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 Málaga,
present & future
The city of Málaga has been sung, praised,
painted, written about and, of course, loved. Her close
to three thousand years of history have made her a modern
Mediterranean city, between the cosmopolitanism of a large
city and the elegant beauty of past centuries. In Málaga
one can lose oneself in the historical old town; its parks
and gardens, the Gibralfaro mountain; search for its temples;
examine its museums; sasvour its hundreds of taverns...;
but one thing is for sure: we will always feel at home,
because Málaga is still the warm-hearted daughter
of Andalusia. Once the 21st Century has begun, the city
is beginning to transform itself, as was planned in 1994,
but the aim now is for 2010.
Málaga,
touristically speaking, has much to offer at any time of
the year. The city and its surroundings form one of the
most complete tourist destinations of the Costa del Sol,
as it comprises beaches, golf, nature, gastronomy, coulture,
monuments, leisure, landscapes, and best of all, its people.
Like the anonymous people who walk up and down the Marques
de Larios street, who purchase in the Atarazanas market
or who enjoy hot chocolate and churros in Casa Aranda. They
are the same who, drinking a few glasses of wine in the
Antigua Casa de Guardia or enjoying some tapas in el Pimpi,
share bar space and conversation with strangers; an entertaining
conversation because there are thousands of stories of the
legendary people of Málaga. At present Málaga's
tourism offer is expanding and improving. Before, the congress
and incentive sector was scarcely represented in the city,
but now, with the new Palacio de Ferias y Congresos it will
become the congress centre of the province and a reference
point for Andalusia, because it will be one of the largest
(41,000 m2) and most modern of the area. The sun and sand
offer is also increased, by the extension of the Antonio
Machado Promenade to the East, with eight kilometres more
of beaches, added to the existing twelve, and which this
year will also offer music. 
 the
present: working for tourism
The historical events of the capital of the Málaga
province, coveted by different nations as the gateway to
the Iberian Peninsula and devastated by plagues and floods
in the 19th century, have greatly mistreated its beauty.
Now, the malagueños are conscious of the tourism
potential and instead of being a doorway to invasion, it
is now the door open to millions of travellers each year,
to become acquainted with the Costa del Sol and Andalusia;
be it by air, land or sea. Thus, in 1994 all the administrations,
whatever their political view, agreed to think of the city's
future and the CIEDES Foundation was created, mainly for
the development of Málaga and its future. Thus, tourism
is no longer considered as transitory; it is time to plan
for the future of Málaga, among other ways, as tourism
potential, and thus the Málaga Strategic Plan was
born, the basis of which is to create a quality tourism
city, with the necessary infrastructures to absorb the influx
of travellers and proudly become the capital of the Costa
del Sol.
With the new century barely begun, we can now take stock
of the progress, and we see that it is not far from the
initial expectations, although the largest projects are
still under way.
One of the main points of the Plan was the refurbishment
of the Historical Centre, the recovery of the monuments
and creation of an interesting museum network. Today, the
two fortresses that preside over the city, the Gibralfaro
catle and the Alcazaba, can now be visited. The Roman Theatre
has been recovered, the Cathedral is again in great shape
and the building facades have recovered their old splendour.
Several museums have opened, such as the Municipal Museum
and the Ermita de La Victoria, although the offer is still
growing, with the Contemporary Art Museum (calle Alemania)
and the Fine Arts Museum, which is planned to be housed
in the Palacio de la Aduana, current Sub-delegation of the
Goverment.
But the best is yet the old Fine Arts Museum, Museo Picasso
de Málaga, in the Palacio de los Condes de Buenavista
(calle San Agustín), one of the main points for tourism
promotion of the capital and a key element for the international
launching of the city as Picasso's birthplace.
However, this planning not only includes the improvement
and expansion of the tourism offer, but also the extension
and modernisation of the basic infrastructures for air,
sea and land transport. Thus, the Málaga Port has
been expanded with a new dock in order to welcome the large
cruise liners that travel the Mediterranean and to offer
its services, as it already receives over 250 cruise liners
a year and 135,000 passengers.
But the Special Port Plan goes even further, the enclosure,
which for many years was separate from the city, will be
opened and large leisure areas will be built. Regarding
land transportation, the Public Works Ministry is working
on the high speed AVE railway, which will reduce travelling
times between the main spanish and European capitals. Along
with this, Renfe is planning to take underground the railways
that divide the city in two and to expand the current central
station. In addition, the new "super-ring road"
is planned, which will create a new access and exit from
the capital to the western Costa del Sol, and which will
join the expressway to Estepona.
The Airport already has a new control tower and works will
soon begin on the new runway; witch its services will expand
to exced eight million travellers per year.
the
future: a city project
Some of these projects are still to be approved, but the
truth is that Málaga is developing slowly but surely,
into the city project that many malagueños have dreamed
of. The city is quickly increasing its metropolitan area
to the northeast (Teatinos area), and slowly to the southwest
(Guadalmar area). Specifically, the Marina Arraijanal is
under construction, part of the Plan Bahia. This large project
comprises a large shopping and leisure centre, Plaza Mayor,
which is open, and a large golf course next to the neighbouring
Churriana.
 It
is still soon to imagine the future Málaga city,
but the aim is for 2010. Thus, the CIEDES foundation, which
the main Málaga institutions are part of, is already
studying the Strategic Plan II. This Plan comprises four
main points, which will begin in this decade, such as: "City
of Knowledge", "Culture City", "Coastal
City" and "Urban revitalisation". As in the
first Strategic Plan, anyone who so wishes can participate
in the transformation of the capital. Thus, the democratic
principle is taken to the maximum, in oder to have its inhabitants
dreams come true, and to make it a desirable spot for visitors.
Basic data:
Size: 385.50 Km²
Metropolitan area population: 750,000
Population: 560,017 (September 2000)
Residents known as: Malagueños
Monuments: Alcazaba, Gibralfaro Castle, Roman Theatre, Cathedral
and Cathedral Museum, Birthplace of Picasso.
Geographical situation: On the southern Mediterranean coast,
50 nautical miles from the Straits of Gibraltar and 527
from Madrid.
Tourist information: Central Tourist Office. Avenida de
Cervantes, 1.
Phone: 952 604 410 Fax: 952 214 120
Places to be visited:
Alcazaba
This is a Moorish construction of the 11th to 14th centuries,
residence of the court and the soldiers that guarded it.
It is certainly one of the most important historical buildings
in the city, its outstanding architectural element being
the tower that was built on Roman stone foundations and
reconstructed in modern times. One of the inside arches,
built in brick and stone, is especially interesting. Visiting
times are 8.30 to 7 p.m. every day except Tuesdays, and
entrance is free. Due to restoration work in progress, only
part of the building is currently open to the public.
Gibralfaro Castle
The Gibralfaro Castle, due to its strategic position on
top of the hill, was an important element in the defence
of the city. For this reason, perhaps, the city grew beneath
the hill, and here have been found numerous archaeological
remains. The recently restored castle now has an Interpretation
Centre (not in the language sense) and a museum. Opening
hours are 9.30 to 6 p.m., and entry is free.
Roman Theatre
This dates from the 1st century B.C., during the time of
the Emperor Augustus. The Germanic invasions of the 3rd
century A.D. left the building in ruins, and its stone blocks
and columns were later used to build the Alcazaba, currently
under restoration.
Catedral and Cathedral Museum
This is popularly known as La Manquita, since one of the
towers was never finished. The interior is in the Renaissance
style of the 16th century, while the main façade
belongs to the 18th century baroque style. Building work
began in the 16th century and since then the cathedral has
undergone a great deal of restoration work. Of special interest
on the outside is the relief sculpture of the Annunciation
and the patron saints of the city, San Ciriaco and Santa
Paula. Opening hours 9 to 6.45, closed on Sundays and festivals.
Picasso birthplace
The seat of the Pablo Ruiz Picasso Foundation is here, inaugurated
by the King and Queen of Spain in 1988. Housed inside are
a total of 2,500 pieces, ranging from ancient Iberian art
to the contemporary, along with the Picasso works donated
by his heirs. These comprise ceramic and graphic work dating
from 1923 to 1971. The Foundation is involved in three different
areas of activity: the Documentation Centre that specialises
in the works of Picasso, the organisation of events related
to contemporary art and the Museum itself. It is situated
in the Plaza de la Merced, and opening times are 11 to 2
p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m., opening only in the mornings on Sundays.
Documentation Centre
Jardín de La Concepción
These gardens are beside the Park, and are considered to
have one of the best collections of tropical and sub-tropical
plants and flowers in Europe. It was built by the Malaga
nobility in the 19th century, and has a small archaeological
museum with pierces from the Roman period. Carretera de
las Pedrizas. Open: 10 a.m. beginning of final visit of
the day and closing time: 7.30 p.m. Closed on Mondays. Tel:
952 25 21 48.
Museum of Arts and Popular Customs
Antiguo Mesón de la Victoria, built in 1632. Pasillo
de Santa Isabel. Opening times: from 10 to 1.30 p.m. and
from 4 to 7 p.m. Closed Saturday afternoons and Sundays.
Fiestas:
There are two festivals in Malaga that stand out from the
rest: Holy Week and the Malaga feria. The first is essentially
a religious event, with processions through the streets
during nine days of devotion, and all the solemnity and
colour of the traditional Holy Week celebrations. The feria,
on the other hand, is fun, and Malaga’s August feria is
one of the most famous in all of Spain. People from all
over the world come to it, to share in the music, singing,
flamenco performances, and to soak in, for a full week,
the atmosphere of an authentic Andalusian feria. There are
two parts to the feria: the city centre in the mornings
and the feria grounds at Cortijo de Torres at night, and
the fun goes on until dawn every day. Apart from these two
great festivals, there is also Carnival time in Malaga in
February, an ancient tradition that had been lost and recovered
again about twenty years ago. The Cruces de Mayo (May Crosses)
honours the patron saints of the city, San Ciriaco and Santa
Paula on June 18th; Corpus Christi is on June 6th, the Night
of San Juan is on June 23rd, the processions for the Virgen
del Carmen take place on the Sunday following July 16th
and the Virgen de la Victoria festival takes place on September
8th.
Gastronomy:
Fried fish is the dish that Malaga is famous for. It comes
in all shapes and sizes, fried in many different ways, eaten
in many different places - from the beach to the most expensive
restaurants – and always served with that friendly flair
that is the essence of Malaga City. Seafood is also important
in the gastronomy of this city, with Malaga clams a speciality
that should be tried by everybody. The land around the city
is rich in fruit and vegetables, and the mountains filled
with game, and this reflects too in the gastronomy of the
city. Cooked with olive oil, this is Mediterranean cuisine
at its best, and here one can eat the best of the various
dishes that the province and city is known for far and wide:
gazpacho andaluz, ajoblanco (made with almonds, garlic,
virgin olive oil, stale bread, muscatel grapes, vinegar
and salt), gazpachuelo (fish and seafood soup with mayonnaise
sauce), the various mountain dishes and. Of course, sardines
on the spit. |
