Malaga, paradise city

"Por aquella mano materna fui llevado ligero

por tus calles ingrávidas. Pie desnudo en el día.

Pie desnudo en la noche. Luna grande. Sol puro.

Allí el cielo eras tú, ciudad que en él morabas.

Ciudad que en él volabas con tus alas abiertas."

Vicente Aleixandre

Malaga is one of those places you don't have such high expectations before visiting it, but you leave it pleasantly surprised and fascinated, longing for more. The Andalusian city is said to be the "new Barcelona" because of its great cultural diversity; it is considered the most cosmopolitan city in the south of Spain and if you ever visit it, you will see how much it has to offer. From the stunning harbor and beautiful old town to its unsurpassed gallery and beautiful beaches, there is something for everyone in this sophisticated, modern metropolis. And the good weather is almost guaranteed.

How many days does it take to explore Malaga? For me, personally, two days were "enough" , I spent the third one in a pretty village nearby, that I will tell you more about later. Why did I put "enough" in quotes? Because, as a matter of fact, if you, like me, fall in love with this city, even twenty days will not be enough for you to enjoy it. Here are some of the places I visited that I think were worth the time.

The Alcazaba of Malaga

The Alcazaba, a palatial fortification at the foot of the Gibralfaro Hill, is Malaga's most iconic landmark and the best-preserved Moorish fortress palace in Spain. The fortress was constructed by the Hamudidi dynasty in the early 11th century and is perhaps one of the most significant architectural works in the region.

Roman Theatre

The Roman theatre can be found in the southern part of Malaga, at the foot of the Alcabaza. It is estimated that it was constructed in the first century A.D. under the dominion of Augustus. The theatre represents the traditional Roman theatre architecture with the typical tiered seats and a grand entrance.

Málaga Cathedral

The Cathedral of Malaga was designed in the Renaissance style by Diego de Siloe and constructed between 1528 and 1782. It is located in the historic centre of town and represents one of the most important architectural structures in Malaga. Due to a lack of funds only the North tower was completed, but this notwithstanding the cathedral still counts as one of the most impressive throughout the region.

Gibralfaro Castle

The Gibralfaro Castle is a Moorish palace, which dates back to the 10th century and is located on Gibralfaro hill, overlooking Malaga city. The castle has been mostly restored and also features a military museum. It can be reached by bus or foot, but it is well-worth making the step climb to enjoy the scenic view over the city.

Picasso Museum

Malaga is not only the birthplace of Pablo Ruiz Picasso, but also offers a marvelous collection of his works. Picasso Museum is located in the centre of the old town, close to the Plaza de la Merced, where Picasso was born. It exhibits a selection of Picasso’s work from the late 19th century until his death in 1973. The 230 different works offer a unique insight into his developing style and are completed by constantly changing contemporary exhibitions.

Calle Larios

This street, the Andalusian equivalent of Fifth Avenue, is the fifth most expensive shopping street in all of Spain. Calle Larios or calle Marqués de Larios is where the main celebrations in the city take place, such as Easter, Carnival, Malaga Film Festival, la Feria de Agosto (August Fair) and others. In summer, you can walk down the street without suffering much from the heat, as it is covered with sheds hanging from building to building, creating a pleasant shade.

Puerto de Málaga

With its location on the Costa del Sol, Malaga boasts some of the most fantastic coastal sceneries in the country. Málaga’s port is located only a few minutes outside of the city center and impresses the visitor through its successful adaption to a modern setting. A variety of shops and restaurants are clustered around the area and make for a perfect break. No other port in southern Spain has become such a pleasant place to visit, so put it at the top of your list when visiting Malaga.

Botanical Garden

Malaga’s botanic garden is spread out over 25,000 square meters and was constructed in 1850 by the aristocratic couple, Jorge Loring Oyarzábal and Amalia Heredia Livermore. It is located outside of the city centre and can be reached by bus within half an hour. The park boasts more than 2000 different plant species from Europe, America, Asia, Africa and Oceania, as well as a huge variety of bird species. The garden is a magical place that will bring you peace and will make you appreciate the nature.

One of the jewels of the Costa del Sol is the beautiful little village of Mijas, which nestles comfortably in the mountainside at 428 meters above sea level. One of the finest examples of the white villages (pueblos blancos), Mijas still has much of its charm with its little whitewashed house perched on the hillside. The village has also managed to retain some of its quaint traditions, one of the most unusual being the donkey-taxis which line the central plaza.

Mijas is a typical Andalucian village with spectacular views of the coast and surrounding heavily wooded mountains. Mijas is a web of narrow cobbled streets complete with terraces overflowing with geraniums, red tile roofs, archways and of course, the occasional chirping canary. Mijas has one of the country's few oval bullrings (it's also small) and some interesting churches and other monuments giving insight to its past: Roman, Moorish and Spanish. Higher in the town the streets turn into flights of steps and the higher you climb the quieter it becomes, and the cheaper the cafés, restaurants and bars are. The most delicious paninis I have ever eaten were at La Bóveda del Flamenco.

Malaga is literally full of great places to dine out and there is something to suit all tastes and pockets. I will list all the tapas bars where I had lunch or dinner and my impressions of them.

El Tapeo de Cervantes

My personal favorite, this tapas bar was Heaven on Earth. Make sure you try the grilled octopus with a garnish of mashed potatoes (pulpo a la brasa) and their breaded shrimps in honey sauce.

Casa Lola

The tapas are cheap and very tasty, and the waiters are very nice.

El Pimpi

One of the most iconic places to eat in Malaga. To be honest, I personally didn't like it that much, but it's worth staying for a drink and enjoying the view of the Roman Theater to the sounds of street flamenco.

El Cortijo de Pepe

The bar is quite sheltered, but you can eat well at good prices.

El Mesón de Cervantes

This restaurant and El Tapeo de Cervantes, which I already mentioned, belong to the same restaurants chain. I enjoyed every bite there, and the staff was so polite and hospitable that I felt at home.

Keep in mind that everywhere the portions, and even half the portions (media ración) are large, so don't order too much food, because it will be impossible for you to eat everything. Make sure to try Malaga's traditional sweet wine, moscatel.

Few cities seem so complete to me, offering as much variety to tourists as Malaga. Malaga is an amazing city that meets every single requirement to be a great destination, both in summer and at any time of the year.

The best thing about Malaga though is not the sun, nor the food or the cultural attractions, but the people. The people in Malaga make the city so warm and enchanting. Those people who stop you on the street or you stop them, and you talk for a long time like old friends who haven't seen each other in years. Those people who will smile at you, guide you and would like to know more about you.

They say that some people feel like home. If you want to meet them, go to Malaga.