WE POUND THE STREETS ... YOU REAP THE REWARDS!

What to see and do ■ People-watch in the plaza

WITH its aromatic orange trees and open-air cafe bars and restaurants serving everything from traditional tapas and paella to fish and steak, Plaza de los Naranjos is the hub of the Old Town and an ideal place to soak up the atmosphere and people-watch — day or night.

■ Historic buildings

WHILE you’re in the Old Town (pictured top right), take a peek at the Town Hall, the Old Governor’s House and the church of Ermita de Santiago, which all date back to the 15th and 16th centuries.

Just a short walk away is the baroque Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation, which has a stunning rococo-style stone doorway.

Don’t miss the sculpture of St Barnabas, patron saint of Marbella, and the impressive pipe organ inside. Nearby you’ll find the remains of The Alcazaba, once an impressive Moorish fortress, and its walls.

■ Escape the hustle and bustle

WITH its marble walkways, elegant 18th-century Virgen del Rocio fountain (above), tropical plants and shady pine trees, Alameda Park offers an oasis of calm. Take a seat on one of the quaint Andalusian-tiled benches.

■ Spot some surrealism

CROSS the road from Alameda Park and head down the Avenida del Mar, where you can take in the ten quirky bronze statues created by surrealist artist Salvador Dali.

Depicting everything from mythological figures to Don Quixote, they’re set against a backdrop of palm trees, colourful floral displays and low hedges.

To see more of Dali’s work, visit the Museum of Contemporary Spanish Engravings ( mgec.es) housed in the old Hospital Bazan in the Old Town. Cast an eye over the works of Goya, Picasso and Miro while you’re there.

■ Walk the Golden Mile

THE Avenida del Mar joins the Paseo Maritimo (promenade), which takes you along the Golden Mile from Marbella to Puerto Banus. It’s actually nearly five miles and takes about oneand-a-half hours to walk — or longer if you stop for refreshments at one of the many tapas bars by the beach.

Catch a bus back ( andalucia.com), or the Fly Blue Catamaran (£8 one way, fly-blue.com) and admire panoramic views of the spectacular coastline and Sierra Blanca mountains.