Malaga, Spain
Malaga seems at first an uninviting place. It's the second city of the south (after Sevilla), with a population of half a million, and is also one of the poorest: official unemployment figures for the area estimate the jobless at one in four of the workforce. Yet though many people get no further than the train or bus stations, and though the clusters of high-rises look pretty grim as you approach, it has its attractions. The elegant central zone has a number of interesting churches and museums, not to mention the birthplace of Picasso and the new Picasso Museum, housing an important collection of works by Málaga's most famous son. Around the old fishing villages of El Palo and Pedregalejo, now absorbed into the suburbs, are a series of small beaches and a paseo lined with some of the best fish and seafood cafés in the province. And overlooking the town and port are the formidable Moorish citadels of the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro – excellent introductions to the architecture before pressing on to the main sites at Córdoba and Granada.
Information by Rough Guides
Overview: The lively city of Malaga, on the coast about 80 miles (129km) southeast of Seville, is the gateway to Spain’s popular Costa del Sol holiday resort region. The city was also the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, and features several galleries displaying his work. Most notable is the 16th-century Museum of Fine Arts, alongside the Cathedral. Picasso’s birthplace in Plaza Merced is open to the public and showcases his life and works. Like most Andalusian cities Malaga has Moorish roots, and its illustrious past has left an imprint on the historic centre, particularly around the fortress of La Alcazaba, dating from 1065, which is now an archaeological museum. The Moorish castle nearby is now a state hotel. The city’s famous botanical garden sited on the Calle Alameda, dates from the days when Malaga was a popular winter resort for the rich and famous, and is also worth a visit.
Attractions
Granada: Granada, a high altitude city of romance and folklore, boasts one of the most popular tourist attractions in Spain, the Alhambra palace-fortress. Built by the Nasrid rulers in the 14th century the Alhambra is the most important and spectacular piece of Moorish architecture in Spain. The huge complex, set against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains, includes the summer palace with its fountains and gardens; the Palacios Nazaries with its intricate ornamentation; and a hilltop fortress. The city also boasts a Cathedral containing a Royal Chapel in which Isabel and Ferdinand of Spain lie buried, and a Moorish medina area, known as the Albaicin, with its labyrinth of narrow streets and whitewashed houses. North of Granada is Sacromonte hill, famed for its cave dwellings which were once the home of a large gypsy community.
Ronda: Situated on a towering plateau in the mountains thirty miles (48km) inland from Marbella stands Ronda, one of the loveliest and most historic towns in the region. Ronda is a popular day-trip for holidaymakers on the Costa del Sol wanting to escape the beach and soak up some culture in one of the many cafés and restaurants. It is famous for the plunging river gorge that divides the medieval from the 18th-century parts of the town. Known as El Tajo, the gorge is spanned by a stone bridge, Puente Nuevo, which once housed a prison and now acts as a dramatic viewpoint for visitors. There is a spectacular walkway, El Parador, along the river gorge, which offers superb views of the surrounding countryside. Ronda is also well known for its bullring - the oldest and largest in Spain. When there are no fights, the bullring is open to visitors, and has a fascinating museum.
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