Malaga. The Provincial Capital

Malaga has retained its Spanish charm and character despite all that is going on in Costa-del-Sol. The capital of Malaga region, which continues to be an important trading port for Andalucia and Spain, Malaga, has manages to give an impression of a smaller town rather than a metropolis of 1.5 million people.

There is much more to Malaga than the airport. In the centre of town you can visit the Baroque Cathedral also known as the “Unfinished” Cathedral. Just around the corner is the Moorish Alcazaba fortress built in 1065, which also features a very interesting archaeological museum. You can climb up the ramparts to the Moorish Castle, which was heavily defended and has amazing views of the city and Mediterranean Sea. On a clear day you can see as far as the African coast.

The Picasso museum is only a short walk from the Cathedral, and you can enjoy the paintings as well as a magnificent Moorish building that has been beautifully renovated. In the basement, you can visit the remains of the old Malaga dating back to the Phoenicians times.

All this is near the famous “Calle Marques de Larios”, named after one of the famous Malaguenian families. This pedestrian’s only street is the centre of activities in Malaga, with the Easter Parade, 3-Kings Night Parade, and Christmas concerts all taking place at this famous street. The famous Larios street and Avenida de Andalucia are the centre piece of Malaga’s Christmas lights brining in visitors from all over Spain to the largest display of Christmas lights in the country. During the rest of the year in Larios street you will find expensive boutiques, excellent Tapas bars, fantastic patisseries and not forgetting the ever present street entertainers.

Emanating from Larios Street in all directions are the small, narrow alley ways, still hanging on to their original character of the very Spanish town. Tapas Bars, restaurants, specialty shops, and gift shops are everywhere. For the shopoholics, Malaga is the heaven personified. You can spend hours exploring the street around Larios, or go to El Corte Ingles which is the famous chain store in Spain, and if that is not enough you can visit one of many newly built shopping canters including “the Larios Centre” which is above the RENFE train station.