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ESTEPONA INFORMATION
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Estepona is one of the most westerly towns on the Costa del Sol, situated between Marbella and Manilva at the foot of the Sierra Bermeja mountains. It is thus protected from the cold northern winds and maintains a mild climate all the year round. The town centre conserves its old, typically Andalusian style of architecture and town plan, balconies decorated with flower pots and whitewashed houses. Estepona is also one of the most important tourist towns on the southern coastline, with magnificent beaches and facilities, excellent hotels and restaurants. It has a very prestigious riding school, the Escuela de Arte Ecuestre de la Costa del Sol; a wildlife park (Selwo) that is among the best in Europe, and a host of sporting facilities for both water and mountain. The Phoenicians, Romans and Moors have lived here, and the area was probably first settled by the Phoenicians. The most important archaeological remains in Estepona are those of the river Guadalmansa area, where the remains of hot-springs, very likely dating from the time of the Roman city of Salduba, were discovered. The town was conquered by the Moors at the beginning of the eighth century, and a fortress called "Munt Nis" or the castle of Nicio, was built. Later, in the time of the Abderramán II Caliphate, another fortress was built, this time known as Estebunna. It fell to the Christians in a raid by Enrique IV of Castille in 1456, and from this time on the town became known by its present name, and the castle was re-built. For a time, during the reign of Juana La Loca, Estepona was part of the judicial area of Marbella, the population at that time being 600. On April 21st, 1729, Estepona was granted administrative independence in a Carta de Villazgo signed by King Felipe V in Sevilla, and the very documents pertaining to this signing are still in the municipal archives.
FIESTASThe festival of Estepona’s patron saint, San Isidro Labrador, takes place on May 15th, in which the people head for the countryside and hold processions in the town later on in the day. The Feria and the Fiestas Mayores of the town take place during the first week of June in the feria grounds, and there is also feria by daytime in the town centre. Estepona also had another patron saint, the Virgen del Carmen, and the corresponding festival is on July 16th, which involves a procession aboard fishing boats on the sea, carrying the image of the Virgin on board.
Places to be visited:The Ethnological and Bull-fighting Museums Tourist information:Town Hall, Plaza Blas Infante, 1. 29680. Estepona on the Web:www.infoestepona.com
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