Genalguacil
Written by Geoff Forster
Genalguacil: Genalguacil is a little unusual. It's a pueblo trying very hard to be pretty and attractive. Someone (mayor/council?) has had a vision. Flowers have been planted, there are a lot of Bougainvillea growing with species plaques next to them. The streets are clean and perfectly kept. The houses are whiter than white. The plaza is perfect. Definitely the Genal Valleys "Best Kept Village Award Winner". However the master stroke of genius has been to invite artists (sculptors) to the village, providing them with materials, accommodation and food during their stay. On the condition they leave their work in the streets for all to see. Now after a decade or more there are quite a large number of interesting if not bizarre works of art to surprise and delight as you walk around the pretty little village.
The bus stop at the entrance to Genalguacil has one of the best sculpture inside. A life size man with hat & suitcase waiting for the bus leans on a ledge and enjoys the fantastic view down the Genal Valley. The surface of the man is made of photographs under lots of lacquer or resin. Excellent 10/10
Jane's favourite sculpture. Not far from the bus stop easily missed.
We walked to the top of Genalguacil, there are some newly built houses unusually these are quite pleasant to look at.
The next piece is a little puzzling not quite sure what the idea was but it frames the Sierra de Casares very nicely.
This pretty stairway has some lovely pots of flowers and another work of art. Another favourite piece. Genalguacil is a great place for tourists.
This is the other side of the same stairway. The planting is lovely a credit to the owner. Jane took the photo. I must remember not to do that with my hands next time!
The photo above was taken early one morning on a walk from Benarrabá to Algatocín. Genalguacil is the pueblo in the mist on the other side of the valley.
The picture below of Genalguacil was taken on the sun terrace of the self catering apartment we have to rent in Benarrabá.
Genalguacil has the hardest name to pronounce of all the pueblos its something like "Henalhwatheel" Just across the road from the bus stop is another fantastic piece. The artist has found a wonderful piece of wood and carved faces into it. Just a little further along is a fantastic carving guaranteed to make you smile. A large naked lady diving out from a fifteen foot high wall. I think it is near the Genalguacil municipal swimming pool ? Walking down the hill in the next picture (check out the view fantastic!) you find a wonderful fountain with mules/donkeys heads spouting water. A lot of pueblos have fountains Genalguacil has one of the best. Walking further down you come to the church and the plaza.
This strange anthropomorphic sculpture is just outside the town cemetery.
The next piece is included just because it is so weird. A totem pole with strange heads nailed to it. The top head has a metal cleaver embedded in its skull. Its not as well crafted as some of the others but is so out of place in front of the church in this lovely plaza that it is thought provoking.
This pretty little streets leads you away from the plaza. Halfway down is another piece of sculpture a wonderful seat made out of a fantastic tree root.
The next piece is probably most peoples favourite. A very clever placing of three matchstick men sculptures.
Jane ... gets an idea for an arty farty shot!.
If your looking at this from England ... that's what a blue sky looks like.
There are lots of pretty streets in Genalguacil. its a photographers dream.
Next a beautifully planted corner with a small fountain.
This next piece is a water feature. White marble slabs have been etched with eagles, trees and other organic shapes. A bougainvillea adds colour to the corner.
There are lots more pieces of sculpture around the town. Genalguacil is a definite must see for people visiting the area. Bring plenty of film for your camera. The last photograph is of Genalguacil looking back from the road.
This last piece has to win the Nobel (strangest) piece prize and there were a number of serious challengers. I'm not sure what the Spanish people who live with this outside their house make of it ... but I think I saw Dr Who defeat this monster in 1972. It is so out of place in this pretty Spanish mountain village ... The prize goes to the blue sea/alien creature.
Genalguacil is worth the drive. If a trip here is suggested, I'm usually already grabbing my camera and heading for the car.
We visited Genaguacil after seeing it on your website and are very pleased we did as it was really interesting. It was well worth the journey although I dont think we found all of the pieces, our children enjoyed looking for each piece of art and its certainly somewhere I dont think we will ever forget.
My husband and I visited friends in Algeciras, and they took us here within the first three days of our visit. I am an artist, and I just worte a philosophy paper and quoted the town of Genaguicil as bringing art outside of the museum to the general public. Our trip was 3 years ago, and this experience was a lovely highlight that I surprisingly continue to refer to! Thanks for your great pictures and commentary.