2 On the Road: Malaga, Spain

Double-click on photo to read what the Viking Daily had to say about this port of call. One of the optional tours for the day was a trip to Granada to see the Alhambra. That would have been great, but we did the included tour of Malaga.

Our excursion description: Explore the seaside Andalusian city of Málaga, one of the oldest cities in the world, by motor coach and on foot. Your informative guide will explain the city’s rich history as you pass grand 19th-century buildings such as City Hall, the Old Justice Court and the Central Post Office. Witness the remnants of the 14th-century Gibralfaro Castle, a reminder of the legacy of the Moors. You will briefly stop here to take in superb views of the city below. Back in Málaga’s city center, you can take some photos of the birthplace of one of Málaga’s most famous native sons, Pablo Picasso. Continue on your walk past the ruins of a former Roman Theater and to the foot of the beautiful Alcazaba Palace, the best-preserved citadel in Spain. It was built during the 11th century and once served as a residence for Arabian caliphs. Afterward, you will return to your awaiting ship.

Moon set over Malaga at 7:07 am.

By the time we had breakfast, the sky was beginning to lighten.

Here we are docking and can see the movable walkways we will use to get off the ship.

Looking toward town from the aft deck pool area.

Here comes the sun.

You can see Malaga is built up the hillside.


Our bus tour takes us along the beaches where I saw two cute little buildings.... they were public toilets. LOL. We also saw some eating establishments with names starting with the word "Chiringuito". Typically, a chiringuito is a small establishment located on the beach, offering drinks and typically serving fish and seafood caught nearby. They are a Malaga invention with the first one in Spain appearing in 1882 in Malaga’s fishermen’s neighborhood of El Palo, which is still known for having some of the best chiringuitos for the local pescaito (fried fish).

Hotel Miramar. Looks too expensive for me.

Cool apartment building right across the street from the beach.

There were lots of interesting looking buildings and homes along the beachfront.

We left the beach and started winding up the hillside. I was checking out some of the homes as we went.

The tour guide mentioned how, in times of great rainfall, these ravines could pour a lot of water down the hillsides.

If your lot isn't big enough, you can always cantilever you home out over the hillside.

Our bus parked in this area by Gibralfaro Castle. We didn't tour the Castle, but instead, we walked to the Gibralfaro Viewpoint for a look over the town.

Looking to the east we could see as far as the Torre Vigía Las Palomas (Las Palomas Watchtower).

I wondered what all the manmade land extensions were. Looks like they are small boat harbors.

Looking straight out from the viewpoint, we can see our cruise ship.

A display at the viewpoint told us the names of the places we were looking at. They are really hard to see in this photo so, this is what they read from left to right: Palmeral de Las Sorpresas (Palm Grove of Surprises), Plaza del General Torrijos (General Torrijos Square), Paseo Del Parque (Park Street), Ayuntamiento (Town Hall), Rectorado Uma (?), Palacio de La Aduana (Customs House).

In the foreground is the Alcazaba, a hilltop Moorish-style medieval fortress overlooking the sea. Just above it is Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica de la Encarnación de Málaga, or Holy Church Cathedral Basilica of the Incarnation of Malaga. As you can see, the Cathedral doesn't have a completed roof.

The Cathedral was built over a mosque in the 15th century. The Church transformed the mosque into a church but it was decided that a new cathedral, built from the ground was needed, so work began in 1528. Although not completed, the new Holy Cathedral Church was officially inaugurated on August 30th, 1588.

Next we walked down the road to a hotel on the hilltop. There was another panoramic viewpoint there.

Interesting way to trim the tree.

The Santuario de la Victoria (Sanctuary of Victory) is a 17th-century baroque church & ornate Camarín chapel, with plasterwork skeletons adorning the crypt. It is home to the patron saint of Málaga, the Virgen de la Victoria, who celebrates her big day on September 8th, a local holiday.

A small park with some statues sits at a crossroads in the middle of Malaga. This is the Plaza de la Victoria (Victoria Square). Older city residents might call it Plaza de Los Monos (Monkey Square) because it used to contain a large cage of monkeys. That went away in the 1960's to be replaced with sculptures.

We stopped at Market Square to be introduced to this sculpture of Picasso that was placed in 2008. Why Picasso? Well he was born on October 25th of 1881 in Malaga at #15 of this square.

The house now operates as a museum, and the building is the headquarters of the Pablo Ruiz Picasso Foundation. The odd thing about the statue is that Picasso left Malaga when he was ten not the age the statue depicts. His father was Don Jose Ruiz, a famous Spanish painter of the time, so Pablo didn't want to use the Ruiz name professionally.

The Monumento a Torrijos (Monument to Torrijos) is a 19th-century monument located in the center of the plaza. Spanish architect Rafael Mitjana designed the monument in honor of General José María Torrijos and 48 of his companions who were shot to death on order of Ferdinand VII .

Other side of the monument. Our guide told us that there is a chance the bodies are no longer buried beneath the monument. Who knows.

The Alcazaba borders this area of the city. Malaga, at 2800 years old, is one of the oldest towns in the world. Some of the cultures that have inhabited this area are the Bastetani, the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, the Roman Republic, the Roman Empire, the Byzantines, Muslims and then Spanish. While under Muslim rule (8th to 13th centuries), this Alcazaba, a fortified palace lacking a medina, was constructed.

Our tour continued down a narrow street to La Parroquia Santiago Apóstol Málaga.

Begun in 1509, this still-operating Catholic church displays Islamic, gothic & baroque elements.

Tree decorated with lights for Christmas.

After remaining hidden for centuries, this medium-sized Roman theatre was discovered in 1951 when ground was being broke for new construction. For its renovation, the old Casa de la Cultura had to be demolished.

This 1st century theatre sits just below the Alcazaba and was built over Roman baths. It was abandoned in the 3rd century.

A platform has been added so the theatre can be used for entertainment.

This glass pyramid was built over some ruins of the fish salting business that used the theatre area in the fifth century.

Pools where garum was made. Garum is a fish sauce made from the entrails of the fish. It had different uses, in the upper echelons of ancient Rome they used it as an aphrodisiac food, and also as a dressing for meals. Another use they gave it was as a mask to improve the skin.

Across the street from the Roman theatre is a statue, honoring Solomon ibn Gabirol, whose legacy of poetry and religious philosophy influenced 13th century thinking on Judaism. The statue depicts Ben Gabirol in Arabic dress and in a turban. In his left hand he holds a scroll in reference to his poetic and philosophic works.

El Pimpi advertisement outside the restaurant that is located in an area where Antonio Banderas has an apartment. He was born and made his acting debut in Malaga.

The sole tower of the Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica de la Encarnación de Málaga (Holy Church Cathedral Basilica of the Incarnation of Malaga)

Two people were dancing in Calle Echegaray

Calle San Jose

Church of St. Augustine

Side entrance and gardens to the Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica de la Encarnación de Málaga. Construction began in 1528.

The Iglesia Capitular de El Sagrario, tucked in beside the Basilica, was built between the 15th and 18th centuries. There was a large vertical crack in the wall so who knows how much longer it will remain.

The façade, a masterpiece of Elizabethan Gothic, was made around 1498. It shows two images praying, one accompanied by an angel and the other by the apostle Santiago. It seems that they represent Cardinal Mendoza and the bishop of Malaga at that time, Pedro Díaz de Toledo

Around the corner from the Iglesia Capitular de El Sagrario, come to the front of Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica de la Encarnación de Málaga

Construction started in 1528 but it was left unfinished leaving it without a tower, the roof, the main sacristy, the central belfry, the sculptural ornamentation, etc. Thus it's nickname, La Manquita, the one armed man.

The lack of a roof resulted in serious deterioration inside the cathedral temple by the year 2000. Roof work was done in 2009 but it was ineffective in keeping out the rain. In November of 2016 the powers that be pronounced themselves in favor of the completion of the cathedral according to the existing construction plans. That means they will not only construct a roof, but complete the balustrade, the tower and the sculptural program, as well as a possible expansion of the sacristy that would destroy part of the cathedral gardens.

There's a fountain in the plaza in front of the Basilica.

This pigeon is hoping some of the tourists drop something he can eat.

Look at the stonework on Calle Fresca.

Monumento al Marqués de Larios (The Marques de Larios Monument) pays tribute to the man who financed the building of Larios Street, or Calle Marqués de Larios, the most expensive street to live on in Málaga.