Plaza de los Chinorros, Fuengirola, Ghid vizitatori și ce de văzut în apropiere

Plaza de los Chinorros is a lively square in the centre of Fuengirola, on the Costa del Sol in the province of Málaga. It is known for its tapas bars and busy terraces, and it is a favourite meeting point for locals and visitors alike. If you want a quick taste of everyday social life in Fuengirola, this is a good place to stop.

The story behind it

The charm of this square is social rather than monumental. People come here to share tapas, have a drink and talk, and that easy habit of eating and gathering outdoors is what the place stands for in the town. The name Chinorros is part of its local character, though accounts of where it comes from differ, so it is best asked about locally.

One curiosity linked to the square on Questo's route is the Spanish lion-head mailbox. Zoomorphic mailboxes like these have appeared in Spanish post offices since the late nineteenth century, and many were cast in bronze. The lion was chosen for its old association with strength, courage and authority, a fitting guardian for the post: few people would put a hand into a lion's mouth to steal a letter.

What to look for

• The terraces spilling across the square, where the mix of locals and visitors shows the town's food-loving social life at its best.
• The tapas bars around the edges, with their menus and plates that give a feel for the local way of eating out.
• Lion-head mailboxes, a traditional emblem of Spain's postal service that you can spot in towns and cities across the country.
• The change of mood through the day, from quiet mornings to a much busier square when people gather for drinks and food.

Tips for your visit

• You can walk through the square at any time, as it is a public open space, so there is no entry to pay or queue for.
• Allow 20 to 30 minutes to look around, and longer if you sit down for tapas or a drink.
• Come in the evening or at mealtimes if you want the liveliest atmosphere, or earlier in the day for a calmer look.
• It sits in the town centre, so it combines easily with a stroll through the surrounding streets and a walk towards the seafront.

See it on a quest

Streets of Fuengirola: Infinite, the black cat passes through Plaza de los Chinorros as one stop on a longer route through the streets of Fuengirola. You reach the square on foot, the app tells you about it as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group, so you can start whenever suits you without a guide.