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By Alexa Boyce - While studying abroad in Marbella, Spain, I heard a rumor that Antonio Banderas not only lived there, but owned a restaurant in town as well. I asked my host family and sure enough, they gave me directions to La Posada de Antonio, which happened to be three blocks from the school. A classmate and I would often alter our route to ensure that we would walk past the restaurant – just in case Antonio dropped by. La Posada specializes in tapas and grilled meats, and it always smelled delicious. However, meals cost between $10-30, and being the poor college students we were, we never opted to actually go in and eat.
Antonio Banderas was born and raised in nearby Málaga, so it is no surprise that he has held on to his roots there. However, many other celebrities call the Costa del Sol home (or home away from home) as well. Melanie Griffith and King Fahed of Saudi Arabia own houses in Marbella, while Sean Connery and Michael Douglas are often seen yachting and clubbing in nearby Puerto Banús. Bruce Willis and Boris Becker occasionally drop by on their yachts as well. Deborah Kerr and her husband, scriptwriter Peter Viertel have named this resort area as a favorite vacation spot. Of course, Julio Iglesias is a fixture around Marbella.
In the ‘50s and ‘60s, there was a “boom” of celebrities purchasing summer homes on the Costa del Sol. Towns such as Torremolinos-Benalmádena, Fuengirola and Mijas became popular. The boom did not truly explode until it hit Marbella. Celebrities such as Ringo Starr, Onassis and Maria Calla, Frank Sinatra, Ingrid Bergman, Anthony Quinn, Esther Williams, Sylvie Vartan, Mary Pickford, Johnny Halliday, The Duke of Windsor and the Kennedys all owned property here. The Prince of Monaco and Grace Kelley spent their honeymoon here. When you live in a place as beautiful as the French Riviera, that means a lot!
Source: Costa del Sol Tourist Board www.visitacostadelsol.com
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