Malaga
Malaga is both a commercial city and a port with half a million
inhabitants and one of the best climates of any European city.
It is the most important southern coastal city after Cadiz.
Malaga port has a true international flavour with many cruise liners
and large naval ships visiting on a regular basis yet the fishing fleet
remains almost untouched and provides the local restaurants with freshest
and most succulent seafood available in Andalucia. Consequently Malaga
is a great place to eat out with an almost unlimited choice of fare. Be
prepared to take your time, Malagueños treat eating out as a real
social event.
The old town is very quaint with many small lanes and sides streets. The
park (Parque de Alameda) in Calle Alameda is world renowned for its botanical
collection and not to be missed by anybody with green fingers.
On a more modern note, there are many big name stores and shops in the
city, so shopping can be a real pleasure. The Larios centre and surrounding
area are famous for the shops and very close to the central railway station
if you want to come into town via the local train service.
For football fans Malaga boasts a premier league football team
with many foreign nationals as supporters.
Historical Note :
Malaga is the
capital city of the Province of Malaga. Seldom visited by the U.K. tourist,
the city is a real mixture of old and new.
In the 1st century B.C., Estrabon mentions a Phoenician town which stood
at the foot of the hill now occupied by the city’s fortress,
the Alcazaba.
Roman Malaga enjoyed
periods of great splendour, as witnessed by its Roman Theatre and other
important archaeological remains, as well the statute which declared it
a confederate, self-governing city, known as the Lex Flavia Malacitana.
In 711, Tarik, lieutenant to the governor of the north of Ifriquiya (Africa)
Muza ben Nusayr, crossed the straits of Gibraltar (Yebel-Tarik) with almost
10,000 men to begin the conquest of the whole peninsula -a feat which took
just five years-, which was achieved more by convincing its inhabitants
of the virtues of a new creed and way of life than by using military force.
That same year, Malaga was taken by the Moslems, and a new chapter in its
history, one which was to span eight centuries, had begun. The area was
settled by a variety of peoples -Yemenies, Berbers, Southern Arabs, Muladies
(Hispanogoths converted to the new religion), Mozarabs (Christians who continued
to observe and practise their religion) and Jews. In the first three centuries
of Moslem domination, the city's population grew rapidly as a result of
a considerable economic impulse which brought prosperous times for Malaga,
with commerce and barter of products via its sea port.
The Moors occupied the city until 1450 and left their mark by constructing
Alcazab fortress and the nearby castle, which is now a very well known
Parador (a Government run Hotel).
The birth place of Pablo Picasso in Plaza Merced is a tribute to his
work and life and well worth a visit. Indeed Malaga has a wealth of culture,
including fine museums, art galleries and the famous Cervantes Theatre
(where Antonio Banderas started his career)
Accommodation
:
Parador de Malaga-Gibralfaro **** Castillo de Gibralfaro 38 rooms
tel: 952 221 902
Parador del Golf **** Autovia Malaga-Algeciras 60 rooms tel: 952 381 255
PROVINCE: Málaga
ALTITUDE
ABOVE SEA LEVEL (m): 8
AREA
(km2): 394
Nº
OF INHABITANTS: 528.079
NAME
FOR PEOPLE: Malagueños o Malacitanos |
