Places
Fuengirola dates back to the Phoenician colonisation, who named it Suel, where they set up a salting factory.
The slopes of the hill of Sohail Castle preserve the remains of the Iberian-Punic settlement called Suel by the Phoenicians and later occupied by the Romans, Byzantines and Visigoths. Later under Muslim rule Suel was renamed Suhayl and during the caliphate of Abderramán III the castle was extended.
The Castilian troops conquered the Moorish castle in 1485. Suhayl was renamed Font-jirola, the Castilian origin of the name of Fuengirola due to the number of springs it had and the frequent boats in the area (Genoese) that practised the art of fishing called boliche, which later gave its name to one of the neighbourhoods of Fuengirola.
It was later depopulated and became a place of coastal surveillance, so that the lands that had been reserved for Fuengirola in the “Repartimientos” of Mijas finally came under the control of this second municipality.
In February 1841, a group of residents of Fuengirola requested the separation of this town from the town of Mijas and it was granted.
Fuengirola’s economy began to revive with the arrival of the railway in 1916 and the introduction of drinking water two decades later.
In the early 1950’s a number of small hotels began to be built, the beginning of what would become the modern tourist infrastructure that the town on the Western Costa del Sol enjoys today.
The promenade of Fuengirola has a length of 8 kilometres, making it one of the longest in Spain. The promenade runs along the white sandy beaches of the municipality with a great quality of water along with great bars, restaurants, terraces, hotels and shops. Fuengirola’s beaches have been awarded several blue flags.
Fuengirola has become one of the favourite destinations for foreigners and nationals who come to the province of Malaga thanks to the important development of its infrastructures. Having a train station that connects it with Malaga (AVE) and the airport in a few minutes, a bus station to connect with the rest of the coast (Mijas, Marbella, Estepona, etc.) makes Fuengirola the central axis in the communication of the Costa del Sol.
Due to its privileged geographical location by the sea, it is a flat town with no hills, reaching the sea in a few minutes from any point of Fuengirola, making it a place chosen by many families to establish their lives, second residence or a place to enjoy their retirement.
Despite its small size, it is the most densely populated municipality.
Fuengirola is known as the small Cordoba, as it is the preferred place by the people of Cordoba for their second home or holidays.
It is also well known among the Scandinavian community, which has been established in the area of Los Pacos for years by the Finnish community. In the 60’s and 70’s the municipality was initially used as a recovery area for injuries/fractures for many Finnish citizens, as they found that it was the way to reduce the number of days off work, as it made their recovery easier, being their favourite place on the Costa del Sol.
If you are looking for a holiday or to live all year round, in a town without the crowds of the big cities, but with everything you need, we recommend Fuengirola.
PLACES WE RECOMMEND VISITING:
– Parque Fluvial de Fuengirola is the favourite place for nature lovers, with more than 120,000 square metres, you can go for a walk, play sports, etc.
–Bioparc Fuengirola, a zoological park to live with nature as a family, where important values such as the preservation of species and biodiversity are spread.
– Puerto Deportivo de Fuengirola is the ideal place for sea lovers and water sports, being located in the very centre of the city, where you can enjoy restaurants and leisure activities.
– The Sohail Castle is located next to the sea on the top of a hill, making it one of the main tourist attractions of Fuengirola. The panoramic view from the castle over the Mediterranean and the nearby Mijas mountain range is fantastic. Nowadays, both the interior space and its slopes, have been conditioned and serve as a stage for numerous concerts and cultural events.
– Recinto Ferial, in the month of May has the main event not to be missed, which is La Feria de Fuengirola which takes place at the beginning of October and which for decades has been a holiday week for the inhabitants not only of Fuengirola, but also of Mijas and the many visitors who come to enjoy it. The second most important event on this site is the Feria Internacional de los Pueblos. A meeting in which more than 30 countries show their culture, folklore and gastronomy. This festival, which lasts four days, has been declared a Provincial Tourist Singularity.
–Finca del Secretario is an archaeological site. It was discovered in the 1970s. It is a Roman enclave, with remains from the 1st and 5th centuries AD, including a pottery, a thermal baths and a salting factory. An interpretation centre is located at this site, where the recreation of the rooms of the baths is a priority.
