Having snapped up cheap flights to Malaga, millions of tourists will see only the airport as they make their way to the sun spots along the Costa del Sol, such as Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Fuengirola, Marbella or Seville, but Malaga is one of Spain's under-discovered cities, bustling and cultural with a lively student population, and a passion for a parade.
The traces of several civilisations can be found here. High on a hill in the centre of the city sits the Alcazaba, a Moorish fortification dating from the 8th century. Beside it is a Roman amphitheatre and above it the Castillo de Gibralfaro, built in the 14th and 15th centuries on the site of a Phoenician lighthouse. The views of the city from here are stunning. The cathedral, known as La Manquita (One Armed Woman), dates back to the 16th century, built on the site of a mosque, and there are several other pretty churches in the city.
To underline their religious faith, Holy Week (Semana Santa) and, later, Corpus Christi, are marked with solemn and extravagant processions.
Pablo Picasso is Malaga's most famous son and there are two buildings associated with him. His birthplace Plaza de la Merced 15 is the Foundation Picasso and the Picasso museum.
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Malaga is characterised by balmy winters and hot, dry summers tempered by sea breezes. The average temperature in August is 28 degrees (Celsius). The coolest months are January and February with temperatures in the teens. Most of the rain falls between November and March, and the rest of the year is very dry.
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Peak Season:
June to October is peak season, and all Malaga flights and hotels must be reserved in advance.
The first week in August, Malaga celebrates its reconquest by Ferdinand and Isabella with a big fair, complete with parades and bullfights.
National Day is October 12 when the Spanish are also on holiday.
Off Season
Malaga was once a popular winter resort for the rich and famous, and is still a pleasure to visit in winter.
Many restaurants close while their owners go on holiday around October 15.
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Explore the historic centre on foot and take a walk along the Paseo del Parque, a palm-lined pedestrian promenade with banana trees, fountains, and ponds in the centre of town. The most popular walk is along the beach. Taxis are easy to hail, and the city buses also provide service around town.
Heading out to explore the Costa del Sol presents several transport options. Trains and buses are plentiful. Yet the most popular form of transport is the motor scooter, and helmets are required. There are taxis, but they are harder to find during certain times of day, such as when everyone is heading back to the hotel from the beach. During the peak season you may also have to wait for a taxi. Bicycles are available for rent, but are not allowed on the main highways.
Driving is usually straightforward, except during the peak of the tourist season when traffic can be quite heavy, especially on Sunday evenings and national holidays. However, be especially careful when driving the Costa del Sol’s main highway: it averages more than 100 fatalities a year.
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- Malaga has more than 20 museums. Most of them are in the city’s Historical Quarter including the Picasso museum, dolls house museum, bullring and bullfighting museum, contemporary art centre and religious art museum.
- Parts of the 11th-century Alcazaba (Moorish fortification) has been restored – walkways, ramparts, gardens and water gardens. Below the entrance, lie the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre dating from the second century (AD).
- Barcelona holds the lion’s share of Picasso’s work, but Malaga, the artist’s birthplace, also has a museum. It was founded thanks to the dedication and collection of Picasso’s heirs, Christine and Bernard Ruiz-Picasso. In addition to the permanent collection of such works as the Dora Maar paintings, the museum also has works on long-term loan including Portrait of a Woman with a Green-Collar Dress and several fine ceramics pieces.
- Malaga Cathedral: the cathedral was started in 1528 after Malaga was taken from the Moors. It was built on top of a former mosque and was not finished until 1782. It therefore has a mix of architectural styles including a Gothic fundament, Renaissance facades and Baroque towers. There is a museum too.
- Malaga has plenty of green attractions including Malaga Park, Pedro Luis Alonso Gardens, Puerta Oscura Gardens and the English Cemetary, Spain's first Protestant cemetery.
- The bullfighting ring in Malaga (in Paseo de Reding, La Malagueta) dates from 1874 and can hold almost 15,000 people.
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