The restoration of Marbella's most important monument, the Moorish castle, has been the focus of concern for all the students and lovers of the ancient, Arab, unknown and forgotten parts of its historic centre - the Old Town.

The castle is still mainly obscured, if not buried by a mass of old houses, which conceal its beauty and splendour, as well as its great cultural significance.

Recent efforts have certainly improved matters although the Eastern facade has always been left as it was, and its situation overlooking the Represa stream bed meant that houses were never built against it.

Marbella's oldest citizens recall a kind of legend about one of the windows of the only tower still standing: they say that this large hole was made by the attack mounted by the Catholic Monarchs during their reconquest of the town in which brought 800 years of Arab occupation to an end. Maybe this is hard to believe, but it takes us back to the time when the Marbelleros at last recovered their history. The rough ochre walls of the North face of the castle are also free from buildings; as evening falls, the visitor can be carried away by the Arab atmosphere and heavy scent of jasmine, and feel the pride of present day citizens in recalling and recounting their history.

A special feeling which brings visitors back to this spot time after time.

The sloping street called calle Carmen, close to the corner tower of the castle which gives on to the Church square, leads to the castle's own inner arms courtyard, now called the plaza San Bernabe. Unfortunately, the bad taste of our ancestors resulted in a rather ugly school and teachers' house being built there. From this square, it is possible to access the North tower we mentioned earlier.

The big challenge facing our politicians and cultural organizations is to restore to its former splendour the southern facade, which starts from from imposing tower on the corner of calle Carmen and calle Trinidad. At present this facade is largely concealed by buildings, but emerges further down calle Trinidad.

We have finished our tour of the castle, but our dream continues. As for our visitors, they have discovered quite another dimension to our town, far from the glossy photogs of the tourist brochures, inspiring them to explore the charm and history of its quiet historic streets.