La Zagaleta: True Silent Luxury in Marbella

Nestled in the green hills of Marbella, La Zagaleta has earned a reputation as one of Europe’s most exclusive addresses. In recent years, something remarkable has happened: demand has skyrocketed. A new generation of global buyers is flocking to La Zagaleta, not just to vacation, but to live, invest, and settle with their families. 

At the heart of this movement is a growing desire for what luxury brands now refer to as 'silent luxury'. In Marbella, no place embodies that better than La Zagaleta, the gated community where privacy and opulence truly come together.

Check out our new podcast about La Zagaleta from the experts: Artur Loginov, Sergey Sinichkin, and Bruna Karla Krüger!

Before the pandemic, many international clients saw Marbella as a weekend escape. With direct flights from business hubs like London, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Amsterdam, and even further like Dubai and New York, it was easy to fly in on Friday and out on Sunday. Marbella was the perfect combination of convenience and glamour in one place. 

But after 2020, priorities changed. Clients learned they could work remotely and decided to live differently. Zoom calls replaced offices, quality of life trumped commutes, and homes were redefined. Suddenly, a few weeks in Marbella became a few months. Then it became permanent. 

La Zagaleta sets itself apart from other gated communities. The scale, privacy, and atmosphere there are unlike anywhere else in southern Europe. Spread across 900 hectares of private land, it has only around 250 homes. Ultra-low density, by design. Every villa sits on vast plots ranging from 3,000 all the way up to 10,000+ square metres, surrounded by ravishing nature.  

La Zagaleta’s private roads stretch for nearly 50 kilometres, weaving through the hills and connecting the villas, clubhouses, and facilities across the estate. This extensive network adds to the sense of space and privacy that defines the community. 

Residents enjoy two immense golf courses, with one reserved exclusively for them and their guests, where tee times are never needed. The community also features two elegant clubhouses for dining, socialising, or simply admiring the panoramic views. People who like to stay active will find plenty to do here. La Zagaleta offers an equestrian centre, tennis and padel courts, as well as scenic hiking trails that wind through its forested grounds. A private helipad ensures swift 15-minute transfers to Málaga International Airport, while 24/7 gated access and armed security guarantee the safety and discretion of its residents. 

Security remains a top priority in La Zagaleta. Each day, staff monitor around 1,500 vehicles entering the estate, not including resident cars. Access is tightly controlled, with security guards authorised to carry firearms, highlighting the community’s commitment to safety and discretion. 

La Zagaleta residents also benefit from a wide range of tailored management services designed to make everyday life easier. The community offers professional support for gardening, pool cleaning, and housekeeping, alongside detailed home inspections and preventive maintenance. Owners can also rely on comprehensive cleaning and maintenance solutions, domiciliation services, and help with managing household finances. For those who require it, La Zagaleta provides accounting, tax, and legal services for companies, as well as labour consulting and full property management. This level of support allows owners to focus on enjoying their homes, knowing that the essentials are taken care of by a dedicated team. 

Property values have shifted quickly. Five years ago, a house priced at €5–10 million would have been considered top of the market. Now, Drumelia is following more than ten active projects with prices over €20 million each, a figure once unthinkable for La Zagaleta. 

Many of these homes include unique features you don’t often see, such as garages set up for large car collections, finished to a high standard with specialist lighting. One property in La Zagaleta boasts private water slides longer than Olympic swimming pools, while another villa features curated automotive spaces adorned with signed F1 memorabilia. Some even include amenities like rooftop cinemas, private bowling alleys, and indoor basketball courts, all flawlessly integrated into the architecture. These homes often reflect the individual interests and lifestyles of their owners, combining comfort with distinctive features. For many, this is exactly what a home should offer. 

Developers here aim to impress with esign and features, the 'La Zagaleta offers large plots, open views, and modern infrastructure, giving them all the tools they could ever need to work with. 

Bruna Karla Krüger, Partner and Senior property advisor in Drumelia, knows La Zagaleta better than anyone. Since 2018, she has worked exclusively in this community, selling both homes and land, and building her reputation as the go-to expert. 

In 2023, Bruna sold a modern mega-mansion in La Zagaleta for €12 million. Less than a year later, due to a sky-rocketing increase in demand, she resold the same property at over 20% above the previous price, a remarkable increase in such a short period. 

“A lot of my clients choose to sell and buy another home in La Zagaleta that fits their evolving needs.” Bruna explains. “It shows just how attached people become to this community, and how sought-after La Zagaleta has become.” 

Her track record and insider access to off-market properties are unmatched thanks to a deep personal network of owners and investors. “Some of my best deals were homes clients didn’t even know were available,” Krüger states, “we showed them the perfect match before it ever hit the market.”  

However, it’s Bruna’s genuine passion that truly sets her apart. She is deeply committed to helping clients find not just a house, but a home that reflects their values, lifestyle, and dreams. She invests time in understanding how they live, how they travel, and what they envision for their future. For Bruna, it’s not just square metres or location. It’s about building trust, creating connections, and sharing in the joy of helping someone discover the place where they belong. 

In 2024, Modon Holding, an Emirati investment group, bought La Zagaleta – the company behind the sumptuous community.  The deal included a large plot of land with the potential of over 50 villa developments, as well as a possibility to build a 6-star luxurious hotel. This move showed that the development is now firmly on the international radar, and that buyers see its value for the future as well as the present. The deal suggests ambitious plans to enhance the community, making it clear: exclusivity remains non-negotiable. Based on Modon’s approach, we truly believe they understand the value of scarcity; they’re investing in La Zagaleta not to transform it, but to amplify what makes it so special. 

For Bruna and the Drumelia team, this adds even more confidence: “This isn’t just a great place to live, it’s a smart long-term investment.” 

Handling transactions in La Zagaleta involves so much more than just property sales. Trust, discretion, and experience all matter. This is where Drumelia excels, and where it has built its reputation. Their agents manage a substantial selection of off-market listings, and their experience has put them at the top of Marbella’s luxury property sector. With a multilingual team (over 13 languages spoken), in-house legal and tax advisors, and full relocation support from private chefs to household staff, Drumelia offers a true white-glove service. 

The agency’s international profile was cemented with the record-breaking sale of Villa Cullinan, a €32M deal backed by their high-end video marketing during the pandemic. In 2024, Bruna Karla Krüger made headlines with the sale of a plot for €18 million with plans to develop one single villa-mansion, making this project truly exceptional.

The changing market has brought a new wave of Drumelia clients. When Villa Cullinan was sold in 2021, a total of 30 clients viewed the property, with only two confirmed billionaires among them. By 2025, an exclusive listing, which is currently for sale, has already attracted 24 interested buyers, with 10 of these being billionaires. This shift not only shows the increasing value of the top end of the market, but also how Marbella is attracting a new calibre of buyers. 

The client profile for a current exclusive listing for €19.900.000 in La Zagaleta illustrates this change clearly. The list of nationalities includes Austrian, Norwegian, German, American, Hungarian, Mexican, Swedish, Nigerian, and Indian. Net worths range from $1.2 billion up to $42.7 billion, with the highest being the most significant direct client Drumelia has ever had. Many of these clients are founders of global brands, including car companies, jewellery, and drinks. Most of the people who have visited the exclusive are couples, often with children, looking for a second home in Marbella to spend more time with family. The average age is 53. This trend highlights how La Zagaleta continues to attract the world’s wealthiest families and why its reputation keeps growing. 

La Zagaleta continues to attract buyers for its setting, its growing range of high-end properties, and its strong reputation beyond Spain. It is still considered one of the safest and most attractive places to buy property in Europe. Many now see La Zagaleta as a place to build something lasting. They look for properties with enough space for family, work, and their interests. Quiet surroundings and comfort are priorities. 

As Bruna puts it: “This isn’t just where people come to live, it’s where they come to stay.” In an age where true luxury is defined by space, calm, and control over your environment, La Zagaleta stands above all others. Its 'silent luxury', timeless, tasteful, and tailored, is more in demand than ever. Buyers range from investors to families to those who want a quieter life close to nature. La Zagaleta appeals to anyone who values privacy, stability, and a higher standard of living. 

Between 2025 and 2027, Drumelia is tracking 29 new projects planned within La Zagaleta. The average price for these upcoming homes is €18,600,000, with listings starting at €9.5 million and rising to €30 million for the most significant properties. This level of development is a clear sign that La Zagaleta will continue to set the standard for high-end living in southern Europe. 

Among the current exclusives available through Drumelia in La Zagaleta are some truly breathtaking homes. Casa Valentino, in Sector H, is offered at €19.9 million and features seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms, and nearly 1,700 square metres of living space set on a plot of over 4,600 square metres. Villa Selini, another standout, also carries a €19.9 million price tag and includes eight bedrooms and more than 1,200 square metres of built area. The Retreat, in Sector B, offers six bedrooms and sits on a plot of more than 5,300 square metres, priced at €11.6 million. For those seeking something more classic in style, Villa Eden provides nine bedrooms and nearly 1,700 square metres of space on one of the largest available plots in the area, measuring almost 6,850 square metres. Additional exclusive homes are set to be released soon, continuing to expand the selection of top-tier properties available in La Zagaleta. 

La Zagaleta’s different areas are organised alphabetically into sectors, making navigation simple for both residents and visitors. In a light-hearted detail, the community skipped the letter “I” when naming its sectors, adding a subtle, quirky touch to an otherwise meticulous layout. 

For those interested in building their dream villa, La Zagaleta offers a selection of over 30 plots now available, with prices beginning at €1.2 million and reaching up to €13.5 million. Sector F features plots that tend to be less developed, with more limited sea views and a flatter landscape, making them less in demand compared to higher sections of the community. Sector J, one of the newest areas, has a steeper terrain and more complex topography, so development there has progressed more slowly, and many original plots are only now coming to the market. By contrast, Sector H is now fully established and especially sought after; plots here have already seen significant value growth, with many owners choosing to sell and benefit from current demand.  

If you want to know more about La Zagaleta, check out our area guide. Learn about the hilltop views, elite residents, and the lifestyle behind Marbella’s most exclusive address.

To explore what is available (on or off market), reach out to Bruna Karla Krüger, your trusted partner in Marbella’s most exceptional community.