Monte Paraiso - Attractions


	ATTRACTIONS
	Fuengirola - Heart And Soul Of The Costa Del Sol

Just twenty minutes from Malaga airport, Fuengirola is at the very heart of the Costa del Sol. The busy railway station is in the centre of town and provides easy access to a wealth of nearby destinations, yet most people tend to spend more time in this fascinating and vibrant town. In fact a commonly heard story among Fuengirola's many foreign residents is: "I came here for a week's holiday and never went home."

Why do so many holiday makers choose to make Fuengirola their home? The reasons are as numerous as the ex-pat population, yet beaches, shopping, restaurants. and nightlife all play their part in luring holiday makers into setting up a permanent home.

Fuengirola is a holiday resort and most visitors come to enjoy the seven kilometres of wide, sandy beaches and due to the town's compact size you are never far from them. Recent landscaping has resulted in a wide promenade, resplendent with palm trees and numerous cafes and bars to help quench that thirst when the sun takes its toll. Fuengirola's beach facilities are family friendly and Los Boliches, Las Gaviotas and Torreblanca beaches all hold the coveted European blue flag.

The marina houses a host of nautical treasures including a boat trip out to sea where you can catch a glimpse of the dolphins in their natural habitat. And after building up a sweat, why not splash out yourself and cool off at the Mijas Aqua Park?

More exotic animals can be seen at Fuengirola's modern animal-friendly zoo, where animals live in sculpted environments where cages have been replaced by bulletproof glass, giving you the sensation of being face to face with tigers with nothing between you! Near the zoo, the newly opened Municipal museum offers a fascinating exhibition, focusing on Fuengirola's unique history. Fuengirola only took on its modern name in the nineteenth century, when small wooden fishing boats called 'girolas' were built there and over time the name 'Fuengirola' was eventually acquired.

Founded as 'Seul' by the Phoenicians, the town later became an important Roman settlement with its own Municipal charter and Institutions and enjoying a federal union with Rome itself.

During the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, Seul became Sohail and it became an important part of their coastal defence. Sohail castle, Fuengirola's most famous monument, was built at the mouth of the Rio Fuengirola, yet when the town fell to the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand, it was destroyed. The castle was rebuilt in the 18th Century and was occupied by the French during, the peninsular war. Sohail Castle is open to the public and a number of Roman excavations have unearthed many treasures, some of which have been restored and placed as public monuments, vivid reminders of the town's long and triumphant past.

Fuengirola remains a vibrant Spanish town, alive with Aldaluz traditions. Annual fiestas here include July's 'Virgin del Carmen', when local fisherman carry an effigy of the Virgin out to sea, and October's feria, when the town lets its hair down for a week of flamenco, fino(dry sherry) and fun which carries on from dawn to dusk.

Fuengirola has a wide selection of supermarkets and shops, yet on Tuesdays it seems like everyone is at the Feria ground for the largest and liveliest street market on the coast. There is also a Saturday boot sale and a smaller, yet equally interesting Sunday market close to the town centre, at the port.

Shopping builds up the appetite and the town's many restaurants reflect the multicultural population, offering a superb selection of culinary delights, from Andalucian tapas to Greek humus and Moroccan couscous to British bangers n' mash - the choice is as varied as your imagination. Restaurants are found throughout the town, but wherever you chose to eat, no food lover should miss the opportunity of exploring Calle de los Hambres or 'Fish Alley', Where you can guarantee to be spoiled for choice.

After eating, the town's evening entertainment possibilities mean you are never short of something to do. For music lovers, Moochers Jazz Café is a great place to get into the swing of things and if you want to paint the town red, venues are plentiful. For the young at heart, head down to the Old Town, London Pub or the Beetle Bar before sampling a club or two. For football lovers, Linekar's Bar, in the port, shows all sporting events live on ten TV screens with commentary in English. And for those looking for a real taste of culture are in for a real treat. Salon Varietés is an English language theatre near Fuengirola's beautiful centre piece, the recentiy redesigned Plaza de la Consititución.

A trip to Fuengirola is akin to reading a good novel. It has a wonderful plot in the heart of the Costa del Sol, interesting characters, pace and an exciting story to tell. Every corner holds a surprising twist and if it all gets too much, you can just close your eyes and relax on the beach.

No wonder that so many holiday makers decide to make Fuengirola home.