Malaga
is the largest city on the Costa del Sol and the second largest in
Andalucia. This is both a commercial city and a port with over half a
million inhabitants and the cities airport is Spains fifth busiest. The
river Rio Guadalmedina divides Malaga in two, though flows only
sporadically, to the east, the crowded old part of the town, and to the
west the modern urban city. It is a city full of history. The Alcazaba
is a fortress with patios, fountains and gardens surrounding a former
palace built during the XI century on Roman foundations. Nearby is the
Roman amphitheatre recently discovered and not far away the square of La
Merced and the house where Picasso was born which can be visited.
There
is an archaeological museum and nearby the old customs house which now
houses Malaga town hall close by to the bullring La Malagaueta. The
cathedral is the finest example of Spanish renaissance architecture; a
trip up the tower affords tremendous views across the city. There is
also the Gibralfaro, an old arab fortress which also offers tremendous
views from an even higher vantage point.
For a
day of leisure visit the Chinitas passageway or take a horse and
carriage ride. There is also the tourist bus - look for the signs -
where you can hop on, pay the fare, and hop off when the fancy takes
you. Tickets last for 24 hours. The city has many shops which includes a
branch of Spain's most popular department store, Cortes Ingles, plus
the Larios Centre, a large shopping complex next to the bus station
which houses a huge hypermarket on the ground floor. Locally there are
many vineyards producing grapes for the popular local wine and the
landscape is dotted with citrus orchards and vegetable farms.
The
coastline has not been forgotten in recent years with a re-generated El
Palo beach and a new promenade. In the east there is another beach area
which has been provided with a new promenade, gardens, palm trees and a
new park. The hotels here are some of the best in the region with two
paradores - one in the old part of the city and one near the beach
between Malaga and Torremolinos.
Picasso
Museum. The artist Picasso was born in Malaga and the biggest
collection of his work is actually in a museum in Barcelona. The house
where he was born can also be visited nearby this museum which only
opened in late 2003. This is a building which once was a palace and was
built in the 16th century. Many cannot understand or appreciate
Picasso's later work, but this collection of which there are 200
examples, was donated by Picasso's daughter in law and grandson and
includes some examples of his earlier and very beautiful paintings. The
building is in the old quarter of Malaga at c/ San Augustin, Malaga 8.
La
Concepcion. This, it is claimed, is the most beautiful and important
tropical garden in Spain. The garden was created in 1850 and is the best
example of a tropical forest anywhere in Europe. It has recently been
acquired by Malaga City Council and is situated at Carretera de Las
Pedrizas, which is on the main road out of Malaga to Antequera and is
well signposted. Closed Mondays. Museum of Malaga. This is basically a
rather compact but extremely good public art gallery in c/Alarcon Lujan
in Malaga, close to the Picasso Museum. Closed Mondays. Entrance is
free. There is a half hourly train service from Benalmadena / Arroyo de
la Miel to Malaga at 0:14 0:34 and 0:54 minutes past each hour. Timetable here.
Alight at Malaga Maria Zambrano for Cortes Ingles department store, and Malaga Centro for the city centre and sightseeing buses.
The main tourist office is in Plaza de la Marina. Telephone +34 952 12 20 20. Website.
