Malaga Tours & Day Trips - things to do - In and Around Spanish Resorts
Introduction - Beaches - Accommodation - Car Hire - Nightlife
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There's plenty to see and do in and around Malaga whether you're into history, nature, art, sport..or just great food! The city has extensive sports facilities, numerous concerts and cultural events, bullfights, a theatre (where Banderas once trod the boards!) and cinema.
Malaga enjoys an average of 330 days of sun each year with an average temperature of 22°C. The sea temperature, at an average of 18°C rising to 24°C in August, allows for the enjoyment of watersports throughout the year.
A visit to the city wouldn't be complete without a peek inside the former home of Picasso - the corner house of an elegant yellow-toned block at Plaza de la Merced. It was here that Spain's most famous son was born in 1881. The building has been declared a national monument of historic and artistic importance and since 1991 has been the headquarters of the Picasso foundation which promotes contemporary art, with particular emphasis on the works of Picasso.
Other buildings of historic interest include the cathedral, built in the 16th century on the site of a former Moorish mosque. Inside you'll find 40 intricately carved wooden statues of the saints behind the beautiful mahogany and cedar wood choir stalls. Adjoining the cathedral is the 15th century Iglesia del Sagrano with its richly decorated interior and magnificent 16th century altar.
The Moorish fortress of Alcazaba is a major landmark of the city with its solid fortified walls dating back to the 700s when the Arabs first conquered this region of Spain. It's a short walk from the Plaza de Aduana - you enter through the old gateway known as Puerta del Cristo (Christ's Door) where the first mass was celebrated when the Christians retook the town.
Walk through landscaped gardens with bubbling fountains and stop to enjoy the magnificent views of the town and harbour below.
A former palace within the grounds of the fortress is now home to the city's Archaeological Museum - an impressive building housing exhibitions from prehistoric, Phoenician, Roman and Moorish times.
Just below the entrance to the Alcazaba are the ruins of an amphitheatre dating from Roman times.
Another breathtaking viewpoint is from the Gibrafaro Castle which dates back to the 14th century. The castle was the site of a three-month siege by the people of Malaga against the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella who starved out their opponents and took up residence in the town. The remains of its solid ramparts are an impressive sight, rising from dense woods of pine and eucalyptus.
To gain an insight into the past ways and customs of the people of this region visit the Art and Popular Customs Museum, housed in a former 17th century inn which has been attractively restored.
Venture further afield and explore the mountainous hinterland and whitewashed villages of the wider region of Malaga. Visit the fabulous cities of Cordoba, Seville, Cadiz, Jerez and Granada.
Or enjoy the many beautiful beaches, the fun-filled theme parks and water worlds which proliferate along this stretch of the southern coastline.
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