Vicente Aleixandre, Nobel Prize in Literature, once described Malaga as "Ciudad del Paraiso", 'Paradise City'. Paradise can certainly seem near just by taking a walk through Alameda Principal and "El Parque", amongst the flowers and birds on a Spring morning.
Malaga, city which overtook the half a million mark in population years ago, commercial and with its port facilities, enjoys one of the best climates in the European continent.
The traveller can start walking round its Eleventh Century Muslim Alcazaba, which contains within its walls, walled enclusures, towers (they say that there were over one hundred) courtyards, reservoirs and passages. At walking distance, in restoration, "El Teatro Romano" which gives us an idea of the importance Malaga had during the Roman domination, and not very far away from the romantic "Plaza de la Merced", where Picasso was born in October 1881.
PICASSO'S NATAL HOUSE
The visitor will enjoy its gardens (Malaga has five botanic gardens, on eof which is "El de la Concepcion", considered to be the second in Europe).
Special mention must be given to "La Catedral de Malaga", Malaga Cathedral, from the Sixteenth Century, one of the most important Renaissance temples in Spain. The interior of this Cathedral, of high and wide aisles, amazes due to its notable chapels, the choir stalls (the work of Pedro de Mena, Jose Micael Alfaro and Ortiz de Vargas, from the Seventeenth Century), paintings by Alonso Cano, Morales, Claudio Coello, Niño de Guevara and sculptural groups of Salvador Gutierrez Leon, from Malaga from the Nineteenth Century and situated in the retrochoir. Adjacent to the Cathedral, the Parish Church of "El Sagrario", with spledid, gothic-Isabelline facade. Opposite the magnificent, principal facade of the Cathedral, is the "Palacio Episcopal".
Gibralfaro, the Arabic fort, offers marvellous views over the city and interior, over looking the city of Malaga.
One has to take a walk without haste around Malaga, cross "El Pasaje de Chinitas", gardens and squares. Magnificent collection of Malaga paintings from the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries are exhibited in the building of "La Aduana"; Baroque "El Camarin de la Virgen de la Victoria", in its Santuary; the Church of Los Martires, rococo, and the Mudejar Church of Santiago. Just the same, walk across the maritime promenades and "La Caleta", breathing the sea air.
Any time of the year is good for a visit, due to the goodness of the climate. Holy Week, so profoundly experienced, so particular and blessed; "Las Fiestas de Agosto"; "La Fiesta de Verdiales" (28th December)... make up part of the attraction of Malaga.
Lastly, and after visiting the city, one has to talk about its gastronomy. The "pescaito frito" (fried fish), is, doubtless to say, one of its main dishes. One cannot pass through Malaga without tasting its genuine fresh anchovies "vitorianos" (boquerones "vitorianos"), exclusive to the Malaga coastline, and which forms part of the variety of fried fish (la fritura) to gether with the horse mackerel (jureles), the red mullets (salmonetes), the whiting (pescadillas), octopus (pulpos) and squid (calamares), although the combinations are diverse
GASTRONOMY
The cuisine of Malaga has two important branches: on the one side , and like all areas washed by the sea, the dishes that take its most valuable ingredients from the depths of the sea, in this case the luminous Mare Nostrum; on the other side, the gastronomy of the interior, magnificently represented by an endless number of mountainous country towns which offer, to all who visit, succulent stews and traditional dishes like nobody else does in the town's stoves.
Let us talk firstly about the sea. La Costa del Sol, tourist emblem par excellence, owes part of its international prestige to the endless number of recipies which include sea-products amongst its ingredients.
The marine flavour is always present in all the towns that have in the Mediterranean the great supplier of delicious species, amongst whish the fresh anchovy is the undisputed king, to the point that its name serves as a trait name for the inhabitants of the capital. Next to it, an endless number of species to sustain the traditional menus of the Malagueños, so passionate about fried fish: sea bream, guil-head bream, grouper, horse mackerel, prawns, king prawns, squid, baby squid, clams,...If the visitor decides to opt for the "pescaíto frito" (fried fish), it is absolutely essential to visit La Carihuela, fishing district of Torremolinos and a reference to the coastal, Andalucian cuisine, with its more than one hundred beashside stalls and restaurants which have specialised in the preparation of fish in all the variations that accompany it; especially during summer, with delicious "gazpachos", "gazpacuelos" or "ajoblancos", three efficient remedies to combat the mid-summer heat. Other areas which are very advisable to go in order to sample these delicacies are the seaside promenades of Malaga, Benalmadena, Marbella or Puerto Banús. And, of course, the Malagueño district of El Palo and the more eastern tourist resorts: Rincon de la Victoria, Velez or Torrox, which do not fall behind when it comes to preparing the fried, fresh anchovies "en panoja", the guilt-head bream baked in salt or "los espetos", name with the stricklets, which are used in order to spit the sardines to be barbacued, are known.
This typical, maritime cuisine lives in th recipe books alongside the vegetables, fruit, oils and wines, which flood in from La Axarquia and from the crop fields of the interior, or the hunting products from the "Serranía".
Maybe, the prok cold cuts are the only products that do not have a defined origin, amongst other things, because each town tends to be proud of "los chorizos" or "los salchichones" which are made in their own homes, Because of this, it is highly advisable for the foreigner to try in situ the excellent of all the pork derivaties.
Wether we take an interest in the plains of Antequera or in the mountainous countryside of Ronda, the dishes are consistent: the chickpea stews (los pucheros con garbanzos), broad beans Rondeña-style (las habas a la Rondeña), the "perotas soups (las sopas perotas), baked piglet (el cochinillo al horno) and a whole selection of stews whose primary objective is that of protecting from the intense cold which razes these lands from Autum to Spring.
Then there is the administrative district of La Axarquia, where the rich production of its fields are accompanied by an excellent wine, with their own name: "Los vinos de Malaga" or "Pedro Ximenez", are amongst the leading ones in Andalucía.
Lastly, the desserts, which never seem to have abandoned the tradition handed down from the Arabs. Every time one samples "las yemas del Tajo", "los dulces de membrillo de Ronda, "la batata asada" and "los borrachuelos" at Easter, all the exotic flavours of the African past of these lands concentrate in the taste buds.
As tradition goes, the gastronomy is the first step in getting to know well the towns. And in many part of the Province of Málaga, nothing better than to sit at the dinner table and hope to take advantage of its flavours and be soaked in its age-old wisdom.
MALAGA MONUMENTS
CATHEDRAL AND MUSEUMS: Tourist Visiting Hours: 10:00 - 18:45 from Monday to Friday. Saturday 10:00 - 17:45. Closed Sunday and feast days. Tel: 952-22.03.45
CASTLE OF GIBRALFARO - CENTRO DE INTERPRETACION: 09:30 - 20:00 (Summer Hours) 09:30 - 18:00 (Winter Hours) Open Daily. Tel: 952-22.72.30
ALCAZABA: 09:30 - 20:00 (Summer Hours) 08:30 - 19:00 (Winter Hours) Closed on Monday. Tel: 952-22.72.30
MUSEO NAZARI (NAZARINE MUESEUM) Opening Soon.
ROMAN THEATRE: In Restoration
HISTORICAL BOTANICAL GARDEN "LA CONCEPCION": Tel: 952-25.21.48
MUNICIPAL FOUNDATION "PABLO RUIZ PICASSO" MUSEUM AND BIRTHPLACE: Plaza de la Merced, 15 / 10:00 - 14:00 and 17:00 - 20:00, from Monday to Saturday. Sunday only mornings (16th September to 15th June). 10:00 - 14:00 and 18:00 - 21:00, from Monday to Saturday. Sunday only mornings. (16th June to 15th September) Tel: 952-06.02.15
MUNICIPAL MUSEUM OF MALAGA: Paseo de Reding , 1 / 10:00 - 20:00. Open everyday. Fee Entrance. Tel: 952-22.51.06
SANTUARIO DE NUESTRA SEÑORA D ELA VICTORIA: 10:00 - 12:00 and 16:00 - 18:30. From Monday to Friday. Tel: 952-25.26.47
MUSEUM OF "EL CISTER DE LA ABADIA DE SANTA ANA": C/ Cister , Pasaje de Santa Ana, 4 / 10:30 - 14:00. From Monday to Friday, Saturday from 11:30 - 14:00. Tel: 952-21.69.71
MUSEUM OF "ARTES Y COSTUMBRES POPULARES" - UNICAJA: Pasillo de Santa Isabel, 10 / 10:00 - 13:30 and 16:00 - 19:00 (1sr October to 15th June) 10:00 - 13:00 and 17:00 - 20:00 (16th June to 30th September) Closed Saturday afternoons, Sunday and festives days. Tel: 952-21.71.37
AQUARIUM MUSEUM "AULA DEL MAR": 10:30 - 14:00 AND 16:30 - 19:30. Tel: 952-22.92.87
"LAS CONTADORAS" NATURE HALL: Activities by appoinment. Tel: 952-11.02.55
PALACIO EPISCOPAL - EXHIBITION HALL: 10:00 - 14:00 AND 18:00 - 21:00. Closed on Monday. Tel: 952-60.27.22
PALACIO DE LA ADUANA. PARTIAL EXHIBITION OF THE COLLECTION OF THE FINE ARTS MUSEUM. SALON DE COLUMNAS. Monday Colsed. Tuesday: 15:00 - 20:00. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 09:00 - 20:00. Saturday and Sunday: 09:00 - 15:00. tEL: 952-21.36.80
MUSEO DE SEMANA SANTA. COFRADIA DE LA ESPERANZA: Visits by appoinments. Tel: 952-61.27.76 or 952-61.43.96
MUSEO DE LA COFRADIA DE LA EXPIRACION: 11:00 - 13:00 and 19:00 - 21:00. From MOnday to Friday. Tel:952-36.02.71
MUSEO DE SEMANA SANTA. COFRADIA DE LA SAGRADA CENA: 11:00 - 13:30 AND 17:00 - 20:00. From Monday to Friday.
PLAZA DE TOROS DE LA MALAGUETA. MUSEO TAURINO "ANTONIO ORDOÑEZ": Paseo de Reding, 16 / 10:00 - 13:00 and 17:00 - 20:00. From Monday to Friday. Tel: 952-22.62.92
ENGLISH CEMENTERY: 10:00 - 13:00 and 15:00 - 17:00 from Monday to Friday; Saturday and Sunday 10:00 - 12:00. Tel: 952-22.35.52
LAGAR DE TORRIJOS. MUSEO ANTROPOLOGICO DE LOS MONTES DE MALAGA. Visits by appoinment with Agencia de Medio Ambiente (AMA) (Enviromental Agency) Tel: 951-04.00.58
SOCIEDAD ECONOMICA DE AMIGOS DEL PAIS: 11:30 - 13:30 and 18:30 - 21:00 from Monday to Friday, Saturday only mornings. Tel: 952-22.93.96
MUSEO FLAMENCO: In Restoration. Visits by appointments. Tel: 952-21.08.76
LA CASA GRANDE - VILLA ONIEVA - MUSEO DE ICONOS Y GALERIA DE ARTE: (Museum of Icons And Art Gallery) Avda. Pintor Sorolla, 4 (Limonar) 11:00 - 13:00 and 17:00 - 20:00, from Monday to Friday.
AERONUTICAL HALL - MUSEO DEL AEROPUERTO DE MALAGA. Visits by appoinments. Tel: 952-04.81.76
MALAGA USEFUL PHONES:
Town Hall...............................................................952-13.50.00
Tourist Office..........................................................952-13.47.30
Fire Brigade.............................................................952-12.62.00
Post Office.............................................................952-35.91.08
Red Cross...............................................................952-22.22.22
Maritime Emergencies................................................900.20.22.02
Bus Station............................................................952-35.00.61
Guardia Civil............................................................952-39.19.00
Police Court............................................................952-13.65.99
Policia Local............................................................952-12.65.00
Policia Nacional........................................................952-04.62.00
Proteccion Civil........................................................952-21.47.33