One of the most important archaeological sites of Marbella is the early Christian basilica of Vega del Mar.

The complex which is about 1,500 years old and consists of the ruins of a Christian church and a necropolis with nearly twohundred tombs, is now open to the public.

Its importance lies in showing us one of the earliest examples of Christian churches in the Iberian Peninsula in an area that has been inhabited since ancient times. Following literary sources, this area might be identified with the famous Cilniana of the Roman times.

As the councilor for Culture and Education, Carmen Diaz, emphasized, Vega del Mar has now become a site of cultural interest to visit, thus expanding the large cultural offer of the municipality.

Diaz stressed that “from the archaeological point of view the early Christian basilica of Vega del Mar is one of the brightest manifestations of early Christianity.”

After conservation work and renovation of this archaeological site, the temple is open to the public every Friday from 11.00 to 13.00 working hours, except bank holidays.

It is being studied for inclusion in a future coastal archaeological park that would also include two outstanding monuments: the nearby Roman Baths ’Termas de la Bóveda’ and the Roman Villa of Rio Verde.

It has been planned for many years, with economic problems on the way, but finally, the construction of the new area of Malaga harbour has been completed and offers a wonderful new image, a super modern marina dotted with restaurants, shops, bars and leisure facilities. Muelle Uno is welcoming thousands of visitors already, coming from the capital itself as well as from all over the province and cruise ships.

Stores like Primor, Roberto Verino, Tommy Hilfiger, Adolfo Dominguez, Lacoste, Levis and Diesel can be found at Muelle Uno, bars and restaurants from the most sophisticated to those offering the most traditional local cuisine. From the terraces you can see the magnificent skyline formed by the most emblematic buildings of the historic center while your kids enjoy spacious play ground areas and even a large ice rink.

There are two parkings with capacity for 1050 vehicles, whose rates are somewhat lower than the municipal ones.
The mall is directly connected with the semi covered walkway, called the Palmeral de las Sorpresas which is dotted with parks, playgrounds and fitness facilities.

The opening times are similar to those of other commercial spaces in the city. Thus, fashion shops, accessories and services will remain open continuously from 10:00 to 22:00, while bars and restaurants close at midnight, as the establishments of the Historic Center.

Be at the touristic forefront to remain leaders…

That is the message the president of the Andalusian government, José Antonio Griñán, and the Minister of Tourism, Trade and Sport, Luciano Alonso, left in Marbella during the official opening of the ’Andalucia Lab’, a space powered by the regional government.

The center provides technological solutions to enhance business competitiveness and create new business opportunities. Griñan claimed the role of the government because, he said, it stimulates, promotes and powers private industries. He added that the balance between public and private industry signals the competitiveness of economies and is capable of generating employment.

Furthermore, the Andalucia Lab director, Jose Luis Cordoba, said that “the center’s role is to reduce the gap between large companies and SMEs who constitute the major part of the corporate network of the community.”

As Luciano Alonso stretched, trend must be created to be leaders in the national market. The result is the Andalucia Lab, which counts on the complicity of Málaga University, research centers as well as private industry and business sector.

The facility, which occupies the building of the former Center for Tourism Innovation in Andalusia which, some years ago, moved to Seville, presents a new design from the hand of star architect Salvador Moreno Peralta. It houses four laboratories: Research Lab to drive research projects with the capacity to transform the Andalusian tourism sector; Lab Testing to enhance project development; Demo Lab, a room designed as a large interactive exhibition hall where visitors can try the products already developed, and Consulting Lab where individual counseling for tourism professionals on the use of new technologies is provided.

Art and Design and a lot of commitment for Marbella shows the Red Penguin Gallery, which was recently inaugurated at the department store El Corte Ingles.

An unusual art temple called Red Penguin has opened its doors in Marbella, more precisely, in the Furnishing and Decoration House of El Corte Inglés El Capricho opposite the Congress Palace. The first exhibition is called ‘Identity’ and shows more than 60 works by 18 promising young artists from all over the world. The focus is on the large-scale urban fantasies of mixed media artist Joseph Klibansky. He recently sold one of his fascinating city views at Sotheby’s for the highest amount ever reached by such a young artist.

Loni Olfers, the director of the gallery, has an incredible feeling for trends and bubbles with creative ideas. Red Penguin is working closely together with four galleries in Barcelona, New York, Amsterdam and Beijing and will bring the world’s most promising young talents to Marbella.

Loni and her partner Joris, a sought-after interior decorator and fresco painter wish to present not only paintings, sculptures and objects, but also design, architecture, readings, and outstanding films on art. They also strive to work closely with the twelve designers of the Corte Ingles.

Information: The Red Penguin Gallery on the upper floor of El Corte Inglés – El Capricho is open from Monday to Saturday during the hours from 9.30 till 21.30.

In Marbella, almost a thousand new businesses asked permission to open in 2011

Entrepreneurs continue to opt for Marbella despite the crisis. This is evidenced by the number of opening licenses processed by the City in the last year. The increase reached 17.5 per cent compared to last year’s data, when 806 licenses were requested. Figures, which indicate the end of a negative trend in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

“These data reflect the dynamism and economic activity in the city despite the difficult economic situation,” said the mayor, Angeles Muñoz, during the balance of the activity of the Local Government Board. She also emphasized some changes that have been introduced this year with the aim to simplify and shorten the processing of permits. Efficiency and closeness of the administration have increased significantly which also favors economic activity, “she stressed.

Many entrepreneurs also welcome the new version of the so called ‘Declaration of responsibility’ which applies, for example, to clothing store or law firms. In these cases, the premises can be opened immediately.

The City Council gives green light for the major urban transformation ever

It is not a typical picture of a prime tourist destination, which provides the main access road from Marbella. Instead of beautiful apartments, hotels, restaurants and gardens – the common image of a first beach line setting – the visitor is welcomed by a huge commercial area with more than five hundred factories and workshops and a lot of car dealers that line both sides of the wide driveway which later appears as the linchpin of the city.

But that huge business park called La Ermita has its days numbered. The General Urban Plan (PGOU), approved last year, laid the basis for reversing the situation. Avant Consulting, composed of economists, architects as the dean of the Chamber of Architects of Madrid and the prestigious law firm Uria, has prepared a feasibility study on the legal-technical and economical removal of the commercial park. It will move to a one million square meter area named La Serranía in the north of the city, behind La Cañada Shopping Centre, to make way for a residential and business site. Avant consulting also confirms to be in touch with potential private investors.

“The administrative process will start immediately which means that La Serranía will be under construction in 2013 and 2014”, the mayoress said at a press conference. Meanwhile, the current industrial park will remain intact. No industrial hall will be dismantled until the new business park has been consolidated. This project together with the cruise port on the beach La Bajadilla, led by Sheikh Al-Thani, “will convert Marbella into a hotspot for opportunities,”the mayoress emphasized.

To channel this and other projects, the City has created an office for possible development areas, which will channel the information to those affected and investors. The office will be headed by the councillor of the Building Department and integrated by municipal technicians “Although it is a private investment project the Town Hall must lead the operation and make sure that those affected will be informed at any time about any step,” said the mayoress.

On December 5, the great Andalucian Hall of the Puente Romano Hotel will be once again the scenario for one of Marbella’s most magic winter events: the St. Nicolas Gala, organized by the Anti-Aids Association Concordia.

Around 300 guests will be waiting impatiently for the arrival of the Saint and his entourage, knowing they are going to bring enormous sacks filled with valuable gifts, which had been donated by the best known commercial firms in the city, for the classic raffle.

During the ceremony, the president of the association, Princess Marie-Louise of Prussia, will honor especially those who over the years have lent their generous collaboration to Concordia. She also acknowledges the assistance of commercial firms in Marbella and San Pedro Alcántara whose donation guarantees, that the full benefit of the event is directed to Concordia’s Day Center in San Pedro Alcántara and to their altruistic work in several municipalities.

The event takes place on December 5 at 20:30. After a welcome cocktail, a four course dinner is served whilst the group Pop Academy will perform a brilliant show and later on, everybody is asked to dance to live music.

Tickets will cost 160 Euros and the ballots of the raffle 50 Euros.

For more information and reservations, please call M. 670 795 896 or email: presidenta@concordiamarbella.com

His style is vigorous, energetic, full of motion up to the pathos, his color palette generous. Sometimes his characters act as if they glowed from within. One of the favorite subjects of this artist is the harlequin in all its comedy and tragedy. This shows a clear parallel to Picasso, as Matías Díaz Padrón, former curator of the Prado, mentions in the introduction to the exhibition catalogue clear link to Goya’s dark figures. The exquisite watercolors and pastels shown in a separate room demonstrate how far Elbaz’ dealing with all varieties of the human character and emotions can reach.

The exhibition will remain until the second December.

Opening times: From Monday to Friday, 9-14.30 and 5-9.30.

The Amazonia Aventura theme parks have been established as one of the most original and exciting leisure activities for children, adults, couples, families and groups. One of them was recently opened in Elviria (Las Chapas).

73 different games and 20 halarious zip lines (the largest measuring 240 meters) in 8 adventure routes have transformed part of the vast pine forest between the Avenidas de España and Valeriano Rodriguez in one of the most original and exciting leisure activities of Marbella.

The park is an excellent example of sustainable development in the leisure sector. Regarding the setting and construction of all devices, the highest principal was environmental protection. Thus, only natural materials like wood and ropes were used, which do not harm the environment and, moreover, do not affect the natural beauty of the forest. In addition, the activities do not require electrical power and generate no waste or acoustic contamination.

Each visitor chooses his route depending of the risk he wants to take, of his age and condition, but before he is allowed to disappear between the treetops he is asked to listen to one of the monitors who will talk about the facilities and safety measures.

Further information: Tel. 952 835 505 / 625 089 320 or www.aventura-amazonia.com

On her trip to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Kuwait Mayoress Ángeles Muñoz deepened the traditionally good contacts. There she came a lot closer to her goal to find sponsors for her ambitious plans.

The most tangible result of the recent negotiations with various government officials and companies in the UAE was an agreement with Nest Investment about the construction of a private business university in the Nueva Andalucía District. Some investors of the British Regent’s Business School, London, have already announced their interest in the project, too.

With the blueprints in hand, the delegation visited the Tecom Investment which is the technology division of Dubai Holding. There was talk about the financing of a technology park in the district Guadaiza. This project would fit perfectly into the “Smart City” initiative, which seeks to establish a global network of cities for the so called ’knowledge society’.

Furthermore, discussions took place with the manager of the Abu Dhabi 2030 Plan which aims to strengthen the region’s cultural and touristic development. Other European cities like Barcelona, Paris and Rome are already involved.