Fuengirola
The coastal holiday resort of Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol, has enjoyed a tourist boom since the 60's. Every year hundreds of thousands of holiday makers head for Fuengirola which is now the most densely populated area within the Malaga province. High-rise hotels and apartments have now swamped the traditional Spanish buildings and tourism has replaced the fishing industry. It's eight kilometres of sandy beaches are filled with bars and restaurants, to suit most tastes, making it the longest sea-front walk along the coast. The large holiday companies have long since had a firm hold within Fuengirola but it is possible to find friendly accommodation. In the summer months the whole place is alive with entertainment yet out of season it is possible to find peace and quite.
Fuengirola offers entertainment for all tastes and ages from a ride on the tourist train around the city to a visit to the local zoo. The zoo in Fuengirola is a great example of how a small area can be transformed into a haven for wildlife even in the centre of a busy town. Enjoy a day at the water park or spend time in the Sohail River Park. At night, Fuengirola truly comes alive with every kind of bar, restaurant and club you can imagine. Here you will also find cinemas with a wide range of films, theatres with a full programme and in the summer, regular festivals and concerts at the castle.
Tuesday morning is market day! It's the biggest outdoor market on the coast and attracts visitors from nearby resorts as well as the locals. It is well worth going down to browse at the wide range of things for sale, from fake designer clothes and watches to more traditional Andalusian produce.
Historical Note :
Fuengirola was inhabited by the bástulos, the Phoenicians, and, later, the Carthaginians.
The Romans called it Suel and the Arabs Sohail, the name of a star which, according to Ibn-Jallicam, could only be seen in the peninsula from this spot.
In 912, Abderraman III ordered the construction of a fortress on the small hill which stands between the coastline and the mouth of the River Sohail; the remains of this castle, though in a state of extreme disrepair, still form an important feature in the landscape of the Fuengirola coast. It was used as for military purposes and to monitor the shores until the 19th century, playing an important part in the War of Independence.
Accommodation :
Las Piramides **** Miguel Mrquez 43 320 rooms tel: 952 470 600
El Puerto *** Paseo Maritimo 32 300 rooms tel: 952 470 100
Veramar *** Burgos 2 99 rooms tel: 952 475 933
PROVINCE : Málaga
DISTANCE FROM THE CAPITAL (km) : 27
ALTITUDE ABOVE SEA LEVEL (m) : 6
PLUVIOMETRÍA (l/m2) : 500
AREA (km2) : 10
Nº OF INHABITANTS : 44.924
NAME FOR PEOPLE : Fuengiroleños
POSTCODE : 29640
PHONE NUMBER FOR INFORMATION : Tourist Office: 952-46-76-2
