Puerto Banús marina is without doubt the main sight of this town © Michelle Chaplow |
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Things to See in Puerto Banus
THE MARINA
Puerto Banús marina is without doubt the main sight of this town. With space for over 900 boats, this is where the rich and famous, including the King of Saudi Arabia, moor their impressive yachts. Many of these boats don't leave the marina and are simply used as 'holiday homes'. Along the marina you will also see plenty of luxury sports cars being driven, or simply paraded, by their owners alongside the numerous designer boutiques and restaurants that line the water's edge. This is the perfect location for people-watching. At the marina you will also find a statue of Jose Banus, the architect who designed the town in the 70s, and a harbourside shrine to Nuestra Señora del Carmen ('Our Lady Carmen'), the patron saint of fishing.
AVENIDA JOSE BANUS
This is the avenue that leads from the bus stop down to the marina. Named after the town's designer, this is the Puerto Banus 'Walk of Fame' ('Bulevar de Fama') where Marbella town council has placed starfish tributes to local people who have done a lot for the town and other celebrities. You will find names such as Dani Garcia, Julio Iglesias, Lola Flores and Jose Banus, himself.
 The statue, called 'La Victoria' is built of bronze and copper and stands on top of a 26m (85ft) tall granite column. It was designed by the famous Georgian sculptor, Zurab Tsereteli |
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LA VICTORIA STATUE
One of Puerto Banus' landmarks is the statue that stands in the middle of the roundabout at the coastal end of Avenida de Nacionales Unidas. The statue, called 'La Victoria' is built of bronze and copper and stands on top of a 26m (85ft) tall column of granite. It was designed by the famous Georgian sculptor, Zurab Tsereteli, and gifted to Puerto Banus in 1994 by the Mayor of Moscow.
DALI'S RHINO STATUE
On the roundabout at the other end of Avenida de Nacionales Unidas stands Dalí's statue of a rhinoceros called Rinoceronte Vestido con Puntillas ('Rhinoceros dressed in lace'). The famous artist created it in 1956 after his 1954 film 'La Aventura prodigiosa de la encajera y el rinoceronte' ('The prodigious adventure of the lacemaker and the rhinoceros'). The 3 tonne statue was unveiled in Puerto Banus in 2004.
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Torre del Duque
Torre del Duque (Duke's Tower) is located right at the entrance to Puerto Banus Marina. Partly obscured by other buildings. Constructed on a square base of 4.2m on an older Moorish tower to a height of 10.5m. It was restored 1985 and is owned by the Spanish state although located in a private garden. Marbella's old watchtowers > .
Boulevard of Fame
In the center of Avenida José Banús, the road leading to the main entrance to Puerto Banus Marina, there are a series of golden starfish with famous names encrusted in bronze into the pavement. The iniciative was inspired by stars of Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. The idea of following Californian footsteps in Marbella was actually promoted by the CIT Marbella (a non for profit local business membership group) with the aim of recognising the professional work of personalities, artists and sportsmen and women, among others, who have contributed to the promotion of Marbella. Marbella's then Mayor, Jesus Gil ran with the idea.
On the 4th of November 1995 the boulevard was inaugurated as the first star was laid to the late José Banús who fittingly received a double tribute since the Avenue was also named after him. Carmen Sevilla, Laura Valenzuela, José María Carrascal and Luis del Olmo were present. The stars were designed by the renound Benahavis resident; sculptor David Marshall. They feature a satin aluminium background enlaid with a bronze starfish.
Look out for the stars for Julio Iglesias, the Duchess of Alba, Carmen Cervera, golfer Miguel Ángel Jiménez, businessman José Hidalgo, chef Dani García, tennis player Manolo Santana, Carlos Cabezas, journalist Carlos Herrera, Matías Prats (senior), singers Los del Río, tennis player Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, Prince Salman, football president Vicente del Bosque, Count Rudi, cartoonist, writer, and journalist Antonio Mingote, Montserrat Caballé, Carmen Thyssen, national basketball coach Sergio Scariolo, journalist and writer José Manuel Salillas.
