Cenachero Sculpture, Malaga, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Cenachero Sculpture is a statue in Plaza de la Marina, in the centre of Málaga, that honours the traditional fish sellers who once carried their catch through the city's streets. It is the work of sculptor Jaime Pimentel and one of the best-loved little monuments in Málaga, a tribute to the city's relationship with the sea.

The story behind it

A cenachero was a street fish seller, named after the cenacho, the basket used to carry the catch. Cenacheros walked the streets of Málaga offering sardines, anchovies and whatever else the boats had brought in, announcing it all at the top of their voices. For generations they were a normal part of daily life, and the trade faded as modern shops and markets took over.

Pimentel's statue keeps that figure alive in the middle of the city. It fits a place where fish is still a point of pride: anchovies are so tied to Málaga that locals are nicknamed boquerones, the Spanish word for the fresh fish.

What to look for

• The baskets the figure carries, the cenachos that gave the trade its name and that were the tools of the job.
• The working clothes and the posture of the vendor, which show a man on the move rather than a hero on a pedestal.
• The fish, a reminder of what was sold from these baskets and of the daily catch that fed the city.
• The setting itself: Plaza de la Marina sits between the old centre and the port side, so look around to see where the fish sellers' city meets the harbour.

Tips for your visit

• Plan on 5 to 10 minutes. It is an outdoor statue on a public square, so there is nothing to book and no inside to enter.
• Morning light is good for photos and the square is calmer before the day's crowds build up.
• It is easy to combine with nearby sights such as Calle Larios, the Cathedral, the Alcazaba and the Paseo del Parque.
• After seeing it, try fried anchovies or grilled sardines at a local spot, which is the natural follow-up to meeting a cenachero.

See it on a quest

The statue is one stop on Highlights of Malaga, a self-guided walk through the city's main sights. You reach it on foot as part of a longer route through the centre, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. There is no guide to follow and no group to join, so you can start whenever you like. The quest is a paid one, and a single ticket covers the whole group.