We all know Málaga City – the Capital of the province with the same name – as we all fly in and out of the airport! But Málaga City in itself is a wonderful city with a great deal to offer!
Málaga’s history spans about 2,800 years, making it one of the oldest cities in Europe and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. According to most scholars, it was founded about 770 BC by the Phoenicians as Malaka. From the 6th century BC the city was under the hegemony of Ancient Carthage, and from 218 BC, it was ruled by the Roman Republic and then Empire as Malaca. After the fall of the Empire and the end of Visigothic rule, it was under Islamic rule as Mālaqah for 800 years, but in 1487, the Crown of Castille gained control in the midst of the Granada War. The archaeological remains and monuments from the Phoenician, Roman, Arabic and Christian eras make the historic center of the city an “open museum”, displaying its history of nearly 3,000 years.
The painter and sculptor Pablo Picasso, Hebrew poet and Jewish philosopher Solomon Ibn Gabirol and the actor Antonio Banderas were born in Málaga.
Today, Málaga is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city – the second largest city in Andalucia. Wander around the narrow streets of the old town with the magnificent Cathedral at its heart, have some tapas at the Moorish market, stroll along the beautiful exotic gardens on the Paseo del Parque, climb past the Roman amphitheatre to the Moorish castle – the Alcazaba for breath-taking views over the city and the coastline – or chill in the many modern restaurants along the modern port – there is so much to do here!
The city boasts more than 37 museums – from the Picasso museum, the Cathedral museum, the Wine museum to the highly noted Automobile museum. Or if museums are not your thing – the city stretches along the Mediterranean coastline with fantastic beaches and many chiringuitos where you can hang out with the trendy Malagueños or pick up one of the electric scooters which are readily available throughout the city (just download the app).
At Christmas, the city boasts an amazing display of lights along the Calle Larios and sound and light shows projected up onto the imposing walls of the Alcazaba – a must visit if you are lucky enough to be here at that time of year!
At just 40 minutes by car from Nerja – or an hour on the regular bus service – Málaga City is a must for a day trip during your holiday in Nerja! Or why not consider spending a night in the heart of the city at the end of your holiday – then you can jump on the metro system straight to the airport to catch your flight home!
