Malaga: Exploring its History & Food

In this trip to southern Spain we experience cultural delights and archaeological sites with countless marvels along the way   . . . 

I settled into the amazing city of Malaga for a one week stay that offered the opportunity to connect to many other daytrips throughout the region. Here is what happened: 

A Great Place to Base Yourself to Explore Andalucia

On my first morning in town I immediately took to the streets to search out some examples of local history. One of the first sights that I encountered was the Cathedral of Malaga. The construction of this massive religious institution began in the mid 1500s and lasted until the late 1700s. ​You many notice that one of the towers has been left unfinished. This has gained it the nickname "La Manquita", which means one-armed lady. 

Cathedral of Malaga

It wasn't too far around the corner that I found myself having a look at something much more ancient. These are the ruins of a Roman theater that was installed by the empire of Augustus during the first century. That mighty fortress up on the hill behind it is the Alcazaba which was built by the Moors during the 10th century. ​

I spent quite a bit of time exploring this massive structure learning of its history and the different uses these grounds would be known for throughout the ages. The interior takes you on many turns and through a series of gates as you make your way higher to the Upper Citadel to admire some awe-inspiring Moorish architecture. It is here that you will find the exquisite Nasrid Palace, 

Inside the Alcazaba

But that fortress is not the only one, as the ticket included admission to another location up the hill, the Castle of Gibralfaro. The only drawback is that it cannot be accessed from the top of the Alcazaba, so after you have made that climb ... well, you just have to turn around and begin a new climb up a nearby pathway up to the top. ​

Castle Gibralfaro

Once you have arrived at the top of the hill, this fortress provides a great deal of further exploration. Everything from watchtowers to gardens can be found inside these mighty walls. Near the entrance there is a building that functions as a museum that houses a collection of interesting items such as navigational devices and uniforms displaying Spanish style throughout the centuries.  

Museum at Gibralfaro Castle

​Museum of Malaga

When you finally make it back down that enormous hill, the Museum of Malaga is definitely worth checking out. I was of course drawn to the archaeological exhibits. Here you will find evidence of settlement in this area that dates back to prehistoric times, and see how control of this region changed hands continuously over the ages. 

Item you may encounter in this vast collection of artifacts includes a Greek helmet, Roman statues, and the oldest known coins produced on the Iberian Peninsula. The type of craftmanship you'll see on display ranges ancient stone tools to lavish mosaics and tapestries. Be sure to stop in and give this place a visit. 

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Food in Malaga

This town is an absolutely amazing place to experience an enormous array of culinary delights. From trendy tapas bars to highly rated restaurants, you are guaranteed to find something to suit your desires here. 

If you have been around the tapas scene, you'll know that you can't go wrong with patats bravss, but some other interesting items I tried were the boquerones con vinegre (anchovies with vinegar), almejas salteada (sautéed clams), and navajas (razor clams). Of course all that seafood is a big thing along this marvelous coastline, but when you've had your share of that, a good burger is also not hard to find. So if you find yourself roaming the streets of Malaga, I highly recommend Taberna la Antigua and Restaurant Carmen for amazing variety of food and beverage options. 

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Getting Around

Getting to Malaga from the international airport is simple. The train at the airport can take you directly to the centrally located Malaga Maria Zambrano Station. From here the subway system has conveniently placed stops that run throughout many high traffic areas. Most importantly, the more touristy parts of town are extremely walkable. 

While there is an amazing amount of things to see and do in this town, Malaga is also a great place to base yourself for adventures across the entire Andalucia region and beyond. During the course of the week, I took day trips to Granada, Ronda, and many other exciting locations. One of those you can read about by clicking this link.

You can also follow along on this Malaga experience
​in my YouTube video!

Comment down below and let me know what you think!