Editing Fuengirola

{{Short description|City in Andalusia, Spain}}
{{Infobox settlement 
|official_name = Fuengirola
|nickname =  
| pushpin_map             = Spain Andalusia
| pushpin_label_position  =
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location in Andalusia
|image_skyline= Fuengirolabeach.jpg
|image_flag = Fuengirola flag.svg
|image_shield = Coat of Arms of Fuengirola.svg
|image_map = Fuengirola.svg
|map_caption = Location of Fuengirola in [[Province of Málaga|Málaga province]]
| subdivision_type  = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name  = {{flag|Spain}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Autonomous communities in Spain|Autonomous community]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Andalusia}} 
| subdivision_type2 = [[Provinces of Spain|Province]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[File:Flag Málaga Province.svg|23px]] [[Province of Málaga|Málaga]]
|subdivision_name3= [[Costa del Sol Occidental]]<ref>{{cite web
 |url        = http://www.derechodeportivo.org/legislacion/orden%20comarcas.pdftipo_articulo=DESCUBRE+LA+PROVINCIA
 |title      = Orden del BOJA del día 14/3/2003
 |editor     = Consejería de Turismo y Deporte
 |access-date = 28 February 2009
}}{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
|leader_title = [[Mayor]] 
|leader_name = [[Ana Mula (PP)]] 
|area_total_km2 = 10.2
|population_note = 
|population_as_of = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
| population_footnotes = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
|population_total = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population_density_km2 = auto
|population_demonym      = Fuengiroleños
|timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]] 
|utc_offset = +1 
|elevation_m             = 6 
|timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]] 
|utc_offset_DST = +2 
|coordinates     = {{coord|36|32|30|N|4|37|30|W|region:ES|display=inline,title}}
|website = {{official website|http://www.fuengirola.org }}
|footnotes = 
}}
'''Fuengirola''' ({{IPA|es|fweŋxiˈɾola|pron}}) is a city on the [[Costa del Sol]] in the [[province of Málaga]] in the [[autonomous communities of Spain|autonomous community]] of [[Andalusia]] in southern [[Spain]]. It is located on the central coast of the province and integrated into the region of the Costa del Sol and the Commonwealth of Municipalities of the Costa del Sol Occidental.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fuengirola|url=http://www.mancomunidad.org/fuengirola.asp|publisher=Mancomunidad de Municipios de la Costa del Sol Occidental|access-date=1 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718053733/http://www.mancomunidad.org/fuengirola.asp|archive-date=18 July 2008}}</ref>

It is a major tourist resort, with  more than 8&nbsp;km (5 miles) of beaches and a [[Middle Ages|medieval]] [[Moors|Moorish]] fortress. In common with much of this coast, it has been the subject of considerable urban development.

The area has a [[subtropical]] Mediterranean climate, with annual average temperatures of 18&nbsp;°C (65&nbsp;°F) and average summer temperatures of over 30&nbsp;°C (86&nbsp;°F).

==History==
The town has its origins in [[Phoenicia]]n, [[Ancient Rome|Roman]], and Moorish civilisations.

The foothills of the mountain range behind the town to the south are the site of [[Sohail Castle]], which contains remains of an early Phoenician settlement, later occupied by the Romans, which became a town known in antiquity as Suel. Suel was identified by the Roman historian [[Pomponius Mela]] as one of the towns of the coast, and was cited by [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]] in the 1st century AD as a fortified town or [[oppidum]]. A later historian, [[Ptolemy]], identified it during the 2nd century as being located in the region of the bastulo-penos or Phoenicians.

The inscription on the pedestal of a statue found near the castle mentions Suel as being a Roman "municipium". A funeral urn found in the same area has an inscription containing the word "Suelitana". Roman baths were discovered in 1961 and, close by, the remains of a Roman villa containing two sculptures, one of which is known as the "Venus of Fuengirola", exhibited in the town's museum. A series of architectural components, probably transported from the [[Mijas]] quarry during the Roman era, were discovered in Los Boliches in 1984; these have now been mounted to form a temple entrance, and are on the promenade at Los Boliches.
[[Image:Sohail Castle.jpg|thumb|left|[[Sohail Castle]]]]
The castle was built by [[Abd-ar-Rahman III]] in the mid-10th century. The city of Suel ceased to be mentioned at the beginning of the Middle Ages.  After several centuries, the name of the settlement changed from Suel to Suhayl, which became the name of the castle and surroundings during the [[Al-Andalus|Moorish]] era. Suhayl became a fairly large settlement, which included farmland and small villages. Most of the surrounding area seems to have been used as pasture for the Moorish rulers' camels. Writer and scholar Abdul Rahman bin Abdullah bin Ahmed (known as Al-Allama Abdul Qasim Al-suhayli) [[Al-Suhayli]] ("the man from Suhayl") lived there from 1130 to 1203, and later became known as one of the seven saints of [[Marrakesh]], where he was buried.

In the early Middle Ages the town was set on fire and its inhabitants fled to Mijas. Suhayl became a mound of ruins, and even its name was changed to the Romanised Font-Jirola, after the spring arising at the foot of the castle, according to historian Alonso de Palencia.

In 1485, when only the fortress remained, the settlement, along with the rest of the [[Kingdom of Granada]], fell into the hands of the [[Christian Monarchs]] in the final phase of the [[Reconquista]] (reconquest). An attempt to repopulate the site with 30 people failed, and in 1511 it was registered as uninhabited, apart from the fortress and a watchtower. Land originally set aside for Fuengirola was reallocated to Mijas.

In the 17th century, once the threat from Turkish and Moroccan pirates had disappeared, a new urban settlement developed; at the beginning of the 18th century, an inn was opened near the beach, offering accommodation to travellers, muleteers and seafarers. A few huts were built nearby, forming a small village.

The [[Battle of Fuengirola]] took place in the area during the [[Peninsular War]], on October 15, 1810, when approximately 200 Polish soldiers of the [[Duchy of Warsaw]] defeated a mixed British-Spanish force numbering some 3,000 soldiers under [[Andrew Thomas Blayney, 11th Baron Blayney|Lord Blayney]].

In May 1841, Fuengirola was administratively detached from Mijas; at the time its inhabitants were mainly engaged in fishing, agriculture and trading with ships that dropped anchor in the bay. For over a century, fishing and agriculture remained the main activities.

==Modern Fuengirola==
In the 1960s Fuengirola started to become a leading tourist centre, eventually having the expected facilities for eating, sleeping, and entertainment. The town has broad beaches along a promenade extending east and west from the town, that includes smaller adjacent villages.

Of the approximately 82,226 (2022)<ref>{{cite web |title=Instituto Nacional de Estadística. (Spanish Statistical Institute) |url=https://www.ine.es/nomen2/inicio_a.do |website=www.ine.es |access-date=14 May 2023}}</ref> permanent inhabitants registered in the municipality, 25% come from other countries, mainly European, including the United Kingdom, Ireland and Scandinavia, and also from Morocco and Latin America.  In the summer months the town is visited by large numbers of holidaymakers from Spain and abroad, amongst whom are many from the UK. The English-speaking community in particular is large enough to support a fully developed programme of activities and local groups.

''Bioparc Fuengirola'' is a zoo that specializes in captive breeding for [[endangered species]], research on chimpanzee groups and in tropical forest education. It has a series of natural habitats for different species.<ref>{{cite web |title=Inicio |url=https://www.bioparcfuengirola.es/ |website=BIOPARC Fuengirola |access-date=14 May 2023 |language=es}}</ref>

Fuengirola has a number of historical sites and open parks. The old port is still used by the local Spanish fisherman. The Moorish castle of Suhayl, or Suhail, remained an abandoned ruin until renovations began in 1995. In 2000 the interior of the castle was completely renovated and the [[Suhail castle]] began to host festivals and concerts throughout the summer. Additional landscaping was completed in 2002.

The town is largely urban in character, with many high-rise apartment blocks, particularly near the seafront. There are some narrow streets with many [[low-rise]] villas. Considerable commercial and housing development is underway further inland.

[[Image:Fuengirola harbour.jpg|thumbnail|Fuengirola harbour]]

==Main sights ==
*[[Sohail Castle]] (Moorish castle)
*Harbour
*[[Fuengirola Bullring]]
*''Bioparc Fuengirola'' (zoo)
*Fuengirola museum
*Roman ruins
*''TSD'' (Mijas)

== Transportation ==
Cities on the coast are accessible by bus from Fuengirola, including [[Málaga]], [[Estepona]], [[Torremolinos]], [[Marbella]], [[Benalmádena|Benálmadena]] and [[Gibraltar]]. The area is also served by the [[A7 (Spain)|A7]] motorway; the closest airport is [[Málaga Airport|Málaga-Costa Del Sol]].

=== Rail ===
Fuengirola is the end of the C-1 commuter rail service <ref>{{cite web |title=Cercanías de Málaga ( Líneas, Estaciones y Conexiones ) {{!}} Renfe |url=https://www.renfe.com/es/es/cercanias/cercanias-malaga/lineas |website=www.renfe.com |access-date=14 May 2023 |language=es}}</ref> from central Málaga, run by [[Cercanías Málaga]]. There are two train stations within city lines, Fuengirola and Los Boliches. The C-1 line connects some of the intervening villages along the coast and Malaga/ Costa del Sol Airport.

The railway station is located centre of the city on Paseo Jesús Santos Rein, 5, within 50m from the bus station.

== Culture ==

=== Cultural events ===
Most cultural activities in Fuengirola take place during the summer. In June, the festival of music and dance is celebrated in the Sohail castle. In this same place is also organized the Medieval market, the Festival of the town of Fuengirola and the Beer Party.<ref name="Fiestas">{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.webmalaga.com/tradiciones/fiestas/ficha.asp?cod=53&mun=29054
 |title       = Fiestas de Fuengirola
 |editor      = SOPDE
 |access-date  = 20 March 2009
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20060530215252/http://www.webmalaga.com/tradiciones/fiestas/ficha.asp?cod=53&mun=29054
 |archive-date = 30 May 2006
}}</ref> Other noteworthy events are: the Cinema Festival of Fuengirola, The International Faire and the International Faire of the Villages, the last two being celebrated between the last days of April and the first days of May, and the International Festival of Latin Rhythms in September. There is a second hand street market every Saturday in the premises of the faire. It is a very famous market in the Costa del Sol where almost any object can be found. On Sundays there is also another market in the Doña Sofía park.

=== Cultural amenities ===
*History museum: is the only museum of the town, inaugurated in 2003. It has a collection of remains which are mostly part of the Cerro de Suel field, the castle and the house of the secretary. It is located in the old house of the Official veterinary surgeon, in the Spain Square. The exhibition is organized in two sections: one focused on the old history, made up of Phoenician, Roman and Moorish pieces. The other is based on ethnographic contents such as traditional fishing and crafts...
*Open museum: a project launched in 1988, it is part of the large walls displayed in the façade of diverse buildings of the town. Among others, these painters' works are exhibited: Manuel Barbadillo, Joaquín Peinado, Enrique Brinkmann, Escalona y José María Córdoba.
*Peace Palace: a multi-purpose space for theatrical performances and musical shows, exhibitions and speeches.
*Salon Varietés Theatre: a small theatre that offers an exclusive program in English. It is the only one in Andalucia that is managed by foreign residents.
*The Culture House: it contains an exhibition room and a function room with a capacity to hold 165 people. It is a venue for conferences, concerts, theaters, recitals, etc.
*The [[Fuengirola Bullring]] has various activities besides bullfights. 
*Fuengirola has 3 municipal libraries: the Central library named for Miguel de Cervantes, another named after the writer Francisco Quevedo in the Boliches district and the Lope de Vega Library in the neighbourhood of El Boqutillo; and a fourth state-owned one, situated in the old Oceanographic center of Malaga, at the harbor, specializing in geological studies of the Mediterranean coast, marine biology, sea pollution and other marine issues.

== Shopping ==
Miramar, a shopping and leisure complex, which opened in early 2004 (and was restyled in 2013) and is situated on the west side of Fuengirola, with direct access to the A-7 motorway. It has an area of 119,000 m<sup>2</sup>, making it one of the Costa del Sol's largest retail areas and is home to national and international retailers, in the fields of fashion, accessories, decoration and services as well as a 12-screen multi-cinema complex and many cafes and restaurants.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us - C.C. Miramar |url=https://www.miramarcc.com/en/about-us/ |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=Otro sitio realizado con WordPress |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Suburbs==
*Los Boliches (in full: Santa Fé de los Boliches)
*Torreblanca
*Carvajal
*El Boquetillo
*Los Pacos

==Twin towns==
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[New Iberia]], United States
==See also==
* [[List of municipalities in Málaga]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://napoleonistyka.atspace.com/Fuengirola.htm Battle of Fuengirola 1810]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091219190333/http://directoriodefuengirola.es/Eventos/ Folk festivals and events at Fuengirola]
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[[Category:Fuengirola| ]]