Marbella is looking for new appeal further than its long-established draw for global millionaires. Decades of success in the Costa del Sol city rest on year-round fine weather, strong privacy measures and upscale living options. City leaders now want to push further with ambitions to make the area Europe’s own Silicon Valley equivalent.

It seems that startups favour the Costa del Sol location over most others. Luxury property developments sit near growing coworking facilities and office spaces. Property agents report a clear move away from mainly retired wealthy arrivals. Talent from many countries and age groups is now investing more in the destination.

Business centre head reflects on talent attraction

“In place of drawing those nearing retirement, young talent is arriving instead,” says Christian Rasmussen, chief executive of the business centre The Pool. Few places worldwide have such high talent levels. This represents a goldmine opportunity.” He remarked in a recent interview for Bloomberg. “Marbella’s future will differ greatly from its present form,” he explained. “Efforts now focus on altering views of Marbella, moving it from a leisure destination to a key base for contemporary professionals,” he told Bloomberg.

Property developers are currently aiming to create a lasting European base for international founders and investors. The location combines all the sunshine you could want with accessible luxury features similar to those in the United Arab Emirates.

International property investors getting younger

Pandemic years brought noticeable buyer changes. Pure Living Properties’ The Marbella 2025 market report identifies younger purchasers are now keen on full-year living and working arrangements. British, Scandinavian, German and Dutch buyers remain prominent, yet demand is growing from the United States, Canada, Poland and Gulf nations.

Artur Loginov, chief executive at estate agency Drumelia, observed clear progress. “New residents, investors and hotels reached Marbella after the pandemic and raised area standards. Once simply an attractive town, the place now operates as a full city,” he said. “Recent years delivered new gyms, restaurants, hotels and global brand outlets matching New York or Monaco levels.”

Marbella council on board

Local government initiatives are supporting this new direction. Cooperation between Marbella Council and centres such as The Pool is going out of their way to promote foreign business investment. Visits to China and the US with the mayor are being used to promote Marbella as an entry point to Europe. Infrastructure gains include expanded international schools and modern amenities that suit professional families.

Most people already know that 12 August is the night to watch the Perseid meteor shower, but that’s only half the story. If the skies stay clear, anyone looking up from Spain could also catch a rare six planet alignment, with Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune appearing across the same stretch of sky. Astronomers say alignments involving this many planets don’t happen very often, making it one of the standout nights for skywatchers this summer.

You don’t need to be an expert to enjoy it. In fact, for most people the appeal is simply being outside on a warm August evening and seeing more planets than you would normally expect in a single night. If you’re lucky enough to be away from city lights, you could have a front row seat to one of the year’s most striking celestial displays.

Why this planetary alignment is attracting so much attention

The phrase ‘planetary alignment‘ often sounds more dramatic than the reality, and it’s easy to see why there’s confusion.

The planets are not actually lining up in space one behind another. What happens is that, from our point of view on Earth, several planets appear to gather along the same path across the sky. Astronomers call this path the ecliptic, which is also the route followed by the Sun and the Moon throughout the year.

Small alignments happen fairly regularly. Spotting two or three planets close together is nothing unusual. Seeing six planets appearing in the same part of the sky, however, is much less common.

That’s why 12 August has already been highlighted by astronomy platform Star Walk as one of the key dates of the year for anyone who enjoys watching the night sky.

Adding to the excitement, the alignment arrives on exactly the same night that the Perseid meteor shower is expected to reach its peak. It’s unusual to have two headline astronomical events sharing the same evening, which is why many amateur astronomers have already circled the date on their calendars.

Which planets will you actually be able to see?

This is where expectations need a little reality check.

Although six planets are taking part in the alignment, not all of them will be equally easy to spot.

If you’ve never looked for planets before, Jupiter will probably catch your eye first. It is one of the brightest objects in the night sky and is difficult to miss when conditions are good.

Saturn should also stand out, while Mars will be recognisable thanks to its familiar orange red colour.

The remaining planets are more challenging.

Mercury spends most of its time close to the Sun from our perspective, so it only appears for short periods around sunrise or sunset. Finding it usually requires good timing and an unobstructed horizon.

Then there are Uranus and Neptune. They are simply too faint for most people to see with the naked eye, so binoculars or a telescope will be needed if you want to add them to your list.

Even if you only manage to spot three planets, it’s still an impressive evening. Most of us go through daily life without noticing what’s happening above our heads, and events like this offer a reminder that the night sky is constantly changing.

Where should you go to get the best view in Spain?

The best viewing tip has nothing to do with buying expensive equipment. Your location matters much more than your telescope.

If you’re surrounded by street lights, apartment blocks and illuminated roads, you’ll lose much of the detail. A short drive into the countryside can make a remarkable difference.

Spain has no shortage of places with excellent dark skies. Rural inland areas, mountain viewpoints, national parks and quiet stretches of coastline often provide ideal conditions for stargazing.

Weather is just as important. A perfectly timed astronomical event can disappear behind cloud in seconds, so it’s worth checking the forecast before heading out.

If you’re planning to use binoculars or a telescope, try to arrive before it gets fully dark. Give your eyes around 20 to 30 minutes to adjust naturally, and avoid looking at your phone too often, as bright screens quickly reduce your night vision.

Many local astronomy groups across Spain also organise public observing sessions whenever major celestial events take place. They’re a great option if you’re unsure where to look or simply want someone to point out the planets for you.

A reminder that some of the best summer experiences are completely free

There is something refreshing about an event like this. No tickets, no queues and no booking required.

All you really need is a clear sky and a little patience.

Planetary alignments have fascinated people for thousands of years. Ancient civilisations carefully followed the movements of the planets to create calendars and better understand the changing seasons. Today we know these alignments are simply the result of the planets following their own orbits around the Sun, but that doesn’t make them any less captivating.

For many families, 12 August could become one of those evenings that is remembered long after summer ends. Children might see Saturn for the first time. Someone else may finally understand why Jupiter shines so brightly compared with the surrounding stars. Others may simply enjoy sitting outside while the Perseids streak overhead.

Whether you’re a keen astronomer or someone who rarely looks up after dark, this is one of those occasions that rewards curiosity. Six planets, one of the year’s biggest meteor showers and, hopefully, clear summer skies make for a combination that doesn’t come along very often.

So if the forecast looks promising, it might be worth swapping an evening in front of the television for one under the stars. On 12 August, Spain’s night sky could put on one of its finest displays of the year.

Malaga City Council has reopened the Parque del Agua splash park on the Antonio Banderas seafront promenade, following laboratory tests confirming the water meets every physico-chemical and microbiological standard set by regulations. Officials had shut the facility as a precaution since June 19, right in the middle of peak paddling season.

Closure and drainage following reported sickness

Closure followed several gastroenteritis cases reported among a group of schoolchildren who had visited both the beach and the water play area, though authorities have never confirmed the park as the source of the outbreak.

Council teams nonetheless carried out extensive preventative work before allowing the site to reopen. Workers drained the regulation tank completely so it could be cleaned and waterproofed, reducing any risk of grey water seeping into the system.

Cleaning, disinfection and full system checks

Crews then disinfected the entire play surface and inspected the water pumping and treatment system from top to bottom, giving the whole place a proper deep clean before letting anyone back in.

Once this work finished, staff ran operational tests and collected fresh samples for analysis. Results showed the installations comply fully with current health rules, so the taps, jets and fountains were switched back on.

Time to cool off again, where it is and what it costs

Just turn up and get wet. Nine water-based play features, all fed with drinking water, make up the free-to-access attraction, giving little ones plenty of ways to splash about without spending a penny. A chlorination and recirculation system keeps quality in check whilst cutting overall consumption.

Families can visit the park at Calle Pacifico, 175, right on the Antonio Banderas promenade just a short stroll from the beach. It’s open daily from 11am to 8pm and stays open until September 30. Worth knowing, there’s no cap on numbers, so weekends and midday can get busy.

No formal link between the site and the reported illnesses has been established. Council officials say ongoing monitoring will help everyone enjoy the water with a bit more peace of mind for the rest of the season.