Today, Fuengirola is one of the busiest holiday resorts on the Costa del Sol, known for its long sandy beaches, promenade and lively atmosphere. Yet long before tourism arrived, this coastline was already an important strategic point. Phoenicians, Romans, Moors and Christians all recognised the value of the hill overlooking the mouth of the River Fuengirola, where Sohail Castle still dominates the bay.
The first settlement here dates back to the Phoenicians, while the Romans later established the town of Suel, an important commercial centre linked to the Mediterranean trade routes. During the Moorish period the castle was rebuilt to defend the coast against attacks from both sea and land. Even today it remains the town’s most recognisable historic landmark.
One of the most remarkable episodes took place in 1810, during the Peninsular War. A small Polish garrison serving Napoleon successfully defended Sohail Castle against a much larger Anglo-Spanish force in what became known as the Battle of Fuengirola. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the defenders forced the attackers to withdraw, making it one of the most unusual French victories of the campaign.
Our experience in Fuengirola was mixed.
We first visited the large free parking area close to the beach. Although it offered plenty of space, we arrived on a Saturday afternoon and found it completely full, with around fifty motorhomes already parked there. The surroundings felt untidy, rubbish was visible nearby, there were no useful services and the location was far noisier than we expected. It was convenient for reaching the beach, but overall it did not leave a particularly positive impression.
We also stopped at the fairground parking area closer to the town centre. Unfortunately, our impression there was even less favourable. The area felt very crowded, dirty and noticeably less safe than many other stops along the Costa del Sol. While it could work as an emergency daytime stop because of its central location, we were happy to continue our journey rather than remain there.
Fortunately, Fuengirola itself offers much more than its motorhome parking.
The promenade stretches for almost five miles, making it one of the longest continuous seafront walks on the Costa del Sol. Along the waterfront, restaurants, cafés and beaches create a lively atmosphere throughout most of the year, while Sohail Castle provides an attractive destination at its western end.
One fascinating curiosity concerns the castle itself. Although visitors see a medieval fortress today, archaeological excavations have shown that the hill has been occupied for over 2,000 years, with Phoenician, Roman, Islamic and Christian remains all discovered within the same area. Few places on the Costa del Sol preserve such a continuous sequence of civilisations.
Another little-known fact is that the Polish victory at Fuengirola is still remembered in Poland as one of the most remarkable actions of the Napoleonic Wars. Every year, Polish visitors travel to Sohail Castle to commemorate a battle that many people in Spain have never even heard of.
Fuengirola did not become one of our favourite stops. The town is busy, modern and heavily developed, while both parking areas we visited left us rather disappointed for different reasons. Even so, the history hidden behind the beaches—especially Sohail Castle and the forgotten Napoleonic battle—makes it far more interesting than first impressions might suggest.