The Girl from Benalmádena Returns to Plaza de España After Restoration

The Girl from Benalmádena has returned home. The Benalmádena City Council has completed the restoration of the iconic sculpture The Girl, created by the artist Jaime Pimentel, along with a series of improvements and updates in the Plaza de España, one of the most representative sites of the municipality.

Related News

'La Niña' goes to the hospital: Benalmádena removes its popular statue for restoration

The restoration of the sculpture was carried out by the specialist in conservation of metallic goods, Rafael de la Linde, from the company Chapitel, and took place between November 17 and December 15, following strict technical and heritage conservation criteria. The Councilor for Historical Heritage, Jésica Trujillo, has stated that it was "a priority action" for the City Council as it is "one of the most beloved and recognizable sculptures" in Benalmádena. "With this intervention, we not only recover its aesthetic value, but we also ensure its preservation for future generations," justified Trujillo.

The councilor emphasized that the sculpture was in a "poor" state of conservation due to the accumulation of lime and the continuous action of water, "especially in sensitive areas" like the shell and the hands. "A rigorous job has been carried out, divided into different phases of study, cleaning, treatment, and final protection, always under professional criteria and respecting the original work of Jaime Pimentel," explained the head of Historical Heritage of the municipal government.

The City Council has decided that the water pouring from the shell will only be carried out "sporadically on specific dates" and "following a preventive protocol to avoid its deterioration"

Among the actions carried out, the renovation of the sculpture's internal plumbing system also stands out, allowing it to pour water from the shell again, as the artist conceived in 1968. However, it will not always be visible: the City Council has decided that this function will be carried out only "sporadically on specific dates" and "following a preventive protocol to avoid its deterioration."

Actions in the fountain and the plaza

For his part, the Councilor for Operational Services, Juan Olea, has highlighted the coordinated work carried out in the entire environment of the Plaza de España. "In addition to the restoration of The Girl, we have worked on the fountain's basin, which had been leaking for years, replacing plumbing elements and carrying out marble repair works with specialized personnel. We have carried out a major renovation of the Plaza de España with all the actions that have been developed in recent months," he pointed out.

Expand

Olea explained that these actions have been completed with floral beautification, improvements in lighting, currently in process and expected to be completed by early 2026, as well as the installation of a new municipal clock, after finding that the previous one, which had not been working for years, was beyond repair. The new clock features LED lighting and the Benalmádena coat of arms. "Our goal is to maintain and dignify the most emblematic public spaces of the municipality, improving their image and functionality for residents and visitors, always in coordination with other municipal areas," concluded the councilor.

The Benalmádena City Council insists that these actions respond to the municipal commitment to the protection of heritage, the improvement of public space, and the enhancement of the historic center of the municipality.