Malaga

Make the most of your time in Malaga, use the information provided on this web site by clicking on the links to plan your visit.

Taking up a prime location on the southern coast of Spain, Málaga is a port city looking out at the Mediterranean Sea and is the capital of the ever-popular Costa del Sol. More than eight-and-a-half million tourists flood into the Andalucian city every year making it one of the Iberian country’s more popular places to visit. Málaga is not only about sun, sea and sand however, it is also home to a number of impressive monuments and historical buildings, as well as various shopping, tapas and restaurant areas. Málaga is famous as the birthplace of the likes of world-renowned artist Pablo Picasso and actor Antonio Banderas. The city, despite formerly being seen as inferior to neighbouring Sevilla, now competes on a level playing field, and does indeed benefit from its position on the coast due to the sea breeze from the Mediterranean and its mountains which protect it from wintery weather. There are also two rivers which flow through the city - Guadalmedina and Guadalhorce.
Málaga’s history goes as far back as 1,000 BC when the Phoenicians founded it as Malaka. It, like the rest of the Iberian Peninsula, was conquered by the Moors in the 700s when it became known by the more Arabic name of Malaqah and serves as an important trade route due to its sizeable port. During the Reconquista the Moors were defeated in 1487 as the Moorish Empire declined. By the 20th century, there was a Nationalist war waged by General Franco but Málaga escaped relatively unscathed. Spain saw a significant upturn in the 1960s and 70s and this brought a welcome tourism boost to Málaga thanks to its position on the Costa del Sol.

Malaga The Andalucian city’s population is approximately 560,000 and grows year on year while the airport handles millions of ingoing and outgoing passengers annually. There is a large university campus in the city, as well as an International Congress Centre in the western part. Further expansion is evident in the construction of the Metro which will aid travel around the city. Málaga is home to a wide range of eating venues and nightlife from the top class Michelin-rated to the smaller-scale tapas bars. Visitors also come to the area to enjoy the annual International Jazz Festival and the Film Festival while the café culture also proves popular.
Providing another major attraction, the Picasso Museum was opened in 2003 bringing further attention to the fact the artist was born in the city. Ushering in a sense of reverence is the Baroque Cathedral which, like so many of Spain’s other cathedrals, was built on the site of a former mosque. Málaga also boasts sights such as the fantastic 14th century Gibralfaro Castle, the Málaga walls, La Alcazaba walls which date back to the 700s and the Roman theatre and amphitheatre. Of course the beaches are a major attraction to those visiting the city, while for those less accustomed to beaches, there are Botanical Gardens just outside the city and various museums.

In 2004 Málaga submitted its bid to become European Capital of Culture for 2016, signalling its forward looking approach and the significance of its array of cultural activities and attractions. It also devotes time to celebrating Semana Santa and the Málaga Fair which prove the most well-known of the city’s festivals.