Málaga City Council will replace the commemorative plaque of the lovers' story at the chimney of Los Guindos, known as Torre Mónica, after the previous bronze emblem was stolen.
The Department of Culture and Historical Heritage of Málaga City Council has confirmed that it will replace the commemorative plaque at the old chimney of Los Guindos, as reported by Diario Sur. The decision responds to requests from residents and groups who demanded the recovery of the stolen emblem and the return of the story that has been passed down through generations for over three decades to the brick pedestal.
The original plaque was placed by a community initiative after the 2007 restoration erased the white paint with Mónica's name. Years later, that bronze emblem was stolen, leaving a gap in the monument. Until now, the information panels along the promenade of La Misericordia exclusively highlighted the industrial past of the site, without mentioning the urban legend.
The story dates back to September 1993, when young José Carlos Selva painted his girlfriend's name, Mónica Vallejo, 96 meters high while hanging by rope, following a teenage argument. The gesture renamed the chimney as Torre Mónica and turned it into a popular symbol of Málaga's skyline.
The area led by Mariana Pineda believes that the sentimental footprint of the chimney is not incompatible with its architectural and industrial value. The new plaque will explain to future generations and visitors the origin of the popular name 'Torre Mónica' and institutionalise the recognition of an urban legend that has become the city's most famous symbol of love.
With this replacement, Málaga City Council officially responds to community demands and restores an element that is part of the collective memory of the capital to the La Misericordia area.
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