Istan White Village
Istán is a beautiful small town and municipality in the province of Málaga in Andalusia in southern Spain with an estimated population in 2005 of 1400 people. It lies beneath the Sierra Blanca in the valley of the Rio Verde about 15 km to the Northwest from Marbella and the Mediterranean coast. To arrive in Istan requires a scenic drive along with a stunning mountain road approximately 11K from Porta Banus, 14K from Marbella.
Istan is a town of Arabic origin located in the Natural Park of Sierra de las Nieves and just 15 kilometres from the beaches of Marbella. The beauty of the surrounding nature, the passage of river Verde, its fountains and the magic of its corners make Istan be known popularly as the “Manantial (Spring) of the Costa del Sol”. In addition, the proximity to Marbella allows you to combine relaxation with nightlife entertainment or golf. What are you waiting for, come to find out?
To begin the visit by Istan, we recommend you to visit Escalante Tower, the oldest building in the town which is located in Street San Miguel. It was built during the Moorish period and has the distinction of Cultural Interest. Originally, it could be one of the constructions for the defence of Marbella. Tower retains the courtyard of stables, its dome-shaped enclosure and a semi-circled arch.
We follow through the church of San Miguel, built in the XVI century and one of the scenarios where disputes between Arabs and Christians took place. This temple was burned by the Moors in 1569 and later rebuilt. It has a single nave with wooden roofs and has images of important artistic value. Also, dedicated to this saint is the hermitage of San Miguel. Three kilometres away from the centre of Istan and housed in a cave, the views of the mountains, Verde river valley and the background sea are unparalleled.
Water is a fundamental part of the landscape of Istan and character of its neighbours. On your way through the city you can discover the Moorish irrigation channels and drink from the fountains in a popular style. One such Fountain is the Fountain and Laundry of El Chorro. Together with its crystalline water pipes, it is also the pillar where the women of the town went to wash clothes. Finally, we recommend visiting the Museum and Water Interpretation Center. In this interpretation exhibition space and you can learn a little more about the historical relationship of water resources in the district of the Sierra de las Nieves.