When I’m not travelling or planning my next trip, I’m indulging in wanderlust. If I’m not researching places on the Internet or trawling travel blogs I probably have my nose in a book by travel writers from all walks of life. I just can’t get enough!

I’ve decided to indulge a little further and write the occasional post about the places that are taking up permanent residency in my mind. At the moment, it’s Spain, Spain Spain.

I’ve been to Spain just once, but within 48 hours of being in Barcelona I knew that it was just the tip of the iceberg for my travels in Spain. The first region I’d like to visit is Andalucia, where you’ll find cities like Malaga, Seville, Granada and Cordoba.

The Costa del Sol is a beautiful stretch of coast in Andalucia, translating literally to “Coast of the Sun.”

Malaga is the largest city on the Costa del Sol and the warmest city in Europe. At the ripe old age of around 2800, it’s also one of the oldest cities in Europe. Founded by the Phoenicians but subsequently under Roman, Arabic and Christian rule, Malaga’s city is like an open-air museum, with signs of the different cultures which once called Malaga home all over the city.

Smack bang in the middle of the Costa del Sol it is the perfect base for a few days close to the water. Malaga is still relatively undiscovered by tourist masses, so now is a great time to go.

 

The summer season lasts from April to November and the city enjoys on average 300 days of sunshine per year, so there’s hardly a bad time to visit – perfect for flying getaways when you have a few days off!

Sometimes when travelling it’s hard to make the trade off between relaxing on the beach and a more cultural break – staying in Malaga offers both. This sunny, cultural melting pot would make the perfect base for a getaway to the beaches of the Costa del Sol.

Here are just a few of Malaga’s cultural highlights to whet your wanderlust:

Picasso Musem

Malaga is the birthplace of Picasso, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Malaga’s Picasso Museum holds more than 230 works from throughout his illustrious career – it’s sure to keep your brain from turning to mush during your holiday. The Museum is housed in the beautiful, sixteenth century Buenavista Palace and holds many exhibitions and cultural activities in addition to the permanent collection.

Malaga Cathedral

Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance styles are all evident in this stunning 16th century cathedral. Architecture buffs will be able to spot the work of master builders such as Diego de Siloe and Diego de Vergara. The choir room contains 42 figures by various artists and is considered to be the most beautiful in Spain.

Alcazaba & the Castle of Gibralfaro

This former fortress and palace was built between the 11th and 14th centuries and was home to the rulers of Muslim Malaga. The sprawling palace has two towers which are a great place to find stunning views over Malaga’s old town from it’s enviable position on Mont Gibralfaro

Museum & Basilica of Santa Maria de la Victoria

This church dates back to the year 1487, making it one of the oldest churches in Malaga. In the museum you can visit the crypt of the Basilica where you’ll find fine art by Unzurrunzaga and the church is decorated with theatrical religious artwork that is worth the visit alone.

Atarzanas Central Market

It’s served as a 14th century shipyard during the Nasrid dynasty and as a warehouse, military hospital and barracks after the Reconquista and today is one of Malaga’s major shopping hubs. The best chance a historical building has of being preserved is if it can continue to adapt to society’s needs, so its lucky that when architect Joaquin Rucoba decided to make it a food market in 1870, the members of San Telmo Academy of Fine Arts insisted that the monumental, ancient door was preserved – it’s now part of the main facade.

Every day hundreds of Malagueños breathe 21st century life into the market as they buy fresh produce. Try the fried fish served at the bar for a taste of the local cuisine while you do your shopping.

Larios Street

The beating heart of Malaga is Larios Street, where you’ll find the best shops and cafes in Malaga’s Historical District. Most adjacent streets are pedestrianised, which makes it the perfect area of a wander and shop on a lazy afternoon. At night, the streets light up with bars and clubs.

All photos in this post are from Tourism Costa del Sol