Estepona - Conference & Exhibition Hall
The futuristic Estepona Conference and Exhibition Hall is located to the east of the town centre on the Avenida Literal, the link road to Estepona when arriving from the east. It comprises a 3.000 square meter open-plan hall which can be subdivided for different events and conferences. A second pavilion with a surface of 500 m2 offers a completely equipped conference lounge with a capacity for 200 people.
many exhibitions and trade shows were held here in the 2000s, as well as special events, such as fashion shows and concerts.
All are welcome to the exhibition centre as indicated by the flags of nations flying proudly outside. The landscaping in front presents a water feature with resident ducks and an emblamatic golf hole. The green is an island and during the Gil era visiting celebrities were invited to show of their golfing skills by reaching the green.
Statue of labourer and fisherman
This traditional statue was moved to the entrance to the town as a focal point of the roundabout outside the n Estepona Conference and Exhibition Hall in 2001. This statue is of both farmer and fisherman - a tribute to the two main sources of the town's wealth. Elder residents will remember that the statue was originally located on the seafront promenade, opposite the former grand fountain of Avenida Juan Carlos.
On the roundabout it was admired by motorists and obviously too many judging by the number of vehicles that crashed into it! The provision of a large safety barrier which would obscure the statue (while protecting it) is a subject of furious debate throughout the local bars.
The statue was returned to its original position on the seafront promenade by Avenida Juan Carlos on 14 May 2021. José María García Urbano, the Mayor called it a 'historic moment' as the statue was returned to its rightful place, the previous move 'had been an error and carried out behind the back of the people of Estepona'.
The Pilars of Hercules
On the roundabout, the Farmer and Fisherman was replace with the statue of 'The Pilars of Hercules' featuring Hercules taming two lions flanked by two columns. If the image is familiar that is because it the Emblem of Andalucia and appears in the centre of the offical greean ansd white flag. The most famous similar statue is the one at the entrance to Cadiz city.
The Pillars of Hercules are the promontories that flank the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar. The northern Pillar (Calpe Mons) in Europe is the Rock of Gibraltar. The southern Pillar (Abila Mons) in Africa is either Jebel Musa in Morocco or Monte Hacho in Ceuta. According to Greek mythology, when Hercules had to perform twelve labours, the tenth was to fetch the Cattle of Geryon from the far West. "The pillars which Pindar calls the 'gates of Gades' are the farthermost limits reached by Hercules". See Wikipedia
The Pillars appear as supporters on the coat of arms of Kingdom of Spain, originating in sixteenth century at the time of King Charles I. The concept was an idea of the Italian humanist Luigi Marliano. The Andalucia's emblem's origin dates from the agreement made by the pro-autonomist Assembly of Ronda which took place at the Ronda Casino in 1918 and designed by Blas Infante. Article 3 of the 1982 Statute of Autonomy for Andalucia which stated:
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Andalucia will have its own emblem, approved de jure by its Parliament, in which the following legend shall appear: "ANDALUCÍA POR SÍ, PARA ESPAÑA Y LA HUMANIDAD" (Andalucia by herself, for Spain and for Humankind), taking into account the agreement adopted by the Assembly of Ronda of 1918."
