The delegate of the Junta in Málaga, Patricia Navarro, and the mayor Juan Antonio Lara have inaugurated the renovation of Castillo El Bil Bil and the new Tourist Office of Benalmádena, a project that has received over €940,000 in European funds.
Castillo El Bil Bil, one of the tourist emblems of Benalmádena, now showcases its new image following a comprehensive restoration that involved an investment of over €940,000. The project, funded by the Tourism Sustainability Plan in Destinations (PSTD), was inaugurated this Thursday by the delegate of the Junta of Andalucía in Málaga, Patricia Navarro, and the mayor of the municipality, Juan Antonio Lara.
Alongside the rehabilitation of the castle, the new Tourist Information Office has opened to the public, located in the adjacent building. The property, which had been closed for years, has been transformed into a modern and accessible space that includes a visitor reception area, administrative offices, an adapted bathroom, and an exhibition room dedicated to local history and gastronomy.
A €5 million investment to transform tourism
The renovation of the castle and the tourist office is part of the PSTD of Benalmádena, endowed with five million euros from European funds. As explained by Patricia Navarro, these plans have become "one of the main tools to promote a more competitive, intelligent, and sustainable tourism." The delegate emphasized that the intervention in the castle incorporates improvements in energy efficiency, climate control, and sustainable lighting.
Navarro recalled that the Junta's commitment to Benalmádena translates into an investment of nearly €6.5 million since 2020, of which five million corresponds to the PSTD and about 1.5 million to the Munitur program, aimed at modernizing municipal tourist infrastructures.
A before and after for the coastline
The mayor of Benalmádena, Juan Antonio Lara, described the completion of the works as "a before and after" for Castillo El Bil Bil, which he defined as "a reference for the entire coastline of the Costa del Sol." Lara highlighted that the project "allows for a more accessible, efficient castle, ready to continue being a cultural and tourist landmark."
The mayor thanked the investment effort of the Junta de Andalucía and the coordination between the municipal areas of Tourism, Culture, Roads and Works, and Digital Transformation, whose involvement "has been fundamental in making this strategic project a reality." The intervention also recovers the adjacent building for public use, which now houses the tourist office and an exhibition space.
Over €22 million in the Costa del Sol
The delegate of the Junta reminded that, across the Costa del Sol, the PSTD represents an investment of over €22.5 million for projects ranging from heritage recovery to the digitalization of destinations. The municipalities benefiting in the region are Estepona, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Marbella, and Torremolinos. In the rest of the province, projects are also being executed in Málaga capital, Vélez-Málaga, Nerja, and the Sierra de las Nieves Municipal Association.
Navarro insisted that these investments reflect "the Junta's commitment to a tourism model that goes beyond the traditional sun and beach, also enhancing culture, heritage, nature, gastronomy, and active tourism." She concluded: "Investing in tourism is investing in jobs, economic development, and quality of life for our municipalities."
The residents and visitors of Benalmádena can now enjoy the restored castle and the new tourist office, which opens its doors from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00, Monday to Saturday. The exhibition space, for its part, will host temporary displays on local history and gastronomy, with free entry.
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