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Places in Spain -
San Pedro de
Alcantara, near Marbella,
Andalucia
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San Pedro
Alcantara is
situated on
the fertile
plain of the
same name,
along the
Costa del Sol,
close to
Marbella.
The south
boundary of
the town is
marked by the
coast
consisting of
a string of
beaches
starting with
that of Puerto
Banus and
continuing in
a westerly
direction to
those of Nueva
Andalucia, San
Pedro
Alcantara and
on to
Guadalmina.
All the
beaches are
sandy and kept
very clean.
The beach at
San Pedro is
nearly 5km
long and has
been awarded a
blue flag.
San Pedro is
easily
accessed by
the N340
highway from
either
Malaga
or
Cadiz and the C339 from
Seville
and
Ronda.
The new
motorway also
links
Estepona
and
Torremolinos.
By sea, the
nearest
connections
are Malaga,
Gibraltar and
the marinas in
Marbella and
Puerto Banus.
Nearest
airports are
Malaga and
Gibraltar. |
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Update [Sept 2010]
San Pedro is currently a total mess, especially around the N340. The N340 is being overhauled yet money is running out. The N340 around San Pedro is often jammed to a stand still.
San Pedro came
about in the
1860's on the
creation of a
new
agricultural
colony. At the
same time, the
areas of
Cancelada and
Cortes were
born. Even
though
agriculture is
still
important,
since the
1970's the
area has
thrived on
tourism. New
water supplies
and drainage
systems have
been installed
along with a
new telephone
network.
Hotels, golf
courses and
many other
businesses
have become
established.
As you enter
San Pedro,
through the
entrance arch
from the Cadiz
direction, you
meet a new San
Pedro, kept
beautifully
clean with a
shopping area,
quiet parks
and squares
and beautiful
gardens. Turn
right off the
main road for
the very long,
newly
constructed
promenade and
the long, wide
beaches. There
is ample
parking here
along the
sea-front.
There are many
new
developments
taking shape
here. |
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San Pedro has
its share of
history and
monuments to
offer the
visitor,
including the
Parish Church,
constructed in
1866. The
building is of
colonial style
and stands
adjacent to
Villa San
Luis, now the
Deputy Mayor's
office.
Las Bovedas is
a Roman site
belonging to
the 3rd
century A.D
and consists
of an
octagonal
building
containing a
central
nucleus with
seven rooms
around it.
There is an
octagonal pool
in the centre.
The purpose is
thought to be
public baths
or a water
storage place
at the end of
an aqueduct.
Close by are
the ruins of
the Basilica,
hidden amongst
the eucalyptus
trees in the
urbanisation
of Linda
Vista. Recent
studies date
the ruins to
the 6th
century and
note them as
one of the
most important
of their kind
in the whole
of Spain.
Artefacts
discovered
here can be
seen in the
local museum
and in the
museums of
Malaga and
Marbella. They
include
skeletons,
personal
jewellery and
clay vases.
The tourist
office gives
guides of the
ruins on
Tuesdays,
Thursdays and
Saturdays.
Meet at 12
noon at the
Tourist Office
at the arch of
San Pedro. The
tourist office
can be
contacted on
952 781 360.
There is also
a tourist office within
the town. |
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Our travels to
San Pedro de
Alcantara
The
most important
thing we
noticed about
the town is
the
wonderfully
constructed
promenade and
entrance roads
which have
been designed
to allow for a
great deal of
traffic and
ample parking
spaces. There
are a great
number of new
developments
taking place
in every
direction. We
went to look
at the ruins
on one of the
official tour
days, only to
find that the
tour guide was
nowhere to be
seen and we
couldn't get
access to the
ruins. We did
however manage
to get our
photographs
through the
railings. San
Pedro is a bit
of a
bottleneck for
the N340
highway and
traffic can
often be
standing up to
3 or 4 miles
in each
direction.
Parking is
difficult if
not impossible
in the town
centre - any
time of the
year. The
beaches are
well worth the
trek and offer
jet-skiing,
pedalos, sun
beds, showers
and a play
area for the
youngsters.
There is also
plenty of
shade under
tall trees.
There are
several beach
bars and
restaurants.
The sand,
although a
little stony,
was clean and
plentiful.
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