Malaga
is the major coastal city of Andalucia and is a genuine and
typical Andaluz city with a gritty individualism untouched by
tourism and, to a large extent, the passage of time. Pablo Picasso
is the city's famous son (not counting Antonio Banderas of course!)
and there are several galleries showing his work, including
the 16th century Museum of Fine Arts, adjacent to the Cathedral
His birthplace in Plaza Merced is today an archive of his life
and works and open tothe public; the entrance is absolutely
free (so are all the services: Documentation Centre, exhibitions,
museum, video projections...)
Malaga's main theatre is the "Theatro Cervantes" where
Antonio Banderas once trod the boards. He still visits.
As well as being a cultural
centre, Malaga is also a great place to eat out. The Malagueños
love their food and the bars and restaurants here are where
the real social life takes place. The choice in unlimited and,
on the whole, reasonable with some bars offering a menu of the
day with bread and wine for as little as 700 pesetas. Tapas,
small portions of many different dishes is an Andalusian tradition
and a wonderfully inexpensive way to try a variety of local
food.
The best known local fare in Malaga is pescaito frito, an assortment
of fried fish, including small sardines and red mullet, best
washed down with a glass of ice cold fino at one of the many
old fashioned bodegas in town. But it is El Palo, to the east
of the city which is a typical fisherman's village and the place
to go if you want that veritable 'catch of the day' freshness.
Malaga is always closed for the siesta period, so this is a
perfect time for a long relaxing lunch.
These days, Malaga prides itself on being a modern city with
the heart of commerce dominated by Calle Larios which is the
local Bond Street equivalent. This is the recommended place
to start exploring the city as it is surrounded by attractive
small streets and plazas, as well as the magnificent cathedral
(Renaissance cathedral with a Baroque faade and choir by Pedro
de Mena) which offers daily guided tours. |