Having spent much of my 20's holidaying in Marbella (so many fun memories and many a hen party), after having children we decided to venture to other places and hadn’t been back for twelve years. After our holiday to Dubai was cancelled this Easter, we decided to return to Marbella for a bit of Easter sun—not always guaranteed, but we were very lucky and the sun was out.

It’s a travesty that in my 20's I never explored the amazing and historic cities surrounding the area—Seville and Granada. These cities are full of Moorish influence, and Granada was the last European city under Arabic rule, giving it a distinctive Moorish vibe.

For my 40th birthday, a friend took me to Seville for the weekend. It is a magical place. It’s the capital of the Andalusian region, full of vibrant eateries and historic architecture. We stayed at Hotel Alfonso XIII, with its traditional Sevillian style and Moorish tiling; it is the most beautiful hotel. It is well located and has an outdoor pool, which is great after a day of sightseeing.

The ornate buildings of Seville

A tour of Seville Cathedral is a must to see the elaborate tomb of Christopher Columbus, as is a walk around Plaza De Espana- a famous landmark of walkways and bridges covered in vibrant Majolica tiling. 

Plaza De Espana's beautiful tiling

As a lover of ceramics and pottery - particularly antique Italian and Spanish ceramics, I was in heaven when I stumbled upon Populart- an antique ceramics shop not far from the Cathedral. This little store is a must when in Seville, full of Fajalausa bowls, antique tiles and religious art- it's always nice to take back something original and authentic from your travels.

THE best antique ceramics shop- Populart

Seville is the birthplace of Flamenco so we couldn't leave without going to see a traditional flamenco show. We went to Casa De La Memoria. I don't usually do touristy things like this and thought it might be a bit naff- but oh my goodness was I wrong. It's an intimate and intense experience, a small setting with only a few rows very close to the stage, full of emotion and passion. At first, you almost want to laugh it is so intense, but then you are immersed in the passion of the dance and and the room is charged with emotion. An absolute must.

Flamenco Show At Casa De La Memoria, Seville

For our Easter trip to Marbella this year, I insisted on doing a city break in Granada before heading to the beaches. Ever since reading a book about Catherine of Aragon (the first wife of Henry VIII) I have wanted to visit the Alhambra Palace in Granada. It is where she spent her childhood years and was described as a place of utter beauty, surrounded by the Sierra Nevada mountains (where today you can go skiing just forty mins from the city) an oasis of orchids and flowers (she must have been utterly depressed when she moved to Tudor England to eat pies).

We stayed at the Alhambra Palace Hotel, located next to the Alhambra Palace site overlooking the city of Granada. The decor of this hotel is inspired by the Nastrid Palace (one of the palaces inside the Alhambra), full of Moorish influences - mosaics, Arabic tile work, symbols and inlay. 

Coffee with a view at the Alhambra Palace Hotel

Interiors of the Alhambra Palace Hotel

On our first day, we visited the Alhambra Palace. You have to book really early to get tickets - often months in advance. As ours was a last minute trip I had to pay extra for a guided tour, as none of the general admission tickets were left - which was great, but I don't think necessary. The Alhambra is vast - a city in itself - with different palaces, monuments and gardens. You need at least  2-3 hours to explore them all. The gardens are stunning, especially in spring when we visited. It's a truly magical place, full of history and wonder. 

Stunning gardens and architecture of the Alhambra, overlooking the Sierra Nevada mountains

We booked dinner at El Huerto de Juan Ranas, a restaurant with stunning views over the Alhambra. It’s in an area of Granada called the Albaicín, the Moorish quarter. We felt as though we were in Marrakesh as we walked down to the old town after dinner, along cobbled streets lined with Arabian bars and shops. We stopped off for some traditional Arabian spiced tea.

The next day, we visited the Royal Chapel of Granada, a historic chapel next to the main cathedral, where Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon are buried—important figures in Spanish history. Their marriage united the regions of Spain, helping to shape the country as it is today. They also lived at the Alhambra and were the parents of Catherine of Aragon. The chapel is beautiful, with a small museum attached, full of ornate artefacts and paintings.

Buildings in Granada's old town 

After our dose of history, we did some shopping for Fajalauza, a traditional style of ceramics from Granada, recognised for its distinctive blue and green designs on a white glaze. We visited the Fajalauza Factory, where it has been made since the 1500s, and which was full of beautiful pieces. I also loved the little shop next to the cathedral called Cerámica Miguel Muñoz—they had a great selection of ceramics and art.

The famous Fajalauza factory

The Fajalauza factory is in the Albaicín, so afterwards we had the most amazing lunch at Carmen Aben Humeya, also in the Albaicín area. The food was the best I had in Granada, and the views were stunning. The tiramisu is prepared at the table and is enough to feed four—it was heaven.

Table with a view of the Alhambra at Carmen De Aben Humeya

After our three nights in Granada, we headed to Marbella. The drive took around two hours—Granada is at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains and lies slightly inland to the east of Marbella (Seville is also around two hours inland from Marbella). We were looking forward to some downtime on the beach, and that’s exactly what we got. Easter is still quite busy, but nothing like the packed, sweltering summer months.

We stayed at the METT Marbella, a fairly new hotel located towards Estepona. We loved it—the sun beds were super comfortable, the food at every meal was delicious, and the service was excellent.

The METT Marbella Hotel 

The exterior gave Californian vibes, and inside there were lots of natural fibres and a neutral palette. You can hire electric bikes at the hotel to cycle along the promenade and take in the beach views—which kept my teenage son occupied while we lounged by the beach and pool.

The promenade outside the METT

The port, Puerto Banús, is the party area at night, and you will find many hen and stag parties stumbling around. But during the day, it’s a delight, with lots of new luxury shops opening since I last came twelve years ago. My daughter and I spent a lovely morning shopping and, of course (standard for teenage girls these days), we had to stop for matcha and some people-watching. We found a great little spot perfect for just that at Yaw Ye.

A break from shopping at Yaw-Ye

We also had an incredible evening meal in the port at Mumtaz. This Indian restaurant has been there since the 80s, and I have been many times—it never disappoints. It has had an interior makeover since the last time I visited, and the food is still the best. We had a table overlooking the port, and the people-watching kept us entertained all night.

Another wonderful meal was had at Leña at the Puente Romano Hotel. This hotel has changed a lot since I last came. It now has every high-end restaurant going—Nobu, Cipriani, Coya, Le Petit Maison—the list goes on—and the grounds are still as beautiful as ever. Leña is their steak restaurant overlooking La Plaza, a huge bar where they have DJs at night. The atmosphere and décor were fabulous, and the food was amazing. I would also recommend Chiringuito, their beach restaurant, where we had a long, lazy lunch.

After all the glitz of the port and the Puente Romano Hotel, we were craving some traditional tapas and scenery—so off to Orange Square in the old town. It’s full of classic Spanish restaurants, shops, churches, and cobbled streets to explore.

Perfect spot for a relaxed dinner 

What I wore 

What I love about our jewellery is that the statement pieces are perfect for travelling—when you might be wearing the same outfits but can change up the jewellery to give each look a different vibe.

I have been wearing the Trinacria Charm a lot lately, and on this holiday I added it to the Charm Rope Necklace to change it up a bit. My Treasures Sun Earrings always come away with me, as they are the perfect day-to-night earrings.

The Shell Cord Necklace always gives instant beach vibes

The Mythos pieces are great for adding a pop of colour to holiday outfits. My daughter is constantly stealing mine, and she loves to add extra charms along her chain to create a statement charm necklace. The Daphne Oz X Soru Bombolini Earrings also always come away with me too.

The Mortella Necklace adds a touch of luxe boho when layered with other pieces

Travel is such a source of inspiration for us when designing our jewellery. We have just released our three newest charms, inspired by the beautiful majolica ceramics and tiles we see in Italy and Spain.

Love Marianna x