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MARBELLA wasn’t always glitz and glam or the international hub for the ‘manosphere’ it is today.
In the 1970s the town might have become like any other Mediterranean resort.
During the Civil War many of the buildings in the Pearl town, then populated by only 900 people, were destroyed.
Franco appeared unconcerned when his Nationalist allies, Jose Antonio Giron de Velasco (the man behind Puerto Banus) and Jose Banus (the man behind Puerto Banus), moved in and took over the area.
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In recent years, the dictator was criticized for his role in shaping Marbella.
The story began on his last trip to Marbella during the summer of 1973 when he was invited to inaugurate the newly built Clinica Incosol.
He was reportedly horrified when he saw two towers that had been recently constructed, the Hilton Hotel (now the Hotel Don Carlos) and Torre Real.
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Many say Franco was intimidated by the tall buildings, which is understandable considering that he himself stood at only 1.63 meters.
He felt that tall buildings ruin the natural beauty of coastal areas, as had happened in Torremolinos y Benalmadena Costa.
According to the story, he ordered that no skyscrapers be built ever again in Marbella. The skyline was frozen at a mid-to-low-rise level.
This created the ‘Marbella Model’ of urban development, which survives today.
Marbella is a different part of Costa del Sol. It focuses more on horizontal luxury. There are villas, gated community, and low rise hotels.
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In the 1950s and 1960s, European nobility as well as Hollywood stars preferred privacy over crowded resorts.
Franco’s decision reinforced the vision of Marbella’s early developers, including Ricardo Soriano, Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, and José Banús, who had encouraged low-rise, Andalusian-style construction.
Marbella’s unique character has not been altered since 1973.
In the 1960s and 70s, the regime’s tourism policy shifted to attract foreign currency, giving pioneers like Prince Alfonso and José Banús the licences and support to create luxury projects.
Puerto Banus, which opened in 1970 attracted celebrities like Hugh Hefner and Roman Polanski as well as Princess Grace of Monaco. It cemented Marbella’s elite status.
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Marbella has a reputation for being the most exclusive resort in the Costa del Sol. This is due to the strict height regulations, careful planning and urban design.
Marbella would have looked completely different if Franco had not intervened and combined their vision.
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