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Estepona
An independent 12-page guide NOT sponsored by the Town Hall April 2025
GARDEN OF EDEN
Estepona has been transformed over the past decade from sleepy seaside town to the Garden of the Costa del Sol, writes Walter Finch
UNSPOILT: The Estepona coastline as seen from the Torre de Casasola, while (inset) two town centre snapshots
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Be it the Romans, the Vandals or the Moors - or the Catholic reconquest or pirate raids from Africa in the 18th century - the town has frequently been in a state of flux. This latest incarnation is driven by wealthy international visitors flocking in all-year round. The formerly car-clogged roads have been replaced by idyllic outdoor spaces and the colourful flower-filled streets have allowed the resort to retain its image as one of the last ‘authentically’ Spanish resorts left on the costas. Yet the beauty belies the massive population spurt it has seen, driven by constant the construction of new homes and expansion of the town’s limits. A modest municipal population of 48,000 in 2003 has exploded to, officially, 75,000 in 2022, a population increase of 56%, and it is likely to be far higher in reality - and it’s definitely still growing. Marbella, in comparison, has grown by just 29% in the same period. Continues on next page
Photo credit: Jon Clarke
O
NCE a bit of a backwater, Estepona has morphed into a thriving metropolis that rivals Marbella, all while retaining its authentic Andalusian charm. The town has seen more than €100 million invested in public works since 2011. From new car parks and an athletics stadium to an art gallery and even a skyscraper, the town’s development has been nothing short of ambitious. Now, plans for a retail park and a mega-park promise to take Estepona’s evolution even further. A modest municipal population of 48,000 in 2003 has exploded to, officially, 75,000 in 2022, a population increase of 56%, and it is likely to be far higher in reality - and it’s definitely still growing. Marbella, in comparison, has grown by just 29% in the same period. Over a quarter of Estepona’s population (19,000) is foreign, Brits Germans and Scandinavians to the fore. Estepona is one of the fastest-growing towns in Andalucia for population. Its GDP per capita has spiralled and, it’s clear, the quality of its restaurants and hotels has kept up. There is a distinct change about the place, in particular, with its emphasis on pedestrians and the demographic of its residents shows a real shift towards the Scandinavian countries. Like the Vikings, Estepona has rarely stood still. Indeed, since the days of the seafaring Phoenicians - who sailed in and established a colony nearly 3,000 years ago - it has seen numerous influxes of migrants.