Málaga Spain: Málaga Cathedral and Gibralfaro near Alcazaba
Malaga is a cultural city that holds art galleries, fashion boutiques and an edgy new creative quarter, all under near-constant sunshine and golden-sand beaches. If that hasn’t convinced you yet, let´s see how we can improve your experience in this city.
WHY VISIT MALAGA IN SPAIN?
Málaga is one of the most ancient cities of Spain. Its lands have been settled by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and Moors, amongst others. All of these settlers have left their mark on the main sites of Málaga: the Alcazaba, the Roman Theatre, the Gibralfaro Castle and the Cathedral.
If you take the combination of sea and culture and add a lively atmosphere, plenty of tapas and fashionable neighborhoods like Soho, the result is an exciting city that everyone would want to discover. Because if everyone says that Malaga is prettier than ever then it must be true.
THE MALAGA CATHEDRAL: DESIGN AND ART
The cathedral is one of the best places to visit in Malaga. It’s one of the tallest buildings from Andalusia, so you can see it from far away! Construction work started in the 16th century, on the foundations of the city’s old mosque.
Construction lasted for 200 years, and were suddenly blocked because of a lack of funding. As a result, the cathedral was never completely finished, and has only one bell tower (whereas 2 were planned to be build). Locals call it “La Manquita” (meaning the armless one).
You can climb the 200 steps to go up the 87 meters high tower and you’ll be able to enjoy a 360° scenic view over the whole city.
Don’t miss out on the interiors either to see the decorated ceiling, the beautiful stained-glass windows, the chapels or even the 4000 pipes organ.
STOP BY GIBRALFARO CASTLE IN MALAGA SPAIN
The magnificent Castillo de Gibralfaro sits on a high hill overlooking Malaga city and port, and dates back to the 10th century. You can see it in both Malaga city and province’s seal and flag.
The name comes from the Arabic Yabal (mountain) and the Greek Faruk (lighthouse), hence Gibralfaro.
The main courtyard as you enter the castle houses an Interpretation Centre, formerly the Military Museum, with an exhibition of the history of the Gibralfaro as seen by its occupants through time. Also, you can climb the Torre Mayor for spectacular views over the city.
ALCAZABA (MALAGA) IS A GOOD IDEA
Nobody would doubt the fact that Malaga has a great cultural richness because a lot of civilizations passed through this city, leaving some important traces. One of the greatest gifts that Muslims have left here is the Alcazaba which is at the same time one of the most important monuments in Andalusia.
The Alcazaba is without any doubts the heart of Malaga. Every year, this monument is visited by thousands and thousands of people on their way through the city.
Together with the Castle of Gibralfaro and the Cathedral, the Alcazaba dominates the scene with one of the most beautiful views of the city that you can admire while visiting the Muelle Uno.
MÁLAGA’S ROMAN THEATRE: AN INCREDIBLE DISCOVERY HIDDEN UNDERGROUND
The “Teatro Romano” from Malaga is the oldest monument in this city. After remaining hidden for centuries, the Roman Theatre in Malaga (RTM) was discovered in 1951. It is located in the historic center of the city, at the foot of the Alcazaba hill.
The Roman theater in Malaga is the archaeological remains of the ancient Malacca theater and the main vestige of the Roman Empire’s presence in this city.
It is medium-sized and is largely intact, in particular, the cavea or bleachers are very well preserved. The orchestra is richly decorated with large marble slabs, and the scaena – or main stage-, has been reproduced with a wooden floor, similar to the one that would have been used.
EXPLORE THE SOHO MÁLAGA: THE STREET ART DISTRICT
If you love street art, then Soho Malaga, a lively alternative neighbourhood, is a place not to be missed. Apart from being a perfect summer destination Málaga is also an Andalusian art capital.
Soho is a cultural and commercial area located close to the central part of the city. Here you can admire the work of graffiti artists and get a different view of the beautiful city of Malaga.
Some of these painted buildings have already become part of street art and graffiti culture, their unique facades making their way around the world under the internationally known “Soho” brand.
DON’T MISS “MUSEO CARMEN THYSSEN”, MÁLAGA (SPAIN)
The Carmen Thyssen Museum from Málaga is the most comprehensive collection of 19th-century Andalusian painting in Spain. This museum is located in the Palacio de Villalón, a 16th-century building located in the heart of Málaga. The permanent collection consists of 230 works that brilliantly summarize 19th-century Spanish art.
Since 1992 the Thyssen family’s art collection has been on display at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid. However, Carmen Thyssen has been an art collector since the 1980s, and her personal collection is shown separately in the Malaga´s museum.
CENTRE POMPIDOU FROM MÁLAGA: AN ATTRACTIVE, DIFFERENT MUSEUM
The Centre Pompidou Málaga opened in 2015 and has become the first branch of the Paris-based art museum outside of France. It walks through art from the 20th and 21st centuries with some of the most important works in modern and contemporary art.
It has 2,000 square meters where visitors can walk through the history of the art of our time. It also organizes a full cultural calendar dedicated to dance, theatre, spoken-word and cinema.
What sets the Centre Pompidou apart from the other institutions that make up the long list of art galleries in Málaga is its commitment to making modern art accessible to all. In fact, the museum itself makes it clear that its programme is geared towards people who don’t visit museums regularly.
HEAD MALAGA IN YOUR NEXT TRIP TO SPAIN
Picasso’s hometown
If you think the Costa del Sol is soulless, you clearly haven’t been to Málaga. Beyond its sunny beaches, this Andalusian city has a fascinating cultural side. Besides, the birthplace of Pablo Picasso has reinvented itself in recent years, inaugurating museums for all tastes.
The charming Malaga
Many people when they visit Malaga describe it as charming. There’s something about the old quarter with its elegant architecture, pavement cafés and little shops that makes it magic.
