The port city of Malaga has been in the midst of historical events since ancient times, because it stands at the crossroads of sea and land, is a link between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, and it is also a bridge between the Islamist world and the Christian one. Attractions were added to each ruling culture in the Pyrenees in its own way. The Romans taught the Spaniards how to build arenas, the Phoenicians showed them how to build ships, opened up an abundance of warm waters and trade routes, and local artisans, builders and goldsmiths adopted the best, made someone else’s property their own.
Generations have accumulated layers of mother-of-pearl like pearls, created the gloss of their hometown, filled neighborhoods with churches, planted alleys, built shopping centers and entertainment venues. The most important historical and cultural monuments function as museums. Historical expositions are required at churches and cathedrals, and tourists are kindly received there.
Under the open sky — port, Roman theater, Moorish fortifications, bullfighting arena, botanical garden. Sometimes guests manage to visit 10-15 places in a day. But most attractions need to be given at least an hour or two. It is better — when they go for a whole day to visit one monument. You need to start from the very beginning. So, let’s tell you about the main attractions of Malaga.
Cruise Port
On the Costa del Sol, on the road to the Pillars of Gibraltar in the 8th century BC, the Phoenicians built a deep-water pier and founded the city of Malaga. Today, tourist flows attract the Andalusian Picasso Museum and the native places of actor Antonio Banderas from all over the world. A cruise terminal was built for travelers by sea in 2011.
It is located opposite the commercial port. The total area of the harbor is 7000 m2. Giant liners are a tourist attraction in their own right. A pedestrian alley leads from the cruise terminal to the city. The ancient lighthouse of La Farola will serve as a guide during the walk. After 15 minutes of the boardwalk, tourists get to the palm park Paseo Parque, but you can turn off to the city beach.
It’s the closest — just a 3-minute walk. The Paseo de la Farola alley ends. Behind it is the arena “La Malagueta”, built for bullfighting. But they stay on Parkovaya Street for a long time: they invite shops, cafes, and attractions. Regular buses leave the terminal for the city.
Fortress
One of the many alcazabs in Spain is the Malaga Fortress. It is the best preserved structure of this type (in terms of its degree of preservation, it competes only with the Syrian one). Fortifications, called alcazabs, were built from the VIII century by Barbary rulers as a chain of fort posts, united by long walls and watch posts. Inside the fortress are the foundations of the garrison barracks, a palace among orange trees, fountains. Outside is a Roman amphitheater from the first century AD.
The ascent to the citadel is carried out along a steep winding road. But the reward will be a passing visit to the landscaped gardens of the Governor’s apartments, built in the XI-XIV century. Apartments Cuartos de Granada adapted as an archaeological museum.
Hibralfaro Fortress
Castillo de Gibraltar — Spanish name. The Arabic name is derived from the merger of “khibral” and “faro”, which means”rock above the lighthouse”. The port needed a defensive structure, and Emir Yusuf I ordered it to be built. Applied fortification tricks: between the inner and outer walls there is a narrow passage to the neighboring fort-Malaga Alcazaba. The “trap” is hard to guess.
The Spanish King Ferdinand made the fortress, which was conquered from the Muslims in 1492, his residence. The Hibralfaro weapons and armor exhibition clearly illustrates the events of Reconista-the Crusader war with the Moors.
Town Hall
Behind the waterfront park, between Avenue Cervantes and Hibralfaro Hill, the Casa consistorial City Hall is surrounded by greenery. For a provincial government, it is an extraordinary luxury building. But the architect of Malaga in 1912 — 1917 was a native of Andalusia, the brilliant Guerrero Strachana. Strachana selflessly served his fellow countrymen, for which he was duly rewarded: in 1928-1930, the architect led as head of the city government.
The Malaga Consistory House, the Church of the Sacred Heart, the Prince of Asturias Hotel, and private villas designed by the great Andalusian create a unique image of today’s Malaga: the Moorish style is organically combined with neocolonial, Baroque and classical. The city hall is decorated with sculptures of sailors, fishermen, merchants — the subjects are far from palatial.
Plaza de Toros “La Malagueta”
Bullfighting as a legacy of Mithrianism has existed in Spain for 5 millennia. Defending the human right to be a supreme being, the bullfighter engages in a battle with a formidable force. Malaga raised its hero. Friend of Ernest Hemingway and hero of the novel “Dangerous Summer” – matador Antonio Ardonez thousands of fearless victories over the bull was honored to have a Museum of Glory Ardonez in the gallery of the Malaga bullring.
The octagonal 52-meter arena was designed by Joaquin Rukoba in the Moorish style specifically for the burning national fun. It has the first category. Bullfighting tickets are distributed only on the Internet (in order to counteract speculation).
Automobile Museum
Spanish billionaire Joao Magalhaes put his car collection on public display in 2010. 100 rare models-starting from motorcycle belts and ending with exclusive gold-plated in rhinestones-in total, the collection costs 25 million euros. “Black Widow” of the king, released in a single copy, racing, on water as fuel-here each car is unique in its own way.
Cars-actors, babies, luxuriously tuned for noble persons-they are not just vehicles. The miracle technique is set off by another, no less spectacular exhibition: designer women’s dresses and accessories. Beautiful Life Theater! It is often visited by couples. The automuseum regularly hosts women’s clothing shows.
Glass and Crystal Museum
The 18th-century Roman-style villa adapted for the Vidrio y Cristal Museum is commendable for its careful and authentic restoration. The visitor is under the impression that he is visiting a Spanish nobleman. The name is conditional: furniture, carpets, portraits, bronze, tapestries are presented — all types of decorative and applied art, not just glass.
The owner (private museum) is proud of the stained glass windows of pre-Raphaelite masters, displayed with lights and in exquisite frames. Modernist relief casting, Venetian colored and sulfide glass, Chinese and Meissen porcelain are presented.
Center for Contemporary Art
There are 4 hundred paintings and installations by contemporary artists on 2,400 m2 of the exhibition. The birthplace of Picasso and Dali does not risk missing out on another genius, so the Museum hosts thematic, author’s exhibitions and art history seminars around all the materialized messages of creative personalities from the Spanish lands and surrounding areas, regardless of the controversial style and direction.
In the halls of the former tobacco factory, converted to the latest gallery art, works by Louise Bourgeois, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Gerhard Richter, Paul McCarthy, Anish Kapoor, Raymond Pettibon, Ron Mueck, Yoshitomo Nara are displayed. Children in the museum prefer interactive objects.
Pompidou Center
On March 28, 2015, the glass doors of El Cubo were officially opened. The cost of the new Malaga gallery, designed to show masterpieces of the Paris Center for Contemporary Art. Georges Pompidou cost the city’s treasury and sponsors 5 million euros. 6000 m2 of exhibition halls and utility rooms could be lost between the port and the embankment, because the center consists of 2 underground floors. But, thanks to the multi-colored faces of the Cube, it can be seen from afar.
The 20th-century Painting Hall accommodates paintings by Picasso, Chagall, Kandinsky, Magritte, Kahlo, Miro, Bacon, Ernst, Kooning, De Chirico — a total of 80 masterpieces of postmodern classics have been leased until 2020.
The Cathedral
Construction of the Cathedral of the Incarnation on the site of the destroyed mosque began in 1524, and was completed in 254 years. 84 m – the height of the tower, the dome soared by 40 m. One of the tallest buildings in Andalusia, the choir is decorated with 42 figures of Catholic saints made by wood carvers Pedro de Mena, Ortizo de Vargas and Giuseppe Alfaro.
A museum of religious objects has been created at the cathedral, some of them are 500 years old. 17th-century sculptures, salaries, vessels, and clerical robes are juxtaposed with paintings by Luis Morales and Joseph de Ribera. Bishop Santos Olivera leads the tour in the second hall of the museum. It tells about the history of the episcopate’s jewelry.
Roman Theater
Construction of the House of culture stopped in 1951: we came across ancient Roman stone blocks at the foot of the Alcazaba walls. They were seen in the walls of all the Moorish fortresses here. As a result of excavations, the Roman amphitheater of the time of Emperor Augustus appeared in its original form. Only wooden structures were not preserved.
The shape is special: not circular, but elongated, oval. 32 m is its width. 13 tiers for seating are still full: since 2011, concerts and shows have been held in the arena. The acoustics of the arena are excellent. Admission to the review is free. A tour car will pick you up from Terminal 1. The city sightseeing tour includes a stop at the Roman Theater.
Merced Square
In one of the houses adjacent to the square lived the great Picasso. There is a monument to the artist and a museum here. However, the main dominant of the space is the obelisk to another son of Andalusia — General Torrijos. A page of the royal court, Jose Maria de Torrijos rose to high officer ranks, fought with Napoleonic France, but soon became a staunch Republican himself.
In 1831, Torrijos and 48 of his associates landed on the beach, hoping to start a liberation movement, but the conspirators were captured and executed on the shore of their hometown. You can pay homage to Picasso’s talent on any day of the week at his home on Granada Street. After walking one block towards the sea, fans of the founder of Cubism get to the idol museum.
Marquez de Larios Street
Marques de Larios stretches from the embankment to Constitution Square, ending at the square fountain of the XVI century. For a long time, the avenue was called the Main one. Perestroika of the Main Building was voted on May 1, 1880. In order to finance the construction, the municipal authorities issued shares, most of which were purchased by the Marquez de Larios family.
Highway Architects: Jose Maria Sancha, Manuel Rivera, and Eduardo Viana Strahan-Cardenas (the latter is the author of Chicago Central). The designers worked under the direction of the main shareholder of the project. The total number of specialists involved is 1200. The bombing of the civil War of 1936-1939 caused significant damage to the main street. But by 2002, it was restored and handed over to residents, the avenue became pedestrian.
Boutiques, cafes and restaurants call out from both sides of the Marques de Larios. It is impossible not to linger here, because you want to listen to street musicians, take selfies with live sculptures. Thanks to the amazing lighting in the form of a Gothic nave, Marquez Street is full until the morning. As a sign of gratitude, the townspeople installed a monument to their patron in the sculpture park — he is the first among the celebrities of Andalusia.
Central Market of Atarazanas
The market was built in 1879 by Joaquin Rukoba on the site of the Nasrid shipyard of Atarasan. The pavilion with a glass roof is decorated with a colorful stained glass window over the entrance arch. The spacious galleries are separated by cast-iron columns in the Moorish style. There is a fish day and jamon week at the market, and fruit is often sold at summer prices in the middle of winter. There is also a very exotic food here, which, however, you can buy without fear – sellers will willingly explain the cooking method.
La Concepcion Botanical Garden
Seven kilometers separate the edge of the city and the Botanical Garden, created 150 years ago by the Loring couple. French gardener Chamus, who created the park in the style of “English”, could not resist the temptation to grow countless tropical plants. The aborigines of the tropics have successfully taken root. The garden is home to palm trees, cacti, lemon trees, millennial olives, cypresses — an endless variety of types and forms among ponds, streams and fountains.
But the Spaniards most appreciate the Mediterranean pines: these giants guarantee a thick shade, which is very important in the heat. La Concepcion observation decks provide an opportunity to view the port and city from afar. Municipal garden.
Granada Top 30 Must-See Attractions: A Complete Travel Guide
