The history of Fuengirola

Fuengirola is one of the places with a very long and interesting history. The origins of the place are dated back to Phoenician, Carthaginian, as well as Roman and Arabic times. Therefore, if you are a person who is crazy about the past, you will find plenty to discover in Fuengirola.

As far as Roman remains are concerned, one may admire some sculptures, among which the best known are ‘Venus of Fuengirola’, exhibited now in the History Museum. Moreover, there are some other treasures coming from the time, such as Roman town of Seul and a meat factory.  

Another important historical building of the town is the Castillo de Sohail. It was originally built in the 11th century by the Muslims, and then destroyed by the Christians in 1487, who became the rulers of the area for the second time. As they found the castle a great place to defend themselves from the pirates, they restored the building.

A lot of historical remains and signs of the past were discovered during the time of expansion and construction of Fuengirola. If you explore the area, you should definitely see the Finca del Secretario (The Secretary’s Estate). It comes from the Roman times. Moreover, the Roman pillars found on the Los Boliches promenade deserve special attention too. Besides, Torreblanca is known for its ancient tombstones, as well as thermal springs.

At the beginning of the 19th century Sohail Castle became French for about two years, but later came back to Spaniards. Later the town came under the jurisdiction of the municipality of Mijas, and the population of the spot started to settle on the opposite side of the river. In 1822 the inhabitants of  Fuengirola applied to the authorities in Malaga for independence from Mijas. However, the area did not gain independence until 1841. Then the mayor was elected and a Town Hall built.

The 19th, as well as 20th centuries brought an enormous expansion and development of Fuengirola. The locals decided to benefit from remarkable tourism facilities and focus on this aspect of the regional life. As a result the town became a very popular holiday destination among people from all over the world, who are impressed with the regional nature, climate, beaches and food. Moreover, if you are the one who looks for some history adventure, you can be sure to fulfill your dreams in  Fuengirola.