Plaza y Acera de La Marina (Marina Square and Sidewalk), Malaga

Spanish sculptor Jaime Fernández Pimentel wanted to memorialize “Diego,” a cenachero-a traditional fish seller who carried baskets-who worked in front of Jaime’s childhood home on Carretería Street. Although cenacheros no longer exist, Jaime’s statue of Diego stands today as a lasting symbol of Málaga, located in Marina Square.

Marina Square and the adjoining waterfront promenade form part of Málaga’s long effort to reconnect the historic city with the sea. For much of the 19th and 20th centuries, this stretch of coastline functioned primarily as a working port, separated from the urban centre by busy roads and port infrastructure. This changed in the early 21st century, when Málaga undertook a major redevelopment of its port front, transforming former docklands into open civic space.

Today, Marina Square acts as a natural transition point between the old city streets and the modern promenade. From here, wide pedestrian paths lead toward the sea, passing landscaped areas and shaded walkways. The promenade offers clear views back toward the city skyline, with the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro fortresses rising above the harbour, and outward toward the open bay.

The flat, spacious sidewalks make the square ideal for walking at a relaxed pace, while benches and palm-lined sections invite short pauses to watch the yachts, cruise ships, and the changing light over the bay. Public art installations and seasonal events occasionally animate the space.