Once considered the poor cousin of Andalusia’s capital city, Seville, Malaga now competes successfully for attention, thanks to its profusion of quirky museums, delightful pedestrianised centre, innovative restaurants and stylish hotels, many featuring trendy rooftop terraces with bars, pools and stunning views. Muelle Uno is a contemporary leisure complex in the port - the arty district called SOHO brings a bohemian edge to the city.
The opening of the Picasso Museum in 2003 triggered the city's cultural rebirth, and visitors are now flocking to this port city which boasts excellent transport, top-class cuisine and fascinating monuments, from Moorish and Roman times through to modern day - while retaining its authentic Andalucian feel. Whether you are visiting from a cruise, a weekend break or as curious Costa del Sol visitors, you will be pleasantly surprised by this intriguing city.
A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY-
Malaga is one of the oldest cities in the world with close to three thousand years of history.
The Phoenicians originally founded a commercial centre here in early 7C BC, which they named Malaca. The name is most probably derived from the word Malac - to salt. The Greeks and Carthaginians were briefly present and further established Malaca as a trading post. In 3C BC the Romans conquered the city and a created a colony that was federated to Rome until AD81, whereupon it attained the status of a Roman municipality. The city was renamed Flavia Malacita and quickly grew in importance, with the port used to export oil, raisins, wine and salted fish and meat. Malaga’s port and the Roman amphitheatre were constructed during this time.
Following the Moorish conquest - 714-716 - the city came under the jurisdiction of the Caliphate of Córdoba.
With the rise and fall of various Muslim dynasties, the city eventually fell under the control of the Nasrids, in Granada. Malaga became the main port and the city was called Mālaqah. Enjoying great prosperity during this period, mainly due to the development of it’s textile industry. The fortress - the Alcazaba was built in 11C and in 14C the Gibralfaro fortress was rebuilt and extended by Yusif I.
It took close to a hundred years before the Christians managed to re-conquer the city. Finally doing so in 1487. The new port was built and with the liberalisation of trade with the Americas, Malaga prospered. Between 1810 and 1812 the city fell into the hands of the French. Another important and sad event in Malaga’s history was the execution of General Torrijos and his companions in 1831 (remembered by the monument in Plaza de Merced named after him).
The 19C was the era of the industrial revolution. Two wealthy families, the Heredia (iron and steel) and the Larios (textiles) based their factories in Malaga.
Malaga was at the forefront of the Spanish industrial revolution, resulting in a large manufacturing and working-class district to the West of the city. Towards the end of the 19C, recession brought about a sudden change of fortunes.
The early 20C were very difficult times, with various natural disasters - earthquakes, plagues and failed harvests, that all took a heavy toll on the local population. The political instability in this period culminated with the Spanish civil war. Malaga suffered terribly during the Civil War, eventually falling to pro-Franco forces on February 8, 1937. This sparked one of the most horrendous crimes that took place during the whole war, aptly named as the "caravan of death." Over 120,000 people, many of them civilians, were forced to abandon the city by foot, along the old Almeria road (N340) attempting to walk a distance of over 200kms. They were under constant fire from Franco's troops (backed by Italian and German aerial and marine forces) from the sea, the air and on land. Many thousands of innocent civilians lost their lives enroute and afterwards. The 'Desbandá' is commerated yearly in Torre del Mar on Feburary 7th.