Marbella old town still retains parts of the original walls, containing a maze of old cobbled streets that are lined with white painted houses spilling flower laden greenery from window ledges and pots. Traffic noises are left far behind, and in some places the only sound you hear is the click of heels on stone as residents and visitors go about their business, or the occasional sound household clatter escaping from open doorways.
Plaza de los Naranjos is the main square. Naranjos means oranges, and the square is filled with orange trees. Here you can find the Tourist Information Office, as well as the Magistrates Court and a wealth of cafes and restaurants.
In the Tourist Information Office you can pick up some free information leaflets, but for one Euro you can buy a pack containing a couple of useful maps, a guide book and a carrier bag, all of which I found very useful.
Branch out from Plaza de los Naranjos and wander around. The streets and alleys immediately off the square are filled with shops and cafes. Some of the shops are clearly tourist shops, but many have interesting and unusual goods for sale. There are also quite a few jewellery shops, and one or two delicatessens.
Slightly further on you can find small corner shops selling basic foodstuffs and household goods, which serve the local residents as well as passing visitors. A reminder that this part of town is not just a tourist attraction, but a vibrant residential community.
