Explore Historic Malaga, Malaga, Spain

As the main city on Spain’s popular Costa del Sol, Málaga is often overlooked as a destination. Most only make a quick stop before racing off to enjoy the sandy beaches, but we think the city deserves more time. With a hilltop castle, a centuries-old Alcazaba and pretty historic streets, there are many treasures to be found when you explore Málaga’s historic streets.

Like other cities along Spain’s southern coast, Málaga has been inhabited for over 3,000 years. The most impactful time on the city was when it was under Moorish rule, from the 8th to 15th centuries. Its importance was tied to its port because of its proximity to the land-locked Moorish capital of Granada. It wasn’t until the mid 15th century that Ferdinand and Isabella, Spain’s first monarchy, conquered the Moors and took control of Málaga. This meant it was one of the few remaining Moorish cities in Andalucía, falling to the Spanish only 5 years before Granada.

A lot of that history can be seen today in its blend of Moorish and Spanish monuments. Here are some of those historic sites you’ll see when you visit Málaga.

From the waterfront, we looked up to see the old stone walls of the Alcazaba. The impressive ramparts follow the lower slopes of Mount Gibralfaro and enticed us to get a closer look. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).