Antonio Banderas Promotes Major Cultural Project for Málaga
After suffering a heart attack earlier this year, Antonio Banderas has decided to ease back on his frenetic global schedule and spend more time on the Costa del Sol, where he has a villa (eastern outskirts of Marbella) and penthouse (Málaga city).
This past week, the Málaga-born actor, director and fashion designer was in the Spanish news on two major cultural fronts. In Madrid, accompanied by his partner Nicole Kimpel, he was presented by King Felipe VI with the Camino Real (Royal Journey) award, which honours the efforts of Spaniards to help promote Spain’s image in North America. Previous recipients have included tenor Plácido Domingo (2012) and basketballer Pau Gasol (2015).
Back on the Coast, Banderas and two local architectural studios were announced as the winners of a Málaga City Hall competition to design a new building for the old Astoria and Victoria cinemas in Plaza de la Merced (not far from the Picasso Museum). Their project includes two theatre areas (including one that can be converted into a TV studio), culinary outlets, and plans to host international acting courses and other major cultural events.
Meanwhile, Málaga has unveiled a new logo to highlight its burgeoning existing cultural attractions. During the official presentation of the promotional campaign – “Málaga, ciudad de museos – Donde habita el arte” – it was noted that Málaga is the fourth destination in Spain for number of museum visits per year (more than 850,000 in 2016). The city is home to 35 museums and exhibition centres, highlighted by the Centre Pompidou, Centro de Arte Contemporáneo (CAC), and Málaga, Picasso, Russian, Automobile and Fashion Museums.
Culture and gastronomy are very much on the agenda this weekend as the Costa del Sol celebrates a May 1 long weekend. The flagship event is Fuengirola’s Feria de los Pueblos (Nations Fair), the 24th edition of an annual extravaganza described as a “small United Nations headquarters” that attracts several hundred thousand visitors from throughout Spain and Europe and celebrates the area’s multicultural diversity and cosmopolitan lifestyle.
The fair began on Thursday and continues until Monday, offering a pulsating agenda of folkloric, artisanal and culinary activities featuring numerous different countries and Spanish regions: Ireland, Finland, Germany, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, Turkey, Australia, Jamaica, United States (including Hawaii), Thailand, Morocco, Egypt, India, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Venezuela, Colombia, Andalucía, Canary Isles, Castilla y León and Asturias.
Specific events can be checked out on the town hall’s free app for Android and iPhone, “Live Fuengirola”.
Elsewhere on the Coast… Coín celebrates its spring festival until 3 May; Benalmádena offers a sumptuous seafood fair in the marina all long weekend; Torre del Mar launches its month-long Tapas Route; and, on Sunday, Frigiliana hosts a Sugarcane Treacle Day, Sierra de Yeguas an Asparagus Day, Villa de la Concepción a Broad Bean Day, Canillas de Aceituna a Black Pudding Day and Monda a Soup Day. The gourmet pleasures then continue next week (5 to 7 May) when San Pedro de Alcántara hosts its Welcome Street Food Market festival.
It has also just been announced that a “Sabor a Málaga” (“Taste of Málaga”) gourmet market will be built in the San Pedro boulevard area, so we stay in this stunningly revamped part of Marbella for our featured property this week: a frontline promenade apartment priced at an excellent €790,000.
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