The Málaga municipality of Ojén, just north of Marbella, has double cause for celebration. The prestigious British publication The Times has recently ranked it among the 50 best places in the world to live in 2025, placing it at number 35. At the same time, Marbella’s courts have ruled in favour of the developer behind the luxury Palo Alto scheme, which had faced accusations of encroaching on public water domain land.
Marbella’s Investigating Court No. 2, as reported by Diario Sur, confirmed that the inquiry into the alleged misuse of this land has been closed, ruling it suitable for urban development. This decision gives the definitive green light to the Martín Palo Alto luxury residential project, owned by the Avintia Group, which has already invested €250 million and completed 300 homes in its first phase.
Now, with full legal backing, the developer plans to invest a further €200 million to deliver an additional 260 homes. This brings the total investment to €450 million and the overall development to 560 properties in the Málaga municipality. The original scheme envisaged 1,590 units, but density limits and building restrictions significantly reduced the final number.
Features of this luxurious residential
The residential complex will comprise 10 buildings set on a hillside, designed to maximise the views of the surrounding natural landscape.
Just six minutes from La Cañada shopping centre and 30 minutes from Málaga Airport, Palo Alto offers an extensive range of amenities: swimming pool, gym, landscaped gardens, coworking space, social club with bar and restaurant, tennis courts and an equestrian centre providing services related to horses and riding. Residents also enjoy concierge services, 24-hour security and an organic garden, combining leisure and well-being in one setting.
The architecture, by Villarroel-Torrico, blends contemporary design with landscape integration, while interiors by Gunni & Trentino merge glamour and exclusivity with nature and comfort.
Surrounded by a vast forest of cork oaks, holm oaks, pines and the emblematic Spanish fir native to the area, this prestigious development is set to become a residential benchmark on the Costa del Sol. It stands at the forefront of design, sustainability and services in a prime location, blending nature and exclusivity with being close to the region’s main attractions.
This Málaga town ranks among the best places to live worldwide
Sometimes, all it takes is a short detour to discover a completely different way of life. Leave Marbella behind and follow the road into the mountains. Within minutes, the asphalt narrows and a village with a slower pace emerges. Ojén, a whitewashed gem in Málaga, is a small, tranquil town rich in history, caves and hiking trails.