Istan is a small tranquil
town just 15 kilometers drive from Marbella in
the Sierra de las Nieves nature park with a population
of 1500 people. The road to it is a twisty incline
though it's well surfaced and safe and the view
along the way is beautiful. The landscape is dominated
by the stunning La Concepcion reservoir similar
to Ardales Lakes at El Chorro with the coast clearly
visible as a backdrop. The area is a paradise
for walkers and cyclists, especially during the
winter and spring when the countryside is green
and temperatures are cooler. There are lots of
walk routes which are clearly signed.
Istan was awarded the best
conserved historic centre in Malaga province in
2006 by the Association of Interior Tourism of
Malaga. The town centre is attractive with small
squares leading off to tiny streets and many have
viewing points. The Church of San Miguel is in
the central square. For such a small town, Istan
has a good selection of restaurants and bars making
it a good destination during a summers evening.
There is a large public car park on the edge of
the town.
