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Málaga
on the Costa del Sol: More than just an airport
Visitors
to the Costa del Sol in southern Spain normally arrive at the Málaga–Costa
del Sol Airport. From there, they collect their rental car, jump in a taxi
or climb on a bus to their holiday destination. The popular coastal resorts
on the Costa del Sol include Benalmádena Costa, Torremolinos, Fuengirola,
La Cala de Mijas or Marbella. Few choose to spend some time in the capital
of the Costa del Sol. However, Málaga an attractive destination
all by itself. Read a brief introduction into the some of the city's top
attractions below.
What can
Málaga offer tourists?
Endless
beaches of Málaga
One of
the best beaches in Málaga is Playa de la Málagueta. Close
to the centre of the city, you can enjoy 0.6 mi of clean beautiful sand,
as well as a promenade which takes you to the Port of Málaga. If
the sun gets too hot for the beach, you can choose a sunbed and thatched
parasol, or lie on the grass under a waving palm tree. There are several
restaurants, cafes and chiringuitos (beach restaurants and bars) along
the way to enjoy a tasty snack and a refreshing drink. Playa Caleta
is another charming beach with bars and restaurants and all the amenities.
Fascinating
museums of Málaga
Málaga
is the birthplace of artist Pablo Ruiz Picasso and actor and movie star,
Antonio Banderas. among the many museums on offer, it is recommended to
pay a visit to the house where Picasso was born. A separate attraction
relating to the artist is Museo Picasso Málaga, an art gallery exhibiting
285 works donated by members of Picasso's family.
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Photos copyright ©
Anne Sewell
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Museo
Automovilístico de Málaga (Málaga Automobile Museum)
is another fascinating visit, where approximately 90 classic cars can be
seen along with displays of around 200 pieces haute couture fashion, luggage
items and hats from various eras.
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Photo: Jorbasa Fotografie
on Flickr
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Theatres
and entertainment in Málaga
Málaga is one of the
most cultural
cities in Europe, and Teatro Cervantes is the theatre to visit for
excellent stage performances, concerts and shows, set in a beautiful 19th-century
building with an ornate ceiling. This is where Antonio Banderas first "hit
the boards" when he became an actor. Incidentally, although Banderas has
spent a lot of time in the USA while starring in many popular films including
"The Mask of Zorro," "Interview with the Vampire," "Imagining Argentina,"
"Evita," and more, he now has an apartment in the heart of Málaga.
Speaking of films, Málaga
has a number of cinemas and multi-cines where all the latest films are
screened.
Shopping
in Málaga
The city has many great shops
throughout, but of particular interest is the pedestrian-only Calle Marqués
de Larios, or Calle Larios for short. Among the fashion houses represented
here are Zara, Mango, Massimo Dutti, Bimba, Lola, Woman's Secret, Victoria's
Secret, Oysho and more. A selection of banks, restaurants and coffee bars
can be found along the street. A number of street performers and human
statues can be seen as you stroll Calle Larios.
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Photos copyright ©
Anne Sewell
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Besides the upmarket shops
of Calle Larios, there a large branch of the department store El Corte
Ingles in the city as well as several shopping malls in the city and on
the outskirts.
Dining
in Málaga
The city offers a huge range
of restaurants an eateries, serving virtually every type of cuisine you
can think of. According to TripAdvisor,
the top restaurant according to reviewers is Trattoria Mamma Franca, serving
authentic Italian cuisine, followed by AnyWay Wine Bar, serving Spanish
tapas and excellent wines, Mura Mura Osteria Cafe, serving meat and vegetarian
dishes and El Descorche Sorbos & Mordiscos, serviing Spanish, Mediterranean
and vegetarian-friendly dishes. The city also has a variety of tapas and
coffee bars on virtually every major street.
Moorish
and Roman ruins of Málaga
The Moors left their mark during
their occupation of this region of Spain, including the Alcazaba, a palatial
fortification built in the 11th century by the Hammudid dynasty. This is
considered to be the best-preserved Alcazaba in Spain and at the base of
the same hill, the remains of a Roman amphitheatre can be seen.
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Photos copyright ©
Anne Sewell
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On top of the hill of the
same name stands the Castillo Gibralfaro which offers spectacular views
over the city of Málaga and the Mediterranean Sea. Of interest to
note, the emblematic Parador de Málaga Gibralfaro stands next to
the castle - one of the famous Paradores of Spain and a luxury hotel. The
images below show a view of the castle at night from the Parador's swimming
pool and another view taken from the castle itself.
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Photos copyright ©
Anne Sewell
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Parks,
gardens and plazas of Málaga
Málaga offers plenty
of green spaces, city squares and pretty gardens for fresh air relaxation
including the Botanical Garden which runs through the centre of the city,
where statues frown at the pigeons nearby. One of the major city squares
or plazas is Plaza de Merced, which has been a part of the city since the
Roman colonial era. The reason for its name is that the square is also
a market place where weekly markets are held, and has been since the 15th
century.
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Photos copyright ©
Anne Sewell
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We
hope you have enjoyed this brief tour of Málaga on the Costa del
Sol, in southern Spain. Take time out to visit the city next time you travel
to Spain.
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Latest update: November 23,
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