Málaga CF are heading to Ipurua for matchday 36 of LALIGA HYPERMOTION against SD Eibar. The match will take place on Monday the 21st at 20:30, with Fuente de Piedra taking centre stage as the featured municipality, appearing both on the match poster and in the design of the Blue and White captain’s armband.
Located in the north of the province and surrounded by rolling fields of cereals and olive groves in the Antequera region, Fuente de Piedra rises among gentle horizons, crowned to the west by the Pico del Pollo. But what truly defines this town is its lagoon, an ecologically rich wetland that hosts the largest colony of flamingos in the Iberian Peninsula. Just 73 kilometres from Málaga, the town blends nature, history, and tradition in a setting where calm and colour come together beautifully.
The history of Fuente de Piedra dates back to the 16th century, although the waters that give the town its name were already revered during the Roman Empire. Evidence of this can be found in an altar preserved in Antequera, dedicated to the “divine spring” for its supposed healing properties. The town began as a small settlement, born from the need to host pilgrims seeking cures, and over the centuries, it grew, shaped by priests, scribes, and sealed clay vessels that carried its waters all the way to the New World.
The heart of the town beats among straight streets, whitewashed facades, and wrought-iron balconies. Standing out are the 19th-century neoclassical gem, the Palace of the Marquesa de Fuente de Piedra, and the Church of the Virgen de las Virtudes, built in 1891 in a Neo-Mudejar style. But the most iconic site is the lagoon, with its seasonal waters and its pink-hued blanket of flamingos in spring. Visiting it requires some planning, it's a protected natural area, where every step must be taken with respect and wonder.
Local cuisine, rooted in the land and its bounty, offers humble yet flavourful dishes: porra (a thick, cold tomato soup), migas (fried breadcrumbs), partridge stewed with onions, and mantecados (traditional crumbly sweets) that capture the essence of a town devoted to preserving its heritage. The region’s wine pairs perfectly with stories shared by the warmth of the hearth or under the soft glow of candlelight.
Here, festivities aren’t just celebrated, they’re felt. Like La Candelaria, when neighbourhoods light up with olive branches and rag dolls, and people come together to sing, dance, and share choricitos and sardines around the fire. Or the Flamingo Ringing, a spectacle that’s both scientific and poetic, where the community gathers to care for and study its most iconic residents. There's also the cherished tradition of La Ureña, when children go door to door asking for sweets, their songs echoing the memory of those who are no longer with us.
Once again, the art of José Luis Puche accompanies us on another matchday. His talent will be featured on the captain’s armband and the match poster for the game against SD Eibar, in a piece inspired by one of the most iconic spots in our region: the Laguna de Fuente de Piedra. This is the largest wetland in Andalucía and home to the biggest colony of pink flamingos in the Iberian Peninsula. In the artwork, calm waters stretch across the canvas, while flamingos, graceful and majestic, take centre stage, symbolising life and nature at their finest.
