Malaga has a relativly small historic centre, that is easy to discover by foot. If you are looking to buy property in Malaga, this guide could be a good way to find your way around the various neighbourhoods of Malaga. Starting at the Malaga Tourist Office in the Plaza de la Marina, cross over to Calle Larios, one of the most inviting shopping precincts in Spain. There is a lot to see so, leave the purchases for another day, turn left into Calle Martínez and continue along to Calle de las Atarazanas and the central food market of the same name. Walk up towards Calle Compañía, one of the oldest areas in Malaga, through the maze of narrow alleyways and remains of the old Arabic city. Continue towards the Plaza de la Constitución, skirting the Thyssen Art Museum. Take the left hand corner of the square and walk up Calle Granada as far as the Plaza de la Merced (leaving the Picasso Museum on your right hand side on the way). At Plaza de la Merced, where Picasso was born in 1881 at number 15, admire the central obelisk erected to General Torrijos and the liberals after the Spanish War of Independence, turn right and then walk down Calle Alcazabilla, passing the recently restored Roman Theatre and the Alcazaba (Arabic fortress). Opposite the Alcazaba entrance, turn right along Calle Císter as far as the Renaissance Cathedral with its Baroque façade and single bell tower. Funds earmarked to complete the other were, it is said, diverted to help the American War of Independence. Finally turn left down Calle Molina de Lario as far as the Plaza de la Marina, and you are back to the starting point.
Once again, from the Tourist Office in the Plaza de la Marina, start with a right turn. Cross over to the Paseo del Parque, to enjoy a walk through the city centre’s green lung. At the top, in Plaza del General Torrijos, cross to the right onto Paseo de la Farola, from where there are views to the right of the Port of Malaga and behind, a panoramic view of the city skyline. Stroll along to the lighthouse, either on the esplanade above or down below by the harbour and the attractive Muelle Uno leisure area. At the lighthouse, turn left along the Paseo Marítimo Ciudad de Melilla, or take the sandy beach at the Malagueta, the best known city beach. At the beach sculpture announcing the “Malagueta”, cross over the main road and walk up Calle Cervantes, past the Bullring and the Antonio Ordóñez Museum on the left. At the end of Calle Cervantes, turn right and walk some 200 metres as far as the English Cemetery on the opposite side of the road. St. George’s is the oldest non-Roman Catholic Christian cemetery established on mainland Spain. Cross over there and walk back the way you came towards the centre, enjoying the elegant building façades, as far as Plaza Torrijos and its fountain again. At the MUPAM Museum, cross the road to the Jardines de Pedro Luis Alonso, home to the largest public rose garden in the south of Spain, and an international reference point, or take the steep path to the right of the Museum towards the Castillo de Gibralfaro (Castle). Leaving the rose garden, walk down the Paseo del Parque, passing the splendid neo-BaroqueTown Hall, the imposing Bank of Spain and the University of Malaga Chancellor’s Office located in a 19th century Neo-Mudejar building that formerly housed the General Post Office. Continue down the Paseo del Parque, a fine example of a botanical garden, as far as Calle Molina Lario and the Plaza de la Marina, the original starting point.
We suggest these brief itineraries for visitors whose time is limited in the city, a sort of Hop-on-Hop-off without the bus. If you follow our indications you will have seen the essential, historical Málaga in two mornings, two afternoons, or if severely short of time, in one day. Hopefully you will have more time at your disposal and can fill in the gaps with the shopping, eating tapas, visiting museums, sunbathing activities or maybe meeting an Estate Agent!.
Málaga, like all ancient cities, is much more than this brief introduction, offered as just that, an introduction to a city full of surprises. We hope you enjoy your stay here and return to discover all that Malaga has to offer.
