Malaga

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In Malaga nearly everything is within walking distance in or around the “Centro Antiguo”. Wherever you look, you are reminded of the city’s rich heritage – founded in 900 B.C. by Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths and Arabs.

Malaga’s most famous inhabitant, Pablo Picasso, was born at Plaza de la Merced in 1881. Picasso’s life and work is still present in most places and the citizens of Malaga are proud of their son. The opening of the Museo Picasso in 2003 was a hit and has made the city flourish culturally.

Next to the museum, the visitor can find both the Roman theatre, an Arab castle and, not far away, is the bull fighting ring. CAC, with its international contemporary art, is located on the other side of the old town. The Plaza Episcopal is adjacent to the Cathedral and has occasional exhibitions, often of high quality. Teatro Cervantes offers a wide range of concerts, dance and musicals.

“Ciudad del paraíso” – the paradise city. This is how the Nobel Prize winner for literature, Vicente Aleixandre, described Malaga. A city that vibrates with life and fascinates with its mixture of ancient history, folklore and modern culture. And of course, it is easy to imagine paradise in this harbour city with nearly 3.000 hours of sunshine a year and several kilometres of beach right in the centre.

Malaga is in a good location for various day trips along the coast, up to the small mountain villages or to one of the larger Andalusian cities. It is approximately a two hours’ drive from Granada, Córdoba or Seville in a hired car or by bus. In Granada, you must not miss the fabulous Moorish palace Alhambra, the Gothic cathedral and the Arab quarters in the Albaicín.

In Córdoba, a walk to the old Jewish quarters and La Mezquita is recommended. In Seville, the capital of Andalucia, you should visit the Santa Cruz and Real Alcázar districts at the heart of the city. Along the entire Costa del Sol it is easy to take a bus or train to most cities such as Fuengirola, Torremolinos and Marbella. Here there are lovely beaches, nice bars and restaurants as well as good opportunities for shopping. Tips for families are Tivoli World in Benalmádena, Aqualand in Torremolinos and Selwo in Estepona.

In Puerto Banús you can view the gigantic luxury yachts, enjoy designer name shopping and mix with the rich and famous at the chic bars on the sea front. There are also yachts, discothèques, bars and restaurants in Puerto Marina in Benalmádena. Ronda is a picturesque town located on a precipitous limestone cliff. The road leading there from San Pedro de Alcántara on the coast is a dizzy mountain trip.

In Malaga you will not find that many restaurants with white tablecloths. This is a city full of informal bars packed with people and a wide range of tapas. In Malaga they generally eat a lot of fish and shellfish, at so-called “chiringuitos” on the beach and on the Paseo Marítimo in Pedregalejo.

There are not many trendy, international-style cafés in Malaga but there are some genuine patisseries and cosy teashops in Arab-inspired surroundings. Not to forget the “churrerias”, shops selling churros dipped in hot chocolate or café au lait.

In the centre of Malaga it is not difficult to find a bar with music and people chatting, there are many in close proximity to each other. The inhabitants of Malaga do not go out before midnight and party until dawn. In the centre, bars with smaller dance floors predominate. If you are looking for a proper discothèque, you should go to Puerto Marina in Benalmádena.

Calle Larios and Calle Nueva, the street running parallel to it, are the main shopping streets in Malaga for shoes and clothes. Shoes can be found, for example, at Antonio Parriego and Nicolas on Calle Larios. You can also find the Spanish clothes shops Mango, Massimo Dutti, Bershka and Pull & Bear there. Zara is located on the side street Liborio García.

In the Centro Larios shopping centre, apart from clothes shops, there are cinemas and restaurants. Designer clothes can be found at El Corte Inglés Armani, Versace, Dolce Galbana at Pinsapo, Calle Larios. For those looking for a gift, a souvenir, or something good to eat, a visit to Mercado Central Atarazanas is recommended. Here you can buy meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, olives, nuts, spices, cheese and pork all at reasonable prices. Apart from this, the market is a delight for the eye.

At Ultramarinos Zoilo on Calle Granada, you can buy typical Málaga Dulce or Moscatel sweet wine, serrano pork, good cheeses and sausages, raisins from the province and sweets such as “mantecados,” a kind of cake that is mainly eaten at Christmas. Those wanting a slightly more exclusive souvenir, can buy a fan in one of the specialised shops on Calle Nueva.