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The town of Marbella has its roots in the ancient Paleolithic and Neolithic ages. Excavations have found stone tools and implements dating back to this era.
The first official settlers in the Marbella region were the Phoenicians, a race of fishermen and farmers. They harvested fish from the Mediterranean and salted the fish in salting factories. The salted fish they traded with other communities nearby and along the Costa del Sol.
During the period of Roman conquest, the Phoenicians were conquered and displaced. The main settlement was supposedly named Salduba.
In the 7th century AD, the Muslims invaded Spain and routed the Romans. The Moors built a castle in Marbella which was later surrounded by walls. In fact, the present day name of Marbella is derived from the Muslim Marbil-la. After a long reign in the region, the Moors were expelled in 1485 by the Catholic Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella.
Marbella became known as an international resort when Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe purchased the Santa Margarita finca and converted it into an American style resort hotel in the year 1946. The prestigious and legendary Marbella Club Hotel also opened in 1954.
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