Guadalmina History on the Costa del Sol in Spain

Guadalmina History

Guadalmina is situated near San Pedro, a sun drenched and historic town, at the foot of Europe, which is blessed with an especially mild microclimate, thanks to the protection of the impressive Sierra Blanca mountain range, which rises majestically behind Marbella, just one mile inland from the shore. Surrounded by luxuriant semitropical vegetation, and bathed by the waters of the Mediterranean, cooled by sea and mountain breezes, Guadalmina has a very special feel.

A true Andalucian town, Marbella has always succeeded in conquering its conquerors, from the Phoenicians, the Romans, the Vandals and Arabs. A few years ago, the first mosque was built, since the reconquest of Spain by the Catholic monarchs, at the end of the 15th century, which opened its doors to worshippers and visitors, it is just a few miles from Guadalmina. This magnificent complex was built by H.M. King Fahd of Saudi Arabia.

Guadalmina near San Pedro is a wonderful blend of old and new, historic and modern. Its carefully conserved historic monuments include the beautiful 16th century parish church with its outstanding organ, built ten years ago by public subscription, its Moorish Castle, whose walls border the eastern perimeter of the Old Town - itself a fascinating collection of old houses and quiet streets. San Pedro's archeological treasures and sites have been carefully catalogued, restored and protected.

Just when San Pedro and Guadalmina started has not been defined by archaeologists and historians: some think it was the site of the Greek town, Mainake, others of the Roman town, Salduba, or Cilniana.

Ptolemy and the Roman historian Pomponius Mela both wrote about Salduba, a town situated close to Malaca (Malaga) and to Laccipo (north of present day Casares). But apart from arguments about the name of the place, what is certain is that a substantial settlement already existed in Roman times, and probably predated them. Indeed, Neolithic remains have been found in the Pecho Redondo cave, not far from the site of the original settlement. Roman remains found in and around San Pedro indicate a town of considerable size.

One of the first historians of San Pedro's past, Vazquez Clavel, carried out excavations in the 17th century and laid bare the remains of public baths in calle Muro, foundations of buildings in calle Carmen and Ortiz de Molinillo. A few years ago, coins and pottery shards emerged during renovation work on a public building and square pillars turned up in its Square.

In Guadalmina, we can visit the ruins of The Vaults (Las Bóvedas) which date back to the third century and were discovered in 1926. Its peculiar construction is still being studied. It is built with solid mortar and has withstood the passing of time and the storms, as it is built next to the beach.

The group of buildings are constructed around a octagonal patio, in its time vaulted over, with a total diameter of 9.75 metres. The centre shows the remains if a resevoir which is also octagonal in shape, and 1.20 metres deep, parallel to the walls. The upper floor consists of one circular gallery with access to small rooms. The most probable conclusion about the use of The Vaults is that they were Roman Thermal Baths, although some consider that they were large deposits which collected water and distributed it to nearby aqueducts in San Pedro.