Coín. An application for legally protected status for Coín centre has been made after recent improvements to a number of historic buildings in the town. The council hopes that getting official recognition for the monuments, buildings and old town areas would protect their future. “It would give justice to the history of Coín and its relevance as one of the basic pillars in the development of the province of Malaga and the strength of its people” said Coín’s Councillor for Development, Francisco Santos.

Coín town hall says that being classified as a Conjunto Hístorico would recognise the importance of the town and reflect the passage of different cultures over the years, from the Stone Age, through to Greek settlers, Phoenicians, Iberians, Romans and the 700 years that the area was under Arab rule. Citing Coín’s position as the judicial and administrative capital for East Malaga in the 14th Century, through to the granting of its ‘ciudad’ status by King Alfonso XIII in 1930, the councillors from Coín say that if granted, the recognition of the richness of the history in the town would open doors to more grants at both regional and national levels that would help with the maintenance of buildings and monuments that currently need attention, as well as making the town more attractive to tourists. In addition, Conjunto Hístorico status would provide the town with better planning controls over development and provide a framework for new rules on how properties in the town are modernised externally.