Andalucía – Málaga

Apologies, this post should have been written and published back in February.

Málaga is famous for being the gateway to Spain’s beautiful Costa del Sol and the birthplace of Pablo Picasso. It has an easily accessible airport and sits right on the sea. We ended up taking three day trips to Málaga (because of said airport) then spent a full week there, and we only scratched its surface. 

If you want art and culture, you got it. If you want history and architecture, no problem. If you want to chill at the beach or party all night, Málaga has got you covered. As a lively city with near 600,000 inhabitants, there seems to be something for everyone. 

Festivals

Our first introduction to Málaga was during the Christmas season. The four of us met up with our sister-in-law, Niki, and her great kids, Rocco and Sofia. They live just west of the city and came into town for their annual tradition of getting some churros and dipping chocolate right before watching the festive light show on the majestic central street of La Calle Larios. They invited us to join in, and it was a great way to experience Málaga’s enthusiastic festivals. La Calle Larios is a beautiful pedestrian zone with residences and high-end shopping right in the heart of the old town area that is the central focal point for the city’s celebrations. It also happens to be one of the 50 most expensive streets in all of Europe!

Our second festive experience was during Carnival. Over the course of two weekends, there were various parades, concerts and other events for adults and families, alike. Confetti flooded the streets and sidewalks for blocks and blocks, yet it miraculously and impressively was cleaned away the next day. For the parade, the themed groups of adults were particularly entertaining and the groups of costumed children were so cute.

Then the Cultural and Historic Sites… 

• Of course, we had to visit the Picasso Museum. It resides in a beautiful 16th century palace and has a really interesting chronological collection of Picasso’s drawings, paintings and sculptures. A must-see for Picasso fans.
• The Málaga Cathedral is an impressive Baroque and Gothic-style basilica built atop a mosque. The development of the Cathedral began in the 15th century and continued throughout the centuries. In fact, you can notice today that one of the main towers is still yet to be built. Locals don’t actually want it completed as they like her the way she is and affectionately call her “La Manquita” (roughly “the one armed lady”). 🙂 
• The hillside military fortress, the Alcazaba, is one of the best-preserved in Spain. It was initially built by Muslim rulers in the 11th century but continued to be modified or rebuilt up to the 14th century. Because of our former visit to the Alhambra in Granada, we were able to recognize the characteristic design elements such as archways, geometric designs, patios, gardens and water features. 
• Just outside the Alcazaba is an ancient Roman Theater, discovered only in 1951 during a construction project. Apparently it was built in the 1st century and remained hidden under homes and streets for many, many centuries thereafter. It was fun to sit on the stepped seats and imagine what took place on its stage so long ago.

Other Sites

Outside the city center there are a plethora of other places to see, and we only managed a handful:

• Puerto de Málaga– Of course, being boat people, we had to visit the port. It is the oldest continuously-operated one in Spain and one of the oldest in the Med. Today, modern renovations have made a beautiful promenade used by joggers and strollers, alike. It is lined with various restaurants and bars and is a popular place to hang out.
• Centre Pompidou Málaga – Otherwise known as “The Cube,” this museum is a branch of the Paris contemporary art museum displaying works within – you guessed it – a colorful glass cube. We saw this funky building from the outside as it sits at one corner of the port and will just have to go back for a visit inside.
• Parque de Málaga– This is a relatively narrow but long strip of landscaped green space dividing the city from the port. With gardens, sculptures, fountains and wide walkways, this is a lovely resource for people in Málaga.
• Beaches – Duh. You can’t be a coastal city without plenty of long beaches for people to enjoy. It was February, though, so we weren’t doing any swimming.
• Mercado Central de Atarazanas – This traditional covered market is a great place to find all kinds of fresh and prepared foods plus several tapas bars. It also happens to have its own history and is considered an “architectural treasure” in the city. I always love visiting big city markets, and this is a great one.
• General architecture – Speaking of architecture, there are endless beautiful buildings to admire. We especially loved ones with the traditional Arabic influence, though even modern neighborhoods are nicely done.
• El Pimpi – This famous wine cellar in the heart of old Málaga is a place to go, eat, drink and be seen. So of course, Conor insisted we make a visit. Visitors can simply walk all the way through and admire the beautiful courtyards, walls lined with photos of famous visitors, and the various piles of autographed wine barrels. Apparently, you haven’t visited Málaga if you haven’t experienced El Pimpi. 😉 

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Overall, we really loved Málaga. It’s a lively, livable city with amazing history and a great vibe. And, it’s on the sea! What more could you want? 😉