vivian and her team at the restaurant´s

main door. From our corner table with comfy right-angled sofa seating we could survey the entire domain, apart from the hidden areas, and what a lovely place it is too.

It was time to get down to the serious business of savouring an artesanal cocktail to relax into the mood, courtesy of some expert shaking by Manuel who is in charge of the bar. For those desiring a flavourful mocktail, look no further than the Havana Passion, a heavenly refreshing mix of passion fruit, spiced syrup, lime juice, and ginger ale. ›

EXOTIC CUISINE

Noyane offers a compact menu that features a panoply of Asian fusion dishes that really showcase the tastes and traditions of the asiatic sub-continent. You can select from hot and cold starters, maki rolls, nigiri and sashimi, wok dishes, preparations from the Josper, curry, and caviar. Being our first visit, upon consultation with Cristian who ably oversees the proceedings here, we elected to try a medley of dishes which were soon arriving at our table in impressive style.

The Tuna Ceviche really hit the spot, with tiger coconut milk and a mango

chipotle reduction and was wonderfully complemented by Crispy Calamari, its kick deriving from chili, coriander and chili vinegar sauce. We next dispatched the spicy Noyane Angry Tuna, and Lobster Roll sweetened with mango, two sushi preparations which were both winners, before relishing the Pork Belly Mantou Bao, with kimchi and pickled vegetables, rounding off with the Beef-Udon Noodle Wok comprising tenderloin, bok choy, spring onion, and furikake. We were also temped to try the Sea Bass Nikkei, the Corn Fed Chicken Curry, and, from the Josper, the Wagyu Beef Tenderloin

(available as a starter or main), and the Dengakuman (miso-glazed black cod), but these will have to wait for another visit. Diners can accompany their meals with a range of Champagnes, fine wines, beer, and soft drinks, and the menu does show potential allergen issues.  ›

Well sated, we were already feeling quite full, but Cristian managed to persuade us that we couldn’t leave without dessert. As it transpired, it was a good move as both The Yuzu almond crumble cheesecake and the Tres Leches yuzu sorbet with mangolemongrass cream appeared to aid our digestion. Probably just as well therefore that we didn’t opt for the Smoking Chocolate Pot on this occasion!

If you haven’t yet been to Noyane, we recommend you to set up what will surely be the first of many repeat experiences. This is also a great venue for parties and company events. e

CALLE LAS MALVAS, 50, NUEVA ANDALUCÍA, MARBELLA. OPEN FOR DINNER WEDNESDAY TO SATURDAY 19:00 – 02:00 AND SUNDAY TO TUESDAY 19:00 TO 01:00. TEL: (+34) 951 870 115. WWW.NOYANEMARBELLA.COM

CASINO MARBELLA

LEGADO

CHEF NIEVES BARRAGÁN MOHACHO

If you visit London frequently, you may agree that one of its most exciting features is its lively and impressively varied food scene. Whether you’re in the heart of the city or a few miles away, you can find cuisine from all over the world that reflects the vision of talented chefs with a passion for making people happy through food. One chef who epitomises this value to the full is Nieves Barragán Mohacho, who hails from Spain and who recently launched the restaurant Legado in the trendy Shoreditch district. ‘Legado’, meaning ‘Legacy’, is a profoundly personal

expression of Spain and its rich regional food culture. It is Nieves’s creative home, the place where she shares the culinary traditions of her beloved Spain, as viewed through her intuitive artistic lens.

Nieves grew up in the País Vasco, where she learned about the region’s produce and cuisine from an early age. She regularly accompanied her mother, a passionate home cook, to the market, learning the value of fresh ingredients and traditional cooking. Initially studying graphic design in Bilbao, she worked in kitchens to support herself and realised her deep connection to food. In 1998,

at 19, she moved to London without a job or English skills but secured a kitchen porter role at Simply Nico.

In 2003, Nieves became Sous Chef at Fino, a Spanish restaurant in Soho. It was a hit, and by 2006, she became head chef, refining menus with flavours from her childhood. Barrafina followed in 2007, earning a Michelin star in 2013. The chef later oversaw four locations and in 2018, she launched her first solo restaurant with JKS Restaurants, Sabor, on Heddon Street. Located near Piccadilly Circus, the establishment expanded beyond tapas to celebrate Spanish cuisine. ›

VISITESSENTIALMAGA

Legado is set to move beyond the familiar, allowing a wider range of ingredients, lesserknown dishes, regional culinary traditions, and the Spanish artisans Nieves adores to take centre stage. With seating for over 60 in the dining room and space for 16 at the counter, the restaurant also houses the Taberna, a dedicated bar and outdoor terrace open all day serving tapas and pintxos. Nieves explains, “Spain’s food heritage is incredible and rightly deserves recognition in London and globally. Its colours, tastes, and smells are rooted deeply within me. However, there are many dishes I love that I have never seen outside Spain, and I want to bring these and much

more to London.”

Ingredients – including their producers, history, and legacy – are at the fore of Nieves’s vision and the very soul of Legado. Whole animal butchery takes place in-house, honouring farmers, animals, and the regions that rear them. Lamb, for example, is from Zamora, Lechazo de Castilla y León. It weaves its way throughout the menu, celebrating dishes from the Basque Country to Mallorca. Likewise, suckling pig, a symbol of prosperity and abundance with roots that trace back to Roman times, comes from the award-winning farm Tabladillo el Cochinillo in Segovia. Ham hails from Señorío de Montanera – a DOP company

specialising in 100 per cent Iberian pigs that roam freely in the dehesa of Extremadura. Equal attention is devoted to Legado’s seafood and fish offerings, with a menu celebrating the country’s diverse coastal cuisine. Dishes include tiny, translucent, crisp, crystal Mediterranean prawns, finished with smoked paprika and Moscatel vinegar, or confit lobster with chilli and garlic on a base of thinly sliced rose potatoes – each topped by an egg. The grilled catch of the day is served by the half with an Ajada sauce from Galicia. There is also a wide array of delectable vegetable and salad dishes and seasonal desserts. ›

THE DRINKS

Meals at Legado are designed to begin with a ‘3-Sip Serve’, a choice of five seasonally changing vegetable and fruit-based cocktails served chilled but without ice. Each drink is presented in a small bespoke ceramic vessel representing different regions in the country. The 150-bin wine list

celebrates traditional and emerging regions and styles, showcasing the finest in Spain. Modern, classic, and artisan producers using historic minimal intervention winemaking practices sit beside small growers that champion the revival of forgotten indigenous grape varietals.

Legado is Nieves’ biggest project yet. It is her creative playground, the place where all her research, ever-evolving ideas, and discoveries have met their match.

We wish the chef and her team at Legado every success and hope to take a weekend flight to London soon to savour their fare.

5 FABULOUS CHOCOLATE-PRODUCING COUNTRIES

Chocolate is undoubtedly one of the world’s most treasured comfort foods. Its richness, melt-in-the-mouth texture, and suitability for all sorts of desserts make it an instant pick-me-up. This month, we present five of the top chocolateproducing countries, celebrated not only for the volume they produce, but also for the quality and innovation behind their creations.

SWITZERLAND

Swiss chocolate manufacturers produce over 207,000 tonnes of chocolate annually, with around 143,000 tonnes exported worldwide. Switzerland has long been home to pioneers such as Philippe Suchard, who set up his first chocolate factory in Serrières, in the now-iconic canton of Neuchâtel. In 1875, chocolatier Daniel Peter decided to combine milk with chocolate, creating a variety that is now loved by millions across the globe.

Swiss chocolate boasts a uniquely creamy texture thanks to an innovative technique called conching, which homogenises the product and enhances flavour. The technique was discovered and popularised by Rodolphe Lindt in 1879. Today, Switzerland boasts the highest per-capita consumption globally – around 11kg per person per year.

Popular Brands: Lindt & Sprüngli, Cailler, Chocolat Frey, Chocolats Halba, and niche producers such as Max Felchlin AG.

BELGIUM

Belgium is so proud of its chocolate that it has obtained legal protection for the term ‘Belgian chocolate’. The country

currently commands about nine per cent of global chocolate exports, with the industry generating around €5.5 billion yearly. Brussels Airport is its top chocolate seller, moving about two tonnes daily!

The industry has deep historical roots, dating to 1635, when it was introduced as a tonic by pharmacists. Today, Belgium is home to the world’s largest chocolate factory – the Barry Callebaut installation in Wieze, East Flanders.

Belgium is arguably best known for its praline (a filled chocolate confection), which was invented by Jean Neuhaus Jr. in 1912. Belgian chocolatiers also championed the creation of the pressed chocolate tablet and the transport of liquid chocolate.

Popular Brands: Neuhaus, Godiva, Leonidas, Côte d'Or, Guylian, Pierre Marcolini.

THE UK

The UK produces around 395,000 tonnes of chocolate and cocoa products annually, valued at US $2.3–3.1 billion.

Around one in six Britons eats chocolate daily, boosting the demand for ethical and premium

products made with Fairtradecertified cocoa.

The UK is arguably best known for manufacturing classics like Dairy Milk, Flake, Mars Bar, Snickers, Bounty, and Curly Wurly. Of course, many popular brands are multinationals, some of which have U.S. headquarters.

The UK’s major players are making big strides in the global chocolate industry. For instance, Hotel Chocolat now owns its own cocoa farm and has cafés and factory outlets. Pladis, meanwhile, is investing £68 million in modernising UK plants and reducing its carbon footprint.

Popular Brands: Cadbury, Nestlé, Pladis, and premium brand Hotel Chocolat. ›

VISITESSENTIALMAGA

ECUADOR

Ecuador is renowned for producing some of the world’s finest cocoa beans (especially the ‘Cacao Nacional’ variety, known for its floral, fruity aroma), but it also manufactures comestible chocolate.

Ecuadorian chocolate and cocoa product exports were valued at over $3.3 billion in 2024, with steady export growth projected. The industry supports around 150,000 families, predominantly smallholder farmers, making it an essential sector for those living in rural areas. Many producers undertake organic, fair-trade, sustainable farming practices to differentiate their chocolates in global markets and fetch premium prices. Some are investing in research for

disease-resistant cocoa plants and agroforestry practices, integrating biodiversity with cocoa farming for enhanced resilience and improved quality.

Popular Brands: Pacari, República del Cacao, To’ak Chocolate.

ITALY

Italy’s chocolate market currently stands at around €2.1 billion and is expected to reach a whopping €3.2 billion by 2030. Milk and white chocolate dominate the industry, but dark chocolate is a fast-growing segment, fuelled by health consciousness and consumer demand for dark, organic varieties.

Chocolate first arrived in Italy in 1606, when Italian merchant Francesco d’Antonio Carletti

introduced cocoa beans from Central America to the Medici court in Tuscany, marking the beginning of Italian cuisine’s passion for chocolate in all its iterations.

Italy has made significant contributions to the industry. In 1802, the Genoese chocolatier, Bozelli, invented a hydraulic machine to refine cocoa paste. In 1946, pastry chef Pietro Ferrero invented what would eventually become Nutella. His first product, Pasta Gianduja, was created to stretch scarce cocoa supplies by blending them with hazelnuts. It was sold as a loaf that could be sliced and spread on bread.

Popular Brands: Ferrero, Venchi, Domori, Amedei, Perugina, Caffarel. e

ENILNO ROMROF

PURE, ARTISANAL FLEUR DE SEL AND SEA SALT FROM MEXICO XALTE

For most lovers of fine food, quality matters, even in the small details such as the salt one uses or the crockery one chooses to serve food made with love and care. If you wouldn’t dream of finishing a grilled steak with anything other than a touch of gourmet salt, it’s time to savour

Xalte – a company that creates allnatural, sustainable, and minimally processed fleur de sel and sea salts. Sourced directly from Colima, Mexico, Xalte’s versatile products can easily elevate both savoury and sweet dishes.

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS  PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF XALTE

Fleur de sel, which is produced via the evaporation of seawater, is Xalte’s premium salt product, owing to its high mineral profile and delicacy. It is harvested entirely by hand during two months of the year, when weather conditions allow for manual collection. Thanks to this painstaking process, the salt retains all its natural properties, undergoes no refining, and contains no chemical additives. It is flaky, light, and moist, melting slowly on the tongue, offering a longer-lasting flavour experience. Its beauty, texture, and taste make it a rare and highly sought-after product by chefs and home cooks alike.

Xalte’s fleur de sel offers a nutritional profile that differs from common salts, with less sodium and more essential minerals such as magnesium,

potassium, and calcium. Unlike most commercial salts – which contain between 300 and 500 mg of sodium per gram – Xalte contains only 130 mg, making it an ideal option for those wishing to reduce their sodium intake without sacrificing flavour. The product can also be an excellent ally for people with hypertension or those wishing to keep cardiovascular disease at bay. Its high magnesium content, meanwhile, is especially beneficial for thyroid health and metabolic regulation.

Xalte’s health-oriented approach goes hand in hand with its commitment to the environment and local communities. The brand works directly with communities in Mexico, promotes fair employment,

and utilises reusable containers handcrafted in Morelos. Its salt operations are sustainably focused, as salt is not only gathered but also packaged by hand. The company uses recyclable materials for all its packaging is of a zero-waste landfill status, and is aiming for netzero emissions by 2060. ›

There is something else that makes Xalte special – the vast array of products it offers. Not only can you purchase fleur de sel in a resealable package or ceramic jar, but also a wide range of salts in flavours such as passion fruit, garlic and ginger, onion, rosemary, smoked, spicy, and chipotle. The company additionally sells packs that allow you to sample some of their best products. The packaging is attractive, making Xalte products an excellent gift for friends and loved ones who value luxury salts.

TO VIEW THEIR LIST OF PRODUCTS OR MAKE AN ONLINE PURCHASE, VISIT WWW.XALTEFDS.COM

WHITE WINES TO SAVOUR IN SEPTEMBER

September is one of the nicest months on the Costa del Sol with pleasant temperatures and more room to move. Enhance your enjoyment of it by sipping on a chilled glass of one of these emblematic white wines, recommended by Sebastián Lozano of Invinic.

VISITESSENTIALMAGA

Bestué Chardonnay

Barrel-

Fermented is a wine with history, crafted by a winery with a winemaking tradition dating back to 1640. Its vineyards, located in the foothills of the Aragonese Pyrenees, deliver freshness and a unique character. On the nose, it reveals aromas of ripe stone fruit, white flowers, fennel, and subtle notes of butter, vanilla, and barrel toasting. The palate is broad and flavourful, with a smooth, creamy finish and long aftertaste. A perfect companion for rice dishes, fish, white meats, and summer meals.

Breñal is the expression of a dream: to create a great Mediterranean white in the heart of Andalucía. It comes from vineyards located over

900 meters above sea level in the Serranía de Ronda. Here, significant thermal differences, stony soils, and the combined influence of the Atlantic and Mediterranean confer freshness, lightness, and a unique mineral character. It is elegant, vibrant, and with a personality that reflects years of research and deep respect for the terroir.

Officially designated as a ‘Gran Vino de Rueda’, the Herrero family showcases in this wine their dedication to the vineyard, respect for tradition, and the intense flavour that earned it such recognition. This is a classic and authentic Verdejo, with aromas of stone fruit, citrus, and the subtle herbaceous notes typical of the variety. On the palate it offers freshness, vibrant acidity, and an elegant mineral touch that enhances

its liveliness. A fruity, balanced wine that remains true to the DNA of Verdejo. Perfect to enjoy with fish, seafood, rice dishes, and light summer meals

Frore de Carme was born from a story of love and resilience. Eladio Piñeiro sold his first winery to support his wife during cancer treatment, leaving the world of wine behind. Years later, with Carme recovered, they returned to winemaking as a symbol of their new life together. This Albariño is the fruit of that renewed passion: elegant and vibrant, with aromas of citrus, white fruit, and delicate saline notes. On the palate it is fresh, with excellent acidity and a long, mineral finish that reflects the essence of the Atlantic.

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