Marbella has always been renowned for its stunning variety of beauty. From is sparking sea views, its manicured golf courses and breath-taking mountain ranges, there really is an abundance of natural views and man-made vistas. But now we can add yet a further accolade alongside our golden beaches and picturesque town, as Marbella officially nabs the title of Greenest Town in Spain.
The Study, which was carried out by the European Environment Agency, compared 578 European cities and their risk of ‘urban flooding’. It found that despite past problems with planning regulations and the building boom, Marbella is actually full of leafy parks and grassy open spaces.
The report showed that Green areas in the town center, such as the subtropical Parque de la Alameda and the tranquil Parque de la Constitución, once the garden of a private residence, have contributed to Marbella’s high ranking. The figures showed that only 23 per cent of the town is ‘sealed’ by buildings, concrete or tarmac. This is a figure that as a town we can be incredibly proud of, and which is beaten only by Sweden’s Norrkoping, which got 22 per cent for its ‘sealed’ areas.
Our neighbors Malaga were 65 per cent covered by tarmac and the compact historic town of Cadiz was at a huge 87 per cent. Nice, one of Marbella’s main tourist destination competitors has around 37 per cent of its town covered in concrete or under construction.
Though parks and green spaces offer visitors and residents nice areas to stroll through and relax in, they also play an important role in general workings of the town. The issue surrounding Mediterranean resort towns with a high percentage of concrete coverage is that during heavy rainfall, areas covered with impermeable surfaces are less likely to cope with the water as it cannot quickly drain into the ground and sewage system.
The report also pointed out the effect of climate change and the expected increase in heat waves in some areas of Europe. Cities with a high proportion of concrete coverage would see the highest temperature rises, whilst those with plenty of green spaces would help to cool the urban areas. Marbella’s lovely parks help to fulfill this important role as well as contributing to the overall beauty and open leisure space of the town.
