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Spain - Costa del Sol West - Malaga |
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Malaga is the second largest city in Andalusia and continues to be a busy and prosperous port, just as it was in Phoenician and Roman times. Many tourists overlook Malaga and head straight from its airport to some of the better known resorts on the Costa del Sol. However this vibrant Mediterranean city with is wide, tree lined avenues, remarkable monuments, stylish shops and beautiful gardens is well worth a visit.
History
Malaga was first founded by the Phoenicians, and later governed by the Romans and the Moors. The city flourished under the Moors, and Malaga became the principal port for the Emirate of Granada, until it was captured by the Christians in 1487.
The fortunes of the city were revived in the 19th Century when several new industries sprung up.
One of the most significant being the production of the sweet Malaga Dessert wine which became very popular in Victorian England. Sadly this industry was all but destroyed by the phylloxera bug that devastated the regions vineyards towards the end of the century.
At the outset of the Spanish civil war the city was very much a Republic stronghold, however after heavy bombing from Italian planes, it eventually fell to the Nationalists in 1937.
Places to Visit
Alcazaba
An Alcazaba is the name given to a castle built into the ramparts of a Moorish City. The Alcazaba in Malaga was built between the 8 th and 11 th centuries on the site of a Roman fortress, and includes two rings of enormous walls, as well as several towers and fortified gates. Whilst some of the site is still being restored much of it is now open to the public and beneath the Alcazaba a Roman ampitheatre has now been partially excavated.
Within the Palace of Alcazaba, is the Museo Arqueologico which houses an interesting collection of Phoenician, Roman and Morrish artifacts.
Castillo de Gibralfaro
The ruins of this 14th Century Morrish castle can be seen on the hills directly behind the Alcazaba. The castle was built in the 8 th Century by a Cordoban emir and later rebuilt in the 14th and 15th centuries. The views of Malaga from the castle are simple breathtaking.
Cathedral
Diego de Siloé began work on Malaga's Cathedral in 1528. Over the next two hundred years the Cathedral was heavily influenced by a mix of styles with the result that the outside has a baroque façade, whilst inside is Gothic and Renaissance. In 1765, half way through building work on the second tower, funds ran out and the southern tower was never completed. This gave the cathedral its nickname " La Manquita " - the one armed one.
Museo Picasso
In 2003 a new museum dedicated to Pablo Picasso opened in Malaga, the city of his birth. The museum houses 204 of his works, all donated by his heirs. Visitors have a unique opportunity to view rarely seen paintings and drawings of the artists wives, lovers and children.
Museum of Popular Arts and Customs
This small museum is great for children, and houses a collection of exhibits based on everyday life, including fishing and farming.
Beaches
Malaga has several kilometers of sandy beaches. The most convenient from the city centre is the Playa de la Malagueta.
Ferias and Festivals
The Malaga Feria is held in mid-August and runs for 9 days. The feria is the largest and most flamboyant in Andalucia and attracts visitors from across the region. There are parades and celebrations on the streets of the city, as well as nightly entertainment at the feria grounds.
Semana Santa - The Easter processions in Malaga are both moving and spectacular. It takes up to 150 bearers to carry each of the holy images used in the many processions that take place between Palm Sunday and Good Friday. |
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