Make some
magical moments in Málaga on the Costa del Sol
When visiting
the Costa del Sol in southern Spain, many people consider the city of Málaga
to be merely an entry and exit point on their holidays. The plane flies
into the Málaga Costa del Sol airport, visitors disembark, grab
their luggage from the baggage carousel and zoom off to other areas along
the coastline.
Photo: View from Gibralfaro Castle - Courtesy & copyright Anne Sewell
However,
Málaga is a fascinating destination all on its own and is well worth
a visit, even for just a day during a Costa del Sol holiday. With many
great holiday
apartment and villa rentals available in all areas along the coast,
it is easy to get yourself settled in and start touring the area. The following
is a brief introduction into Málaga city and some of the sights.
How
to get to Málaga city
Getting
to Málaga city is no problem at all, as regular air-conditioned
buses run along the coastal highway from all the popular resorts. If staying
between Fuengirola and Málaga, there’s even the very convenient
Renfe Cercanias train service, which leaves every 20 minutes, running up
until late in the summer evenings.
Málaga
is located on a sweeping bay, with clean and beautiful beaches and is surrounded
by mountainous scenery. The city has a port where many cruise ships stop
over and Málaga enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine each year.
See some
of the sights in Málaga
The city
of Málaga is split into two distinct areas, the modern and more
recently built part of the city as well as the traditional and historic
quarter.
Photo: Birthplace of Pablo Picasso - Courtesy & copyright Anne Sewell
As
the birthplace of the famous Spanish artist, Pablo Picasso, the historic
quarter reveals a couple of interesting attractions including Picasso’s
birthplace, situated on a corner in the Plaza de la Merced. A reasonably
short walk nearby takes you to the Picasso Museum, displaying both the
artist’s work and also paintings by other popular artists.
Photo: Picasso Museum - Courtesy & copyright Anne Sewell
While
strolling the historic quarter, visit the beautiful Renaissance Cathedral
of Málaga with its stunning Baroque façade. One little warning,
however, the gypsies tend to haunt the entrance to the cathedral and will
do their very best to get a few euros from you. If they approach you, just
smile and say “no,” as it is always better to be safe than sorry!
Photo: Malaga Cathedral - Courtesy & copyright Anne Sewell
A
short walk away, La Alcazaba, built when the Moors occupied the area during
the mid 15th century is a definite must-see. It is possible to climb among
the ruins and as it runs up a hillside, there are some amazing views.
Down at the bottom can be seen signs of the Roman occupation in the area,
including a well-preserved Roman amphitheater.
Right
at the top, Gibralfaro Castle gives the best views at all. The castle is
located right next to the Parador de Málaga Gibralfaro, one of the
amazing Paradores
of Spain, a series of special hotels in converted palaces, castles,
convents and other unique buildings all over Spain. While some of these
hotels can be costly, it is well worth the experience of staying even for
just one night among sheer luxury and history.
Getting
back to the city itself, a green and leafy experience is available to take
the heat off the day. Stroll along Calle Alameda and visit the Botanical
Gardens. In the photo below, a statue appears to be warning those pigeons
to just stay away...
Photo: Malaga Botanical Gardens - Courtesy & copyright Anne Sewell
There
are several more interesting museums on offer in the city, including the
fascinating Automobile
Museum, with an array of 85 classic cars on display.
Those
with theatre and culture in mind should visit Málaga’s main theater,
the Teatro Cervantes where another son of Málaga, Antonio Banderas,
has performed in the past. He still appears on the stage there occasionally
when he's in town.
Shop
‘til you drop
Photo: Calle Larios - Courtesy & copyright Anne Sewell
Close
to the historic quarter, you can stroll down the best shopping street of
Málaga, Calle Larios, with its many smart shops, coffee bars and
banks. Along the way you will normally see quite a few human statues or
mimes, performing for a couple of euros.
Photo: In Calle Larios - Courtesy & copyright Anne Sewell
The
popular El Corte Inglés department store is also relatively close
by for those with the urge to shop ‘til they drop, with a selection of
clothing, perfumes, cosmetics and household items.
Photo: El Corte Inglés - Courtesy & copyright Anne Sewell
Dining
in Málaga
In Málaga,
visitors are spoiled for choice with many traditional and international
restaurants offering every kind of fare. There are also cafes and tapas
bars on virtually every corner. One thing every visitor must experience
at least once is the Andalucian specialities including “pescaito frito”,
a selection of small fried fish, washed down with a fine Málaga
wine.
The
city is fairly spread out, so if you only spend a day in Málaga,
it's worth catching the Hop-On Hop-Off bus, which takes you direct to all
the major sights in comfort and allows you to get on and off as many times
as you like during the day.
In
conclusion, the city of Málaga is definitely worth at least a one
day visit during your Costa del Sol holiday. Enjoy some more sights of
the city in the video below.
