I don’t think Malaga has ever been one of my dream tourist destinations, unlike other cities in Andalusia. Malaga calls itself the gateway to Andalusia. And that’s exactly what it is. To get to Andalusia, you will probably fly to this Andalusian metropolis on the Costa del Sol, like me. Yes, there are frequent flights here. And that’s where I landed so I could admire the beauties of Andalusia. I didn’t have any high expectations for Malaga. However, this city convinced me that it is definitely worth visiting. You feel somehow at ease here. ♥
This place is popular with tourists, mainly for its cultural activities, history and monuments. It has a beautiful historical center. There is a castle on a hill and there are wide beaches near the center. So, what more could you want?
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF A FAMOUS PAINTER
Many famous people come from Malaga. For example, the world-famous painter and sculptor Pablo Picasso was born here. The Casa Natal de Picasso in Plaza de la Merced, where the world-famous artist was born, houses his museum. However, he lived here until he was 10 years old. When you think of Picasso, most of you think of cubism. These are those crazy paintings full of cubes, triangles and other geometric shapes. However, if you learn a little more about him, you will find out that at the beginning of his work he also painted “completely normal” paintings. And that’s worth it, isn’t it?
Spanish beauty Antonio Banderas stood on the stage of the Teatro Cervantes, and you might be lucky enough to meet him in one of the countless tapas bars. Who knows, it’s a small world. 🙂
OLD TOWN OF MALAGA
The old town is the geographical and historical heart of Malaga. From the Plaza de la Constitución, a labyrinth of pedestrian shopping streets, narrow alleys and elegant squares spreads out, where the main sights of the city are located. I enjoyed just exploring without a map and walking around aimlessly, although I don’t just walk aimlessly. I usually have everything thought out and planned in advance. 🙂 So that was another new discovery for me.
PASSIONATE FLAMENCO
I probably had the most fun just looking around the shops full of flamenco dresses. You can find dresses for the little ones as well as for professional dancers. The traditional Spanish rhythms of passionate flamenco were born right here in Andalusia. It was the original dance of Andalusian gypsies. The dresses are really beautiful and I liked the ones for spirited dancers with large polka dots the most. Inspired by gypsy folk costumes, these dresses are generally long and have polka dots and ruffles. The sleeves and especially the part under the belly have ruffles that open when the dancers turn and greatly increase the movement. You want to wear such a dress at least once. It’s been a long time since I took flamenco lessons in Prague. I even bought special shoes. Footwork is really important and must match the rhythm of the guitar. But such shoes are completely useless if you don’t feel the rhythm and are musically deaf. :-))) But that didn’t deter me either and I’d love to see a performance like that anytime. ♥
FASHION DISTRICT AND THE “MAUS” PROJECT
The Málaga Arte Urbano Soho (MAUS) project was responsible for introducing street art to Malaga. The initiative helped transform a once neglected neighborhood between the Guadalmedina River and the port into an open-air urban art gallery.
The MAUS project has attracted some of the best street art and graffiti artists from around the world. Street art and graffiti can be found all over the city, but the largest concentration is in Soho.
Although this neighborhood doesn’t have the immediate charm of Malaga’s old town, the Soho area feels less touristy and has some good restaurants. And if you’re planning on taking a few day trips from Malaga, it’s also closer to the train and bus stations.
TV BOY – on the street CALLE VENDEJA
If I had to choose one artist that I liked in Malaga, it would be this Italian artist. He portrayed the most popular men of Malaga: Pablo Picasso, Antonio Banderas (who has unfortunately been badly damaged by someone), Chiquito de la Calzada (comedian and actor) and Dani Rovira (actor).
CALLE THOMAS HEREDI
This mural was completed in one day. The Calle Thomas Heredi team reportedly worked from a template. Mujer Fatal is a portrait of his wife and a symbol of peace.
ROA – on the street Calle Casas de Campos
A large black and white mural by Belgian street artist ROA depicts rats falling down the facade of a multi-story building. He typically uses a minimal color palette and creates animals and birds. So this piece doesn’t say much about Malaga’s wildlife.
His chameleon power is also interesting.
If you explore street art in London, you’ll find his mural of a large bird on the side of an Indian restaurant in Brick Lane.
CATEDRAL DE LA ENCARNACIÓN
The cathedral dates back to the 16th century. The original project for the cathedral was so grand that it was impossible to build, so several architects took turns building the cathedral over the years. Once you see the cathedral, you will understand why it took so long to build. In front of the cathedral, you can admire the small courtyard with orange trees (Patio de los Naranjos).
MERCADO CENTRAL DE ATARAZANAS
When I go somewhere, I never miss a visit to the local market. In my opinion, this is the best way to get to know what the locals eat and buy. And here you can find everything from exotic fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, cheeses, to another local specialty – almonds (fresh, roasted or coated in honey) and various types of dried fruits.
MY TIP:
If you like hibiscus tea, then you will be in the hibiscus kingdom here. Hibiscus tea is a popular drink in Central Asia, many African countries, the Caribbean, Central America and Thailand. And you can also find it in the markets of Andalusia. In most of these countries, it is used not only for refreshment, but they know well that it has medicinal effects. It has the ability to lower blood pressure, it is a rich source of vitamin C, but also has other antioxidant components. It even contains compounds that have anti-inflammatory effects. Hibiscus flowers contain substances that affect cholesterol and thus reduce the deposition of fat in the arteries. This reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Thanks to better blood circulation in the brain, our memory is also stimulated. The tea is also suitable for gallstones and people with liver disease. So if you go to this market, don’t forget to buy it!
IT’S LIKE SAFFRON
Personally, I enjoy spices the most at the markets. If I could, I would probably buy everything, but since I always have to get on board with kilograms under 8 kg, that is not possible. However, I always bring something home. 🙂 I admired saffron here. Although there are still doubts about its origin, this spice comes from Iran. It gives dishes a bright yellow color. And why is it so expensive? Saffron flowers are harvested by hand. There is no machine in the world that would make this harvesting easier. There is a lot like saffron. Do you know this saying? Now you know its meaning. Unfortunately, you can also find a lot of fake saffron in the world that pretends to be real. And how do you recognize real saffron? You do a color test. Soak it in warm water for 10-20 minutes and observe the changes. If the saffron is fake, it will quickly start to lose color and fall apart. Real saffron will remain intact, retain its color, and gradually color the water. Actually, much like tea.
Spain is, of course, synonymous with olives and lots of fresh fish. You will definitely not go hungry here, on the contrary, you will eat well and, most importantly, well.
TAPAS BARS
I must say that Andalusia is a great place to eat. You will really enjoy the food here. If you want to taste the true flavors of southern Spain, you have come to the right place. In the tangle of picturesque streets, but also wide boulevards, you will find many tapas bars, where locals have lively discussions over a glass of good wine. Usually, tapas are served in the middle of the table, which allows one guest to taste from the other’s plate. Do it that way too, so that you can share the taste experiences with friends or family. In short, be like the “locals”!
MY TIP:
And because you can never have enough good advice, I have one more tip for you. The fastest way to get from the airport to the city is by train line C1, which takes 15 minutes and costs 1.80 EUR (final stop Centro Alameda). The train only stops at 4 stations, so take advantage of this option. The train also runs from the airport to the other side of the coast, through the city of Torremolinos to the town of Fuengirola.
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