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Estepona’s history has its origins in the Paleolithic, Neolithic, and the Copper and Bronze ages. Numerous artifacts from this period have been recovered in various locations in Estepona: tools, stone implements, and sharpened stone weapons. The Neanderthals of this period were largely a nomadic race. Later on, in the Copper and Bronze ages, a significantly improved race of man started using metal to create tools, weapons, and reinforce their simple structures.
Between the 6th to 8th centuries BC, the Phoenicians arrived in Spain, and the Estepona region was one such place where the Phoenicians settled. They were a culture of farmers, cattle-herders, and fishermen. They traded with natives and the rest of the Mediterranean, exporting salted fish.
At the end of the 3rd century BC, the Romans, in a vast sweeping action, conquered the Spain. They exploited the local salted fish production and erected numerous fish-salting facilities all along the coast of Estepona. One of the more important Roman communities was located around the Guadalmansa River, as evidenced by discoveries of ruins and remains of the settlement. Towards the end of the 5th century AD, Roman civilization began to deteriorate and the Roman community along the Guadalmansa River was among those Roman towns that disappeared from history.
At the start of the 7th century AD, the Muslims had successfully conquered Spain and displaced the Romans. In Estepona, the most important Muslim area was supposedly the Nicio where the ruins of a castle were found. The name of this castle was Estebbuna, and here we see how the modern day name of Estepona comes from. Estebbuna went through the hands of many kings, and was an important strategic location in the southern region of Spain.
In 1456, the Christian army conquered Estepona and removed the Muslims. At the onset, it was a small victory, as the Christians feared retaliatory attacks from the nearby Muslim Nazari kingdom. Estepona was abandoned and destroyed. But, in 1492, a greater area of southern Spain was finally secured from the Moors, so Estepona was rebuilt. The old Moorish castle was restored, tougher defenses were placed and beacon towers were installed around the coast to look out for invaders. From the year 1502 onwards, thanks to the protection afforded by the castle, there was an influx of new settlers looking to make Estepona their new home.
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