Audio Guide: Malaga Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Malaga

In 1325, the famed Muslim traveller Ibn Battuta reflected on his visit to Málaga, writing: "It is one of the largest and most beautiful towns of Andalusia, combining the conveniences of both sea and land.''

Málaga is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, with a history spanning nearly three millennia. It was founded around the 8th century BC by Phoenician traders from Tyre, who established a settlement called Malaka. The name is generally linked to the Phoenician root "mlk'', a reference to the local production of salted fish and fermented fish sauce, or garum, which made the port economically valuable in antiquity.

Under Roman rule, Malaka became Malaca, a municipium within the province of Hispania Baetica. The city prospered as a commercial harbour, exporting fish products, wine, and olive oil across the Mediterranean. Roman Málaga left lasting physical traces, most notably the Roman Theatre at the foot of the Fortress hill, along with roads and infrastructure that connected the port to inland settlements.

After the decline of Roman authority, Málaga passed briefly through Visigothic hands before entering a long Islamic period following the Umayyad conquest of the Iberian Peninsula in the early 8th century. The city flourished under Muslim rule, particularly between the 10th and 13th centuries, when its port, fortified walls, and shipyards supported trade with North Africa and the eastern Mediterranean.

In 1487, Málaga was captured by the Catholic Monarchs after a prolonged siege and incorporated into the expanding Kingdom of Castile.

During the modern period, the city remained an important port and experienced a renewed phase of growth driven by ironworks, textiles, and wine exports, while new boulevards and civic buildings reshaped its streetscape. Despite the economic challenges and upheavals of the 20th century, the late 20th and early 21st centuries saw Málaga re-emerge as a cultural and tourist destination.

Walking through Málaga’s historic centre today, you move between layers that sit unusually close together. The route leads past the Roman Theatre, where ancient stonework emerges at street level, before your gaze lifts toward the Malaga Fortress, whose walls still dominate the hillside above. Nearby, the Cathedral anchors the surrounding streets with its scale and pale stone. Between these landmarks, narrow lanes, small squares, and everyday cafes bind the city’s long history into the rhythm of daily life.

As you follow this walk, you can see it for yourself why Ibn Battuta’s words still resonate today.