Located on the Sierra Blanca foothills, at a short distance from Marbella, the villa of Istán, name meaning "fountain" and assigned to the town because of the numerous fountains the town has. The views from the town towards the Costa del Sol is really breathtaking. The dam of La Concepcion, huge reservoir of water for the supply of the whole Costa del Sol, is a marvellous artificial lake at the townfoot.
The origen of the town raise to the XIV century, after the seizure of the Arboto fortress by the Christian armies, the defenders run away from it and set up on the actual emplacement of Istan.
Its most important monument is the parish church, built in the XVI century by order of the Seville Archibishop, Don Diego de Leza.
During the Holy Week, there is a vey famous acting of the Passion of Christ, known as "El Paso".
Istan and ten more towns of the surroundings, make up the biospheric reserve of Sierra de las Nieves, so declared by the UNESCO.