III Open-Air Painting Contest of Motril

For one day each June, painters fan out across Motril and set up wherever the light and the subject take them. The town's heritage department runs the contest, so the focus is local: old streets, balconies, doorways, the odd landmark and the landscape stretching down towards the coast. From mid-morning until late afternoon, easels appear on corners and in squares, and you can watch a blank canvas slowly turn into a recognisable bit of town.

It costs nothing to stroll round and have a look, and that's half the fun. Wander the centre at your own pace, see how different artists tackle the same wall or street, and chat to a few if they fancy a break. Bring a coffee, take your time, and come back later in the day to see how far the paintings have come.