Discover Fuengirola street art at El Boquetillo’s unique mural walk, which captures Fuengirola’s history and seafaring culture.
Have you wandered through the streets of El Boquetillo in Fuengirola yet? If not, you’re missing out on a cool art experience. Get all the details below, as I explain how to get to El Boquetillo, where to find the murals, and what to look out for.
What is the Fuengirola mural walk?
The Fuengirola mural walk, known as the Paseo de los Murales, features 20 large-scale paintings in the El Boquetillo neighbourhood. They have transformed the neighbourhood into an outdoor museum. The works of art reveal tales of local culture, history and community, with a special focus on fishing and the sea. What’s more, two of the Fuengirola murals have been nominated as the best urban murals in the world. Can you guess which ones? Read until the end to find out.
Where is the Fuengirola street art? How to find the El Boquetillo Mural Walk
Getting to the murals in the El Boquetillo neighbourhood is easy. If you’re already in Fuengirola, a short walk or a quick bus ride will get you there:
- 🗺️ First, find El Boquetillo market on Google Maps.
- 🚶🏽♀️ Walk there, or…
- 🚌 Get the Boquetillo L2 bus.
- 🏬 Start the Mural Walk from the market!
You can’t miss the Boquetillo Market building. It has flowers painted on its walls by one of the mural artists, Lula Goce. (More about her below.) Right behind the market are some tall apartment buildings. You’ll find the murals on their north facades.
About El Boquetillo neighbourhood
El Boquetillo is a barrio, or neighbourhood, in the western part of Fuengirola. It’s a relatively new one, developed in the 1960s. Not usually the first stop for tourists, it’s becoming famous because of these murals. The neighbourhood is also well worth a visit because of its small shops, cafés and tapas places. Like Heladería Caramelo, which won the award for the best chocolate ice cream in Spain.
My top 3 murals
I love the way all twenty of the Fuengirola murals highlight different facets of local life and, in particular, the town’s connection to the sea. Below are my three favourites. I hope you get a chance to discover the rest.
1 | Canto Andaluz by Carlos Alberto
This mural by Carlos Alberto called “Canto andaluz”, or Andalusian song, celebrates the region through carnations. These flowers symbolise passion and love and have been present in Spanish art for centuries. I love this mural the most. Why? Firstly, because the shadows make the flowers appear almost lifelike. And secondly, because the artist chose to depict different species of carnations to represent the multiculturalism in Andalusia. As a legal alien here, having made Fuengirola my home for 30 years, that really resonates with me.
2 | De piedra en piedra by Slim Safont y Wedo Goás
This double mural by Slim Safont and Wedo Goás is called “De piedra en piedra”, meaning “From rock to rock”. It uses the image of a child stepping from one rock to another as a metaphor for overcoming life’s adversities. Inspired by a photograph taken in Portugal, the artists chose it because its light is reminiscent of a summer day in Fuengirola. In fact, this mural holds a special place in my heart because the boy in the painting could be my own son, searching for crabs and sea treasures on Fuengirola’s espigón. For me, it evokes sweet childhood nostalgia and the endless summers of youth here in Fuengirola.
3 | Garden by Lula Goce
This one is called “Garden. Un homenaje a la naturaleza y la Mujer”. By the Galician mural artist Lula Goce, it’s a poetic tribute to nature and womanhood. To me, this mural quintessentially captures the essence of Andalucía. The earthy colours are the ones found in the landscape here, and the direct gaze of the woman commands attention and respect.
As I mentioned at the top of this post, Lula Goce is the artist who also painted the El Boquetillo market building which marks the beginning of the Fuengirola mural walk.
Lula Goce who painted the mural “Mirar hacia el pasado” also painted the El Boquetillo market building
Two of the Fuengirola murals named among the 25 best in the world
Two of the El Boquetillo murals have also gained international recognition. The portal StreetArtCities.com selected them among the world’s top 25 street paintings. One is by Sevillian artist Kato. It captures a magical scene of a girl holding a starfish against a sunset, symbolising hope and guidance. In the background, you’ll see Fuengirola’s Sohail castle which gets its name from a star—read more about that here. The other nominated mural is by Malaga-based artist, Nesui, featuring a woman painted in an impressionist style, wearing sunglasses that reflect scenes of Fuengirola’s local maritime and fishing tradition.
“Mirar hacia el pasado” by Nesui and “La magia de los sueños” by Kato
Download the Fuengirola townhall guide on the murals and the artists
As you do the walk, you’ll find a plaque next to each mural, detailing the piece’s artist and meaning. You can also download the Fuengirola town hall’s guide to the murals for more information. Not downloading? Try here.
Psst…! Before you go
These artworks are part of a broader program to enhance the El Boquetillo neighbourhood of Fuengirola. What’s more, the artists who took part in the initiative expressed a deep connection with the community. So I hope this post inspires you to go and enjoy some world-class street art in Fuengirola. After that, do stop and have a coffee or a bite to eat or shop in the local businesses in the neighbourhood.
Watch out for more posts about Fuengirola’s hidden gems. Come and say hi to me on Instagram. Until then, let El Boquetillo’s street art inspire your next wander through Fuengirola.