The original site was the Moorish fortress of Montemayor, built in the 10th century—the residence of the first Moorish ruler of the area. In the late 11th century, the land around it began to be developed. This is how Benahavis, which means "son of Avis" in Arabic, emerged. After the Spanish royal couple liberated Marbella from Moorish rule in 1485, the settlement was gifted to the Count of Gifuentes for his exceptional services to the Castilian crown. In 1572, with the permission of King Alfonso II, the town separated from Marbella and became an independent municipality.
Benahavis is now part of the "Golden Triangle," a highly prestigious international brand, and the resort successfully fulfills all the requirements of this label. It has a reputation as a safe, reliable, and promising investment destination.
The city is located in the most mountainous western part of the Costa del Sol, at the foot of the Sierra Blanca mountain range. It is renowned for its unique air—a blend of clean mountain air and fresh Mediterranean air. Three rivers flow through the area: Guadalmina, Guadaisa, and Guadalmansa. Guadalmina is home to the famous Las Angosturas Gorge, a center for extreme sports such as rock climbing, rafting, and canyoning. The slopes are covered with pine, chestnut, holm and cork oaks, and a variety of other trees. Almost the entire area has been declared a "Mountain Conservation Area."
Benahavis is a mecca of gastronomic art, with culinary delights to suit all tastes being the hallmark of its restaurants.
The continued interest in this unique destination attracts numerous tourists. The doors of the Villa Padierna, Quinta Golf Resort, Gran Hotel Benahavis, the Amanavis hotel complex, and the Caledonia Golf restaurant-hotel are open to them. Villa Padierna, owned by Don Ricardo Arranz de Miguel (Honorary Chairman and First Curator of the International Hall of the Hospitality Industry), hosted the inaugural awards ceremony for tourism, hotel industry, and luxury travel.
This October, the awards ceremony was held again at this hotel. The cream of the international community was invited to the event—royalties, presidents of major companies, and special government representatives. The winning industry representatives were awarded the honorary Signum Virtutis—a seal of excellence, the highest and most prestigious award in this segment.
For those wishing to live and vacation in their own villas, palaces, and chalets, there is an excellent choice of properties in the La Quinta, Los Flamingos, Marbella Club Soft Resort, and the prestigious, very high-end El Madroñal and La Zagaleta developments.
