For many travellers, Málaga is simply the city where the journey begins. It is home to one of Spain’s busiest airports and an important cruise port, yet it offers far more than a convenient arrival point. More than 2,800 years of history have left Phoenician walls, a Roman theatre, a Moorish fortress and one of Europe’s finest Renaissance cathedrals within a remarkably compact historic centre.
The city was founded by the Phoenicians around the eighth century BC as Malaka, chosen for its excellent natural harbour and strategic position on the Mediterranean trade routes. Under Roman rule it became a prosperous commercial port, while the Moors later transformed it into one of the principal cities of Al-Andalus. The impressive Alcazaba and Gibralfaro Castle, connected by fortified walls climbing the hillside, remain among the finest surviving Islamic military monuments in Spain. Following the Christian conquest in 1487, Málaga continued to expand as one of southern Spain’s most important ports.
The city is also closely linked with one of the world’s most famous artists. Pablo Picasso was born in Málaga in 1881, and his birthplace together with the Picasso Museum attract visitors from across the world. Less well known is that actor Antonio Banderas was also born here and remains closely associated with the city.
Our visit was mainly practical. We parked at the large motorhome area beside the Palacio de Deportes Martín Carpena. The parking spaces were generous enough for our 23-foot motorhome, the area felt organised and we had no concerns about safety. The nearby metro station made reaching the historic centre straightforward without needing to drive through busy city traffic. The main drawback was the constant aircraft noise from Málaga Airport, although it became less noticeable after a while. Overall, it proved to be one of the most convenient places to leave the motorhome while exploring the city.
One of Málaga’s greatest curiosities is hidden beneath the Alcazaba. When the Moors built the fortress during the eleventh century, they reused columns, capitals and stones taken directly from the nearby Roman theatre. As a result, parts of a first-century Roman monument literally became part of a medieval Islamic fortress, creating one of Spain’s clearest examples of successive civilisations building upon one another.
Another little-known fact concerns the cathedral. Officially named the Cathedral of the Incarnation, it is better known locally as La Manquita – “The One-Armed Lady”. Construction lasted for more than two centuries before funds were diverted elsewhere, leaving the southern tower unfinished. More than 240 years later, the cathedral still has only one completed tower, making its incomplete appearance one of Málaga’s most recognisable landmarks.
Although Málaga is often associated with beaches and tourism, we found its greatest appeal lay in its history. Few European cities combine Phoenician origins, Roman remains, one of Spain’s finest Moorish fortresses and world-famous artistic heritage within such a walkable historic centre. Even if your journey along the Costa del Sol is only beginning or coming to an end, Málaga deserves far more than a quick overnight stop.