Top tourist attractions in Malaga
Best attractions to enjoy in Malaga
You are going to spend 1 day in Bilbao during your vacation in Northern Spain and you are looking for ideas. You are in good hands! Our team of local experts in the basque country region has hand-picked the best ideas to enjoy in the capital of Guipuzcoa: parks, museums, art-galeries, churches, plazas and more in the “Botxo” (this is the way locals from Bilbo or Bilbao refer to this fascinating city).
Roman theatre in Malaga
The Roman theater in Malaga is the archaeological remains of the ancient Malacca theater and the main vestige of the Roman Empire’s presence in Malaga. It is located in the historic center of the city, at the foot of the Alcazaba hill.
The theater dated back to the first years of the Roman Empire. Its design corresponds to a mixed construction that combines the use of the hillside for the bleachers – in the style of the ancient Greek theaters – with an important portion of the construction where the rock is non-existent, creating the necessary space for the stands.
History
The impressive Roman theater in Málaga is located near the Alcazaba and built during the reign of Emperor Augustus, making good
use of the hillside. The ruins still have some of the marble furnishings. Castillo de Gibralfaro (440 ft. above sea level). The Theater was discovered in 1951 while undertaking some construction work. At first, the remains were thought to be one of the gates in the cities old fortified wall. But, shortly after, as they uncovered more of the ruins, archeologists discovered that it was actually the Aditus Maximus of a theatrical building.
When was the Roman theater in Málaga built?
The origins of what would become the Roman city of Malacca date back to the 7th-6th centuries BC with the constitution of the Phoenician city of Malaka.
The theater itself was built in the first century BC, and was used until the 3rd century AC.
Who built the Roman theater in Málaga?
Malaga was conquered by the Romans from the Carthaginians in 218 BC. The theater was built in the time of Julius Caesar Augustus, in the 1st century AD. The Emperor Vespasian granted Malaca the Lex Flavia Malacitana, which made the city a municipality under Latin law. Taking advantage of the urban physiognomy and its culture, they built a whole great city that was supplied with the influences that its proximity to the sea offered, gradually turning it into the image and likeness of the Roman ones. Public spaces such as hot springs, administrative buildings, and entertainment buildings were built.
The theater of Malaga theater fell into disuse by the middle of the 3rd century AD, changing its surroundings for large pools that served the salting industry, and from the 5th century, the area would be used as a burial place.
The theatre today
It is currently an archaeological site whose ownership and management corresponds to the Junta de Andalucía. It is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, and your visit is articulated between an interpretation center that is located next to the theater, and the site in question whose route is possible through wooden walkways.
The Roman theater of Malaga has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC) with the category of Artistic Monument, by Decree dated March 16, 1972. In the current urban planning it is cataloged with grade A, comprehensive protection, by the General Plan of Urban Planning of Malaga.
Picasso Museum of Málaga
The Picasso Museum of Málaga is one of two Museums dedicated to Pablo Picasso in Spain. The other is located in the Catalonian city of Barcelona Pablo Picasso was born in the Andalusian city of Málaga on October 25th, 1881, just a few meters from where his museum now stands.
The museum is home to over 280 original pieces by Picasso that cover the different artistic periods of the painter’s career. The collection shows the different styles, materials, and techniques that Picasso experimented with while developing his unique style and vision.
Particularly interesting is the collection of early works created by a young Pablo Picasso where you can see how he began by dominating a more classic style of painting before he entered cubism.
The Picasso Museum of Málaga is the most visited museum in Andalucía attracting over 600 hundred-thousand visitors annually.
How long should I plan my visit?
At the very least you should set aside 2 hours to properly experience the whole collection. If you are a big Picasso fan, 2 hours will probably not be enough.
History of the Picasso Museum
The idea of creating a museum dedicated to Picasso came about thanks to a conversation between the artist and Juan Temboury, the provincial delegate of Fine Arts of Málaga in 1953.
Tembory wrote Picasso a letter requesting the donation of 2 pieces of each technique and period that had made Picasso such a unique artist, to which Picasso responded: “I won’t send two, I will send two trucks filled”
This initial donation was enough to open the first Museum dedicated exclusively to Picasso, however, local authorities denied the donation and the project had to be postponed.
It wouldn’t be until 1992, thanks to the efforts of Picasso’s oldest son’s widowed wife that the project of creating a Museum for Picasso was brought up again. In 1996 the project was approved and the museum finally opened its doors in 2003 after 7 years of collecting and curating a wide variety of works by the artist.
Palace of the Counts of Buenavista
The Palace of the Counts of Buenavista is the amazing building in which the Picasso Museum is housed.
The palace was ordered to be built in 1530 by Diego de Cazalla, the cities governor. The palace was built in the style of renaissance and was one the most important Civil Buildings of the city.
It features two stories and a beautiful interior patio and had already been repurposed as an art museum. in 1950 it became the Fine Arts Museum of Málaga.
La Alcazaba de Malaga – Gribalfaro
An Arab castle with particularly beautiful gardens and numerous
courtyards. The fortress dates back to Roman origins. It was altered several times,
especially under the Nasrite dynasty (14C) and extensively restored in 1933. An Ar-
chaeological Museum (Puerta de Granada) now occupies the buildings. On
display there are Roman and pre-Roman finds, sculpture from Visigoth up to and
including Arab times, Renaissance art, collections of coins and inscriptions and an
important collection of Moorish ceramics from the 9-15C.
Cathedral of Malaga
The Cathedralof Malaga is one of Spain´s best examples of Reinassence architecture.
Construction of the cathedral of la Encarnacion in Malaga began in 1528, following the plans of notable contemporary architects; building stopped in 1783 (late if compared to other Spanish cathedrals) . An imposing marble stairway leads up to the W. façade. Two towers-of which only the N. one was completed-flank the three portals; the other tower is called ‘Manquita’ in the local vernacular, which means ‘the one without’. The middle portal has reliefs of the Birth of Christ; the side portals have Saints Paula and Cyriacus, the town’s two patron saints. The interior (392 ft. long by 160 ft. high) has a nave and two aisles of equal height and a dome supported by compound pillars with Corinthian capitals. In the middle there are very beautiful choir stalls (100 seats) with 40 superb figures of saints, carved by Pedro de Mena (1658-60); further figures are by Luis Ortiz and José Micael. Some particularly fine vestments are on view.
In the trascoro (retrochoir) there is an impressive Pietà by Alonso Cano. The first chapel on the right of the ambulatory has figures of Ferdinand and Isabella in an attitude of prayer, probably by Pedro de Mena; there is also a gilded statue of the Virgin, which was reputedly carried during the battles of the Reconquista. The first side chapel on the right has a 17C crucifix by Montañés. The third side chapel on the right has the Virgin Mary with Saints from the 17C by Alonso Cano, as well as two sculptures Pedro de Mena. In the third chapel of the ambulatory there is a Gothic retable, from the early 16C. The Capilla del Sagrario(in the E. of the ambulatory) was designed by Juan de Villanueva in the 18C. and it is one of the highlights at the cathedral.
Parish church El Sagrario in Malaga
This is a beautiful church that we like to recommend since it is a top siht but few people get to visit it. Above all, you should enjoy its beautiful Gothic portal.
Dating from the 15C, it was founded by Ferdinand and Isabella on the site of a former mosque. The church has a particularly beautiful late Gothic portal with lavish decoration (including coats-of arms) by Pedro López. The Plateresque high altar has statues and polychrome reliefs by Alonso Berruguete or Juan de Balmaseda.
