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Fuengirola  - Costa del Sol/Andalucia

Cosmopolitan and excellent for the tourist, the town of Fuengirola is another favourite Costa de Sol location among regular
visitors to our area, both Spanish and foreign, for whom the town is relaxing, leisurely and offers an excellent climate, just
like the other locations along the western stretch of the Costa del Sol in Malaga.  Its coastal location, as in the numerous
neighboring locations, has attracted man since very distant times.  It was most probably founded by the Phoenicians. 
With the arrival of the Romans it acquired great importance, being united in federal union with Rome itself, which allowed 
it to enjoy its own municipal characterand institutions, in the same way as the city of Malaga.  The Phoenicians called it Suel,
the Arabs renamed it Sohali, and it was the eighteenth century - when the town became an important supply centre for boats
heading for the Straights of Gibraltar - that it received its definitive name of Fuengirola, derived from the term "girola", the 
name given to the Genoese dragnet vessels, the presence of which was very important to this Malaga Port.

The face of what was formerly a fishing village started to change dramatically in the 60's with the huge development of tourism
on the Costa del Sol, with new, modern buildings which have created a different urban landscape which blends perfectly with 
the traditional buildings in Fuengirola's most typical streets.  The most important monuments are the archaeological sites of 
Torreblanca, Sohail Castle and the parish churches.  The rapid development of tourism has given rise to a large number of 
places of leisure and entertainment along the promenade, which is one of the longest in Spain and which is in close proximity
of the marina, the sailing club, the fishing port and the Centre of Oceanographic Research.  In terms of craftsmanship, Fuengirola
is one of the most important centres in the province with a number of workshops dedicated to pottery, precious metals and 
jewelry, leather, wooden furniture and tapestry, among other activities. 

Popular Fairs
The most important festivities, in honour of the town's patron saint, La Virgen del Rosario,  fall in October.  Another important
celebration is La Virgen de Carmen.  During this event, in the district of Los Boliches, the fishing village which still retains, some
of its former appearance, there is a maritime procession on 16 July.  In addition, the carnival is held at the start of Lent, with street
musician and procession contests; after comes Holy Week, with its attractive processions offered by the different religious 
fraternities, and the summer months see "La Noche Rosa" a series of concerts of modern music which normally take place in July, 
and the open-air celebrations take place in the San Jose district and culminate in the burning of "Juas" (effigies).  Fuengirola' s
cuisineis in keeping with its cosmopolitan nature, but local dishes are based on locally caught fish, especially fried fish and 
skewered sardines, not forgetting rice with seafood, salt fish, baked fish, etc. 

In March 2000 it was chosen as the venue for the "Miss España" competition which received a large television audience when
broadcast by Telecinco