Malaga, Spain
Malaga, Spain
Docked at Port Malaga
Latitude 36.70 Degrees North and
Longitude 4.42 Degrees West
April 29th, 2018
Weather: Very Sunny With Mild Breeze and High of 74 Degrees With Low Humidity
Author: Don
Today we woke up in Malaga, Spain after a very short overnight sail from Cartagena. Like Cartagena, Malaga is in the Andalusian region of Southern Spain on the Costa Del Sol (Coast of The Sun) on the northern side of the Mediterranean Sea. Much of Malaga's long history is similar to Cartagena's. It is one of the oldest cities in the world. Originally founded by the Phoenicians of Tyre in the 8th century B.C., Malaga went through subsequent domination by Carthaginians, the Romans, the Visigoths, and the Byzantine Empire for 1500 years, followed by 700 years of Muslim Arab dominion. In the late 15th century Malaga was one of the last cities to be retaken by Christian forces during the the Reconquista of the Iberian Peninsula. And like Cartagena, Malaga was bombed heavily by the Fascists and Nazis during the Spanish Civil War. Interestingly today, it is traces of Roman and Muslim presence that remain in the form ancient architecture in Malaga.
The greater Malaga metropolitan area has a population of just over 1.5 million. Again like Cartagena, it is a clean, well-maintained and modern European city. Drivers here behave in an extremely polite and civilized manner compared to those we encountered in Egypt, India, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Our guided tour today first took us to the top of Gibralfaro (Lighthouse Rock), where we visited the small museum in the Castillo de Gibralfaro, which contains information about the history of the castle and a related fortified Moorish palace (called the Alcazaba further down the hill), plus exhibits of military tools and weapons used through the Cartagena's history. This was followed by a visit to the Alcazaba, which was originally built in the 11th century by the Hammudid Moorish dynasty. It is an excellent example of how Muslim royalty lived, with extensive use of flowing water in most living areas and all courtyards. With the Mediterranean climate and the palace's hillside location near the sea, it would have been a very pleasant place to live. The palace was protected by three separate defensive walls after being extensively enlarged and fortified in the 14th century, but it later fell into disrepair. It was largely restored in 1930.
We had great weather today once it warmed up and Malaga was a truly enjoyable city that we would enjoy visiting again, perhaps as part of a future trip to see the famous Alhambra Palace in Granada.
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1874 Banco De Espana Building1874 Banco De Espana Building -
Alcazaba Palace Fortress - Built In 11th CenturyAlcazaba Palace Fortress - Built In 11th Century -
Ceiling In 13th Century Alcazaba PalaceCeiling In 13th Century Alcazaba Palace -
Church In Malaga Old TownChurch In Malaga Old Town -
Confused Graffiti On Gate In Malaga Back AlleyConfused Graffiti On Gate In Malaga Back Alley -
Courtyard In Alcazaba PalaceCourtyard In Alcazaba Palace -
Covered Walkway In Alcazaba PalaceCovered Walkway In Alcazaba Palace -
Easily Defended Entrance to Alcazaba Palace Inner Defensive WallEasily Defended Entrance to Alcazaba Palace Inner Defensive Wall -
Expensive Hillside Homes With Fabulous Ocean ViewsExpensive Hillside Homes With Fabulous Ocean Views -
Former Malaga Post OfficeFormer Malaga Post Office -
Gibralfaro Castle - 11th CenturyGibralfaro Castle - 11th Century -
Malaga Harbor Seen From Gibralfaro (Lighthouse Rock)Malaga Harbor Seen From Gibralfaro (Lighthouse Rock) -
Malaga Has Its Own Giant Ferris WheelMalaga Has Its Own Giant Ferris Wheel -
Malaga Seen Beyond Outer Walls Of Alcazaba PalaceMalaga Seen Beyond Outer Walls Of Alcazaba Palace -
Malaga Seen From GibralfaroMalaga Seen From Gibralfaro -
Malaga's Ayuntamiento (City Hall)Malaga's Ayuntamiento (City Hall) -
Monument To Malaga's Heroes Of the Spanish Civil WarMonument To Malaga's Heroes Of the Spanish Civil War -
Pablo Picasso Was Born In Malaga, SpainPablo Picasso Was Born In Malaga, Spain -
Passage Along Palace Defensive WallsPassage Along Palace Defensive Walls -
Picasso Inspired Mural In MalagaPicasso Inspired Mural In Malaga -
Playa De La Farola (Lighthouse Beach)Playa De La Farola (Lighthouse Beach) -
Pompidou Art Museum In Malaga WaterfrontPompidou Art Museum In Malaga Waterfront -
Roman Theater And Alcazaba Palace Fortress WallsRoman Theater And Alcazaba Palace Fortress Walls -
Three Graces Fountain Near Botanical GardenThree Graces Fountain Near Botanical Garden -
Typical Street In Old Malaga CityTypical Street In Old Malaga City -
Wall Painting In Alcazaba PalaceWall Painting In Alcazaba Palace