By Ion Axinescu

Copyright euroweeklynews

Velez-Malaga’s Real Feria de San Miguel is getting a brand-new look this year. For the first time, the fair will open with a large entrance arch in the Plaza de las Carmelitas, designed and painted entirely by local hands. More than just decoration, it’s a statement piece that combines tradition, creativity, and the pride of a town showing off its talent.

The design comes from José Antonio Bravo, with the artistic side led by painter Francisco Santacruz. Dozens of local artists pitched in, brushstroke by brushstroke, to bring the structure to life. In total, the arch covers around 200 square metres, built from 36 custom panels and 13 standard boards. It measures eight metres high and wide, with two metres of depth. Bravo says the project was approved on September 9 and, in just eleven days, it was painted and assembled.

Councillor for Popular Traditions, Lourdes Piña, underlined the importance of the project: “This arch is a symbol of Velez, our identity, our culture. It’s the first stage of something bigger that will grow in the years ahead.”

Beyond the numbers, the arch represents weeks of teamwork, late nights, and local pride. The town council has thanked all the artists and workers who made it possible. As the Feria begins, the new arch is expected to become the fair’s favourite photo spot—and a fresh emblem for Velez-Malaga’s biggest celebration.

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