Estepona history follows a similar line as with many of the coast towns of southern Spain. At first there were the Phoenicians, then the Romans and after that the Moors which kept the town longest. Today there are only little remains of these times left: walls, watch towers and parts of fortifications to name some of them.
It was in 1456 when Estepona fell back to Spain. Only one year later King Henry V of Castile re-conquered the town and started building the Castle of San Luis which’s remains still can be visited today. To ensure his safety, further watch towers and fortifications were constructed. This mainly happened due to the ongoing attacks of pirates and sea-going marauders. Another important time in the history of Estepona is when the town managed to attain its independence which was grated by Felipe V. Back then, in 1729, the town only had around 600 inhabitants.
There are several points of interest located within Estepona but probably the most important one is the La Virgen de Los Remedios parish church. The church is a perfect blend between Latin American architecture and Rococo which alone make it worth a visit. It was between 1725 and 1766 when the church was used by Franciscan fathers as a monastery. Due to laws of dispossession the church was abandoned in 1835.
In 1474 Henry IV ordered the building of the “Torre del Reloj”, also known as the Clock Tower. As this beautiful tower can be found in the heart of the old town, those who came to visit it could go for a short stroll to discover some of the old and historical buildings that are dotted around this area. Definitely worth a visit are the Casa de la Borrega and the old home of the Marquis of Mondejar.
The earlier mentioned watch towers which are located along the coast date back to Phoenician and Roman times. Later on the Moors restored many of them and enlarged them to become more protected by the pirate attacks. Also belonging to one of the sights in Estepona is the Castillo El Nicio which finds itself located in the El Padron area. The remains of the Castillo El Nicio used to be part of a Moorish settlement. Archaeological sites that date back to the time of the Romans as well as many historical sights that have something to do with the town’s long fishing history can be visited.
