About Elviria
Elviria is a small community located about 15 minutes outside to the East of Marbella Centre. It has it's own schools, shops, restaurants, clinics and facilities, but is close enough to Marbella to benefit from all the amenities that a large tourist town can offer. It's a modern urbanisation with high quality developments, and as such has avoided being spoilt, and maintained an enviable reputation. Elviria has a range of mainly upmarket housing ranging from beachfront apartments and villas, to town houses with communal garden and pools, to hillside villas.
The main Costa del Sol highway (N340) gives Elviria easy access to Marbella to the West, Fuengirola and Malaga airport to the East. Further along the coast, Algeciras provides a ferry to Morocco, and Cadiz is several hours drive. Skiing in the Sierra Nevada (Granada) is around two hours drive away.
Schools
The main school in Elviria is Colegio Platero, and caters for children from 4yrs to 16yrs. It has a great reputation as being well-run and with a high standard of education, and in fact this one one of the initial attractions we had to the area. Finding a good school, if you have children, is always difficult. Colegio Platero is a state run school, and therefore Spanish is the main curriculum language. There are however a number of children of different nationalities in the school, English, Finnish, Swedish, German, so there is a good mix. Spanish lessons are provided for children, and even for adults (after school), so if you want to integrate, there's ample opportunity.
There is also an international school in the area which provides English speaking education, so you have a good choice when it comes to choosing education for your children.
Golf
The Costa del Sol is also known as the Costa del Golf, and for good reason. Elviria boast two first-class golf courses, the Santa Maria and the Santa Clara and a driving range, and there are loads of other great golf courses within a short drive. Golf is a major attraction around here, and if you haven't tried it yet, Elviria will nudge you in the right direction.
Sports Facilities
There is also a great tennis club in Elviria that can provide lessons for adults and children. Like many clubs, it also has a good restaurant and bar, so its a great place to meet friends.
There is a large and modern health club based in the shopping centre at La Canada, which is aprroximately 7km from Elviria to wards Marbella. The health club has a large (700m2), well equipped gym, four squash courts, pilates area, 3 saunas, a steam room and a large jacuzzi. One thing I particularly like are the free organised excercise classes which cover a range of areas, such as aerobic, step, toning, spinning, strength, yoga and box. You'll even find instructors at set times throughout the day doing 10 minute stretch session, which you can just join in with and then carry on with what you are doing.
Restaurants
You'll never go hungry in Elviria, as there are a range of great restaurants within walking distance. The choice is wide and covers Spanish, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Bistro, Classic, Exotic, Fusion. During the summer, the many restaurants on the beach offer a mainly Spanish fare. If you like fresh seafood, tuck into a Gambas Pil-Pil (spicy prawns cooked in hot olive oil with chillis and garlic) followed by a delicious mixed paella. Then enjoy a postre (pudding) followed by coffee and possibly a brandy. Wine in reataurants is usually very reasonably priced and suprisingly good.
If you want to go further afield, there are literally hundreds of restaurants all within a short drive. The difficulty will be deciding where to go. But, as we did, I'm sure you'll find your favourites!
Shopping
Elviria has several small, but well stocked supermarkets, as well as a range of other shops, hairdressers and banks. However, being so close to Marbella, means that there are literally hundreds of shops in Marbella town, as well as the new 'La Canada' shopping mall which is about 6-7km from Elviria. La Canada has a large range of shops and a massive supermarket.
For yet even more variety, you are only 15-20 minutes from Fuengirola, which again has a massive range of shops. You've even got several Lidl's in the area. If you like fresh fruit and vegetables, then there are great fresh produce markets in Fuengirola on Saturdays, and Marbella on Mondays.
Healthcare
Elviria is very conveniently positioned for the main Hospital Costa del Sol, which is only 2km down the road. There are also pharmacies and local dental and health clinics in the area.