YourAndalucia

Malaga is a wonderful Renaissance city with beautiful wide boulevards, elegant buildings and a whole host of attractions to explore. Make sure that Malaga City is on your holiday itinerary when you are visiting Spain's Costa del Sol.

The main Malaga attractions include:-

Malaga Historical Sights

• The Old Town Area – Malaga's attractive Old Town area is perfect for a stroll and is also home to many of Malaga's cultural attractions, such as the cathedral, the Palacio Episcopal, the Museo Picasso and the Casa Natal de Picasso.

• Malaga Cathedral – This cathedral was built between the 16th and 18th centuries on the site of a Moorish mosque. The only remaining part of the original mosque is the Patio de los Naranjos, a pretty courtyard of orange trees. The cathedral is definitely worth a visit with its 40m domed ceiling, 15 chapels, Renaissance and Baroque interior, 18th century artwork and its museum of religious items, some of which date back 500 years. The cathedral's nickname, La Manquita (one armed woman), refers to its single tower – there were plans for two.

• The Alcazaba – Parts of this fortress date back to the 8th century, but most of it is from the 11th century. In its heyday, it was a luxurious palace of the Muslim governors of the area, as well as being a fortress. Much of its beauty remains today and it is a delight to stroll around its leafy terraces and landscaped gardens, while listening to the fountains bubble away. The Alcazaba is also a great place to go to enjoy a view over Malaga City and the harbour.

• Castillo de Gibralfaro – This Moorish castle originally dates back to the 8th century, when it was built by Abd ar-Rahman I, but was rebuilt in the 14th century by Yusef I. Its name, “Gibralfaro”, comes from “gebel-faro” meaning “rock of the lighthouse” because the original building served as a lighthouse.
  Although the only surviving parts of this castle are its ramparts, it is still a must-see. The walk up the hill to the castle and a walk around the ramparts give great views over Malaga City, as well as giving visitors the chance to enjoy pretty terraces. The military museum is also worth a visit.

• Museo Picasso – The Picasso Museum celebrates the fact that Malaga is the birthplace of this great master. This museum can be found in the Palacio de Buenavista on Calle San Agustin, just a short walk from the Cathedral. Here, you will find 204 works of art from the great man, as well as temporary exhibitions. Don't miss out on visiting the museum's basement which contains archaeological remains from Phoenician, Roman, Islamic and Renaissance periods.
  The museum has a bookshop and a cafe for light refreshments. Find out about opening times and entrance fees at http://www.museopicassomalaga.org/

• Casa Natal de Picasso – While you're visiting the museum, don't forget to visit Picasso's birthplace, the Casa Natal de Picasso, just a few minutes walk away in the Plaza de la Merced. This official heritage site has exhibition rooms, a replica artist's studio, works by Picasso and his father (José Ruiz Blasco), Picasso memorabilia and 3,500 pieces of contemporary art by artists such as Miró, Bacon and Moore. It is more than just a birthplace, it is also a gallery, museum and library. Click here to find out more about the Picasso Foundation and the Casa Natal.
• Los Jardines de la Concepción (El Jardin Botanico) – These botanical gardens can be found about 4km north of Malaga City centre and date back to the mid 19th century. These beautiful gardens were created by Amalia Heredia Livermore and her husband Jorge Loring Oyarzabal who wanted wanted to re-create a lush tropical forest. The gardens are known for their springtime wisteria blooms, their 5000 plants, a tree and plant museum and the Paseo de las Palmeras de Canarias which leads to a panoramic view over Malaga and the surrounding countryside.
  You can either stroll around at your leisure or go on the 90 minute guided tour. Plant and tree specimens are labelled for your information. To get to the gardens, you need to take the A45 (Antequera road) north out of Malaga (from the A7 ring road) to Km 166 exit and then follow the signs for the Jardin Botanico.
• Malaga City Beaches – One of Malaga City's attractions for holidaymakers is its miles of sandy beaches. Great Malaga beaches include Playa de la Malagueta, Playa de Pedregalejo and Playa del Palo. Click here to go to the beach page.