La Zambra, the hotel in Mijas where Julio Iglesias and Diana, Princess of Wales, stayed

In the town of Mijas, in the heart of the mountains and just ten minutes from the Mediterranean coast, stands the La Zambra hotel . A five-star resort – which was completely renovated in 2022 – that perfectly conveys the essence of Andalusia. In addition, its walls are home to numerous anecdotes and curiosities, since celebrities such as Julio Iglesias, the Rolling Stones, and even royals such as Diana, Princess of Wales, have stayed in its rooms . Below, we review its interesting history.

To talk about the origins of this fabulous hotel, we have to go back to the 1980s, to be exact, to 1984. At that time, the hotel was not called La Zambra, but Byblos , and it had sister hotels in Saint Tropez and Courchevel (France). The building was characterised by its immaculate white façade with blue turrets, its outdoor spaces with immense gardens crossed by arches – elements that have been maintained – and a decoration with numerous golden touches.