Over the years millions of visitors have made their way to the Costa del Sol and remarkably few of them have been aware that Malaga was more than an airport. But the city where Pablo Picasso was born is vibrant and beautiful, full of art, architecture and shops!
Constitucion Square in Malaga by tadekk
Like an oil painting undergoing restoration, new layers of the city are unveiled daily as an extensive renovation programme strips away grime to reveal a wealth of stunning buildings, and uncovers parts of its history stretching back to Roman and Phoenician times.
Its chic boutiques, restaurants and bars sit side-by-side with tradition – the oldest tapas bar on the Alameda serves sherry out of huge barrels, and old fashioned shops are stocked with flamenco frocks, fancy fans and gentlemen’s Cordoban hats.
The town hall is determined that the days when Malaga was overshadowed by the “big three” of Cordoba, Sevilla and Granada are long gone. The opening of the Picasso Museum seven years ago helped breathe a new cultural life into the city and that, along with a multitude of other museums, galleries and historical remains, has put Malaga firmly on the map. No longer is it just a gateway to other, more exciting places.
Roman Amphitheatre by manuelfloresv
It is regularly visited by its most famous living son, actor Antonio Banderas. He spends part of the summer here on the Costa, plays an active part in the famous Easter celebrations and earlier this year attended the opening of the magnificent Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, in the restored 16th century Villalón Palace in the heart of the city.
It’s the sister to the Thyssen Museum in Madrid and displays more than 230 works from the huge collection built up by Carmen Cervera, a former Miss Spain who became the fifth wife of the late Swiss industrialist and art collector Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza.
Malaga pavement cafe by alf.melin
During the renovation of the palace which houses this important museum exciting Roman remains were discovered, and almost daily more vestiges of the city’s rich past are unearthed and put on show. The city’s Roman amphitheatre is now restored and is now yet another important visitor attraction in Malaga’s historic quarter, which is home to more than 25 museums.
Nearby is CAC Malaga, which exhibits top contemporary artists. You may not think contemporary art is for you – but it’s free to find out! So head to the city, take a stroll and steep yourself in the cultural riches on offer. And then stop off for a chilled drink at a pavement café, with a little tapas or tasty bite, and watch the world go by.
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