Cosmopolitan and touristic par excellence, Fuengirola is a peaceful city in which it is possible to enjoy leisure time with an excellent climate. Its population of 53,000 inhabitants increases considerably with the massive arrival of visitors in the summertime.

For them, the city offers an interesting supply of leisure and entertainment of which its modern zoo, "Fuengirola Zoo", the aquatic and fluvial parks stand out.; apart from the numerous attractions in its  maritime promenade, one of the longest in Spain and in whose vicinity one finds the maritime yachting harbour, the yatch club, the fishing port, "El Centro de Investigaciones Oceanograficas, (Centre of Oceanographic Investigations)" and "El Museo de la Historia (The History Museum)", where the visitor can get to know our more than 260 years of history.

Its coastal position, the same as numerous neighbouring towns, attracted man since rempote times. It is thought that its founders were the Phoenicians, who baptized her with the name Suel. With the arrival of the Romans, it acquired great relevance, acquiring the category of city federated to Rome, which allowed it to maintain its own legislation and institutions. The Arabs renamed it Sohail and it is not until the Eighteen Century when it receives the name of Fuengirola, derived from the word girola, which designated the Genoes ships dedicated to fishing, whose presence was very important in this Malaga port. In this century, it became very important as a supply centre for those ships heading towards the Straits of Gibraltar.



                              CASTLE OF SOHAIL


The most representative monument of Fuengirola is the Castle of Sohail (Arabic fortress built in the time of Abderraman III). There are archeological remains of Roman origin, in the site at the land of "El Secretario". The present apperance of the city has changed spectaculary since the sixties, passing from being a small fishing town to becoming one of the leading lights of the Costa del Sol. From a handicraft industry's point of view, the city is one of the most important centres in the province, where an important number of workshopd work in pottery, precious metals and jewellery, leather goods and wooden furniture and upholstery.

The main festivities of the town, in honour of its Patron Saint, "La Virgen del Rosario", are in October. On the day of "La Virgen del Carmen", on the 16th of July, the district of Los Boliches organises a colourful maritime procession and on the night of San Juan, the popular "Juas" ar burnt. Lastly, and in order to see to the cultural demands of the summer months, the music and dance festival, "Ciudad de Fuengirola", takes place during July and August at the Castle of Sohail, and in April, "La Feria Internacional de los Pueblos" a great folk and gastronomic trade fair with 50 countries from 4 different continents participating.

The gastronomic offer of Fuengirola corresponds to the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the city, but its popular cuisine is based on its coastal fish, especially fried fish (la fritura) and "espetos de sardinas", without forgetting the seafood with rice (el arroz con marisco), fish basted with salt and baked fish (pescado a la sal o al horno).