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Malaga Tourist

Malaga has been popular with foreign tourists for many years; though initially as a gateway to some of the Costa's more exclusive offerings (namely Puerto Banus & Marbella). The Costa del Sol was promoted internationally for tourism as early as the 1940's, though then attracting (mainly) native Spaniards. It was not until the 50's that things really started to take off, with celebrities such as Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly, Marlon Brando, & European royalty visiting. Interest gathered pace & in 1962 the first flight connections were established between Malaga's international airport & several major European cities. By 1968 a new terminal & control tower had been added, & that year 100,000 passengers passed through. The interest of the international community was official, & the package tour holiday industry was born. Many fishermen & farmers became hoteliers & restaurateurs as the Costa's newfound business swept southwards from its starting point in Torremolinos.

Quite how much Malaga would prosper over the years was unforeseeable; today it is Spain's 5th most important city, much of it built with the income from the tourist industry. Home to some 600,000 inhabitants it still performs a mixed role as a busy port & industrial centre, as well as the gateway to one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world. Strangely the city seems untainted by tourism, though it has become increasingly popular in recent years. Part of Malaga's attraction is its intriguing layout, making it particularly appealing to explore. It is a maze of narrow streets, historic buildings & landmarks, quaint old fashioned shops, stately gardens, & bustling squares. Its people are welcoming & hospitable, & its atmosphere vibrant.

If you are visiting Malaga for the purpose of shopping, eating or for an evening drink the places to head for are the entwined Marques de Larios, Plaza de la Constitucion & Calle de Granada. These three streets form the backbone of the shopping district & the cities thriving nightlife. Most of the narrow side streets in the area are filled with tapas bars & bodegas (old fashioned wine shops). The weekends are of course the best time to enjoy the nightlife here, but do be aware it can become very busy, with many locals beginning their evening at 11/12pm & not returning home until the early hours.

Malaga is of course an ancient city; founded by Phoenician traders some 3000 years ago, & having experienced Carthaginian, Roman & Moorish rule. This has left an indelible mark on its people, culture & tradition, as well as a physical one in the form of countless architectural treasures. Most of the main sights are to be found (as is usually the case) around the town centre & port.

Any sightseeing tour of Malaga must begin with the infamous Alcazaba fortification & Gibralfaro castle, placed on a hilltop overlooking the older parts of the city. Below lays a Roman theatre (one of the first in Spain) & farther down still a captivating Muslim Patio with orange trees & brightly coloured flower beds. The cities Cathedral is worth a visit, itself an interesting mix of architectural styles resulting from the 200 or so years it took to construct. The Cathedral's interior is now home to many artistic treasures, as is the nearby Bishop's Palace, or at least the half of it that is home to the Museum of Religious Art. This leads us onto the 16th century Buena Vista Palace which houses the Museum of Fine Arts, a large establishment with 20 or so rooms showing many works including some of those by Picasso. Picasso is of course Malaga's most famous son; the house where he was born (in the Plaza de Mercad) is open to the public, hosting an archive of his life & work. The last stop before the ancient city walls should be the Las Atarazanas market, an Arabic bazaar within the walls of an ancient (roofless) mosque; & to the Paseo del Parque (park promenade) a 100 year old botanical masterpiece.