History
Malaga has been subjected to several invasions over the years, due to its strategic position on the coast of the Mediterranean. The Phoenicians founded the city of Malaka over 3000 years ago. The town became an important regional centre and was mined for silver and copper. The town was conquered by the Carthaginians in around 550BC and all trade and commerce in the area passed to them. Their reign would last until the Roman invasion of the entire Iberian Peninsular around 200BC.
The Romans considered the city of Malaga to be of huge regional importance and built a port and a theatre during their rule. Christianity had taken hold in the city by the 4th century and Malaga was one of the most prosperous cities in the whole of the Roman Empire. During the collapse of the Roman Empire, the coasts of Spain were continually invaded by small Visigoth tribes. In 623, the Visigoths finally conquered the city and forced the remaining Roman troops to leave the area.
The Visigoth rule was to be a short one, as in 711, the Moors invaded Iberia. The Moors also saw the strategic and economic importance of the town and from 743, a programme of city expansion started. During this period of construction, the town wall was built, as well the five great gates. Christian invaders began to attack the cities of the Iberian Peninsular as early as the 14th century, however, it wasn’t until 1487 that the Christians finally defeated the Moors and took control of Malaga.
The town began to change its appearance during the years after the Christian invasion. Mosques, Moorish monuments and fortifications were demolished and replaced with symbols of Christianity. The existing Muslims were expelled, forced into slavery or executed. The Christians did keep the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro which were used to defend the town from attacks. The town would endure several catastrophes including epidemics, invasions by the French and earthquakes during the next three centuries. Malaga would struggle through several crises until the 1960s, when the tourism industry began to explode.
Population
Malaga is located in the autonomous community of Andalucia and has a population of around 570,000. It is the second largest city in Andalucia and the sixth largest in the whole of Spain. Malaga has the honour of being the southernmost city in Europe. Malaga is also part of the highly popular Costa del Sol region and enjoys huge numbers of visitors every year.
Places to Visit
Malaga Cathedral – Locally referred to as La Manquita, the English translation is ‘the little one armed lady.’ The cathedral took so long to build, it actually has architectural influences from two different eras: Baroque and neo-classical. The interior of the cathedral includes a gothic altar and an impressive statue of the Virgin Mary. There is, however, a small charge to explore the cathedral.
The Alcazabar - Only five minutes away from the cathedral is the Moorish fort that was completed in the 15th century. Alcazabar includes many examples of architecture of the age and centuries-old artefacts. There is an elevator on the port side of the building that takes visitors to the top.
The Castle - The castle stands on the Monte del Faro which means Lighthouse Mountain. The castle is connected by a corridor to the Alcazabar, which was built in 1333. The castle has been modified over the years but is still very impressive and offers spectacular views from the top.
The Roman Theatre – A roman theatre lies at the entrance of the Alcazabar which was only discovered in the 1950s. It is currently being restored.
Paseo del Parque – This is a picturesque park that runs along the port. There are several waterfalls, places to stop and relax, picnic areas and the whole park is lined with exotic trees.
Roman Malaga – Remnants of Malaga’s Romans past can be seen all over the city. The Palacio Episcopal is located behind the cathedral and is now home to an exhibition hall. There is currently an exhibition called ‘Malaga Under Your Feet’ on display.’ There are also several Roman archaeological artefacts to observe. This is a great area to take a stroll for the day as entrance is completely free.
Malaga’s Fiestas – Malaga truly is a party town and in August, shops close early and people take to the streets to enjoy dancing, music, firework displays, street performers and concerts. The August fair lasts for ten days and other festivities include bullfights and open air Flamenco performances.
Cuisine
Malaga has one of the best choices of restaurant in the whole of Spain. Being a major tourist area, there are international cuisines represented all over the city and neighbouring resorts. There is a strong British showing, with many pubs serving traditional British pub grub. There are also French, Italian, African and several more cuisines to try. Malaga is also home to some of the best Tapas bars in the world. Tapas is huge in Malaga amongst the locals and people ‘bar-hop’ between several establishments and sample many dishes in one evening!
Malaga also has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to traditional Spanish food. Locally caught fresh fish of all varieties is available and in true Spanish tradition, it includes plenty of fresh vegetables and olive oil. A local favourite is pescadito frito which is a fish platter including small sardines and red mullet. There is a Malagan variety of the famous Andalucian dish of gazpacho, called ajoblanco. This special take on the famous Spanish soup includes almonds and grapes. Other lolca dishes are habas a la rondena (a broad bean dish) and patata en ajopelo (a very popular local potato dish.) Malaga is also famous for its liqueur, aguardiente de Ojen.
Accommodation
There is a good selection of accommodation all over the city that should suit all budgets. The old quarter has a good selection of hostels for those on a budget and wanting to be near the historical sites. Hotels in the centre of the city can be expensive, particularly in the summer. The nearby beach towns of Marbella and Torremolinos have slightly cheaper accommodation although travel costs to the city centre will be higher. The resorts offer a much more varied selection of accommodation, however, and visitors are likely to get more for their money. There are some campsites in the outlying areas of Malaga that offer basic facilities and very cheap accommodation.
Weather
Malaga enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. The annual average temperature is 19C. August has an average temperature of 30C but, on many days, it can be nearer 40C. Summers in Malaga are extremely dry, with virtually no rain in July and August. Any rain that does fall is usually part of a brief thunderstorm. Winters are mild with an average temperature of around 9C. December is the wettest month of the year with an average of 2.6 inches of rain. Malaga enjoys 300 days of sunshine every year with around 12 hours in the summer months and between 5 and 6 in the winter. Spring is a great time of year to visit Malaga as temperatures are still in the 20Cs and rain is rare.
Transport
Malaga airport is the 4th largest in Spain and takes both scheduled and charter flights all year round and from many European destinations. Malagan taxis can be found in abundance at the airport and are white with a blue diagonal stripe. Taxis are stationed at all of the major hubs of the city or can be flagged down on the street, provided a green light is displayed.
There is an established bus service operating throughout the city, owned by EMT. All areas of the city are serviced as well as the major nearby resorts. The city has a major train station with service to all the major cities of Spain. A brand new metro system is currently under construction and due to start operating city centre services sometime in 2011. There are plans to build further lines that will stretch to the main resort areas.
