Once again, the Malaguista entity continues its initiative to highlight the municipalities of Málaga province. For the match against Antequera CF, corresponding to Primera Federación matchday 10, Júzcar will be the protagonist. Puche has masterfully captured the essence of this picturesque municipality.
Júzcar is a peculiar municipality in the province of Málaga located in the west of the province, in the Valle del Genal, and is one of the towns that make up the Serranía de Ronda region. To the north it borders with the municipality of Ronda; to the east, with Cartajima and Pujerra; to the south with the municipality of Estepona; and to the west with the municipalities of Jubrique, Faraján and Alpandeire.
Júzcar was just another white town until the Sony Pictures production company set its sights on it to turn it into the first 'Smurf town' in the world to promote the movie The Smurfs 3D. To recreate the place where these small blue creatures live, all the houses in the town - 175 properties - were painted this colour, as well as the church, the cemetery and the Town Hall. 9,000 kilos of paint were used!
Two years later, in 2013, Júzcar once again hosted the presentation of The Smurfs 2, which once again catapulted the town into the media spotlight. A referendum was organised to ask residents if they wanted to continue being a blue town once the contract with Sony was concluded and the 'yes' vote won by a large majority.
Despite having approximately 250 inhabitants, the municipality has very attractive places of interest for tourists. The church of Santa Catalina, which has undergone various modifications and reforms, and which was built in the 16th century, is a clear example. Like the rest of the municipality, this church was also dyed blue to welcome the Smurfs.
Other obligatory stops in Júzcar are the demolished Fábrica de Hojalata, the Museo Micológico and the Ruta de Fray Leopoldo, the most admired saint in all of Andalucía.
This week, Puche gives us a wonderful reference to Júzcar, and our childhood. The town, completely blue, represents the silhouette of the face of 'Papa Smurf', completing his figure with his characteristic red hat and his unmistakable white beard, in which the name of the municipality can be clearly seen. This beautiful piece pays tribute to Júzcar as the first 'Smurf town'.
Júzcar fell in love with the colour blue many years ago. Now, in addition to being a Smurf town, it is a Malaguista municipality that flies the flag for our colours.