A Walking Tour of Málaga's Architectural Landmarks

Start your walking tour of Málaga’s architecture in the heart of the old town, on the beautiful Plaza Obispo. Looming over you is Málaga’s great cathedral, known locally as ‘La Manquita’, or ‘The One-Armed Woman’, because of its uncompleted second tower. Built between 1528 and 1782 near to the site of an early Almohad mosque, this huge Renaissance and Baroque-style cathedral was originally to feature two towers, but the second was never built, because of a lack of funds. The exquisite choir stalls feature 42 intricate wooden carvings designed by Pedro de Mena (1628–1688), a Granadino sculptor who was a pupil of the notoriously foul-tempered Alonzo Cano (1601–1667), the architect responsible for the façade of Granada’s cathedral.

Just a few minutes away on foot from Málaga’s greatest Catholic monument is the best-preserved Moorish citadel in Spain, a reminder of the city’s distinguished Arabic past. The Muslim rulers of Andalusia built the formidable fortress Alcazaba in the middle of the 8th century, plundering the Roman amphitheatre below it for materials. The fort was extensively rebuilt by the Sultan of Granada in the 11th century and was connected up to the nearby Gibralfaro Castle by a Nasrid king in the 14th century. The Alcazaba blends effortlessly into the hillside above Málaga, its towers and turrets popping our from amongst the lush greenery and cypress trees. Its intriguing interior is a maze of intimate courtyards, open-air corridors and battlements commanding incredible views out to sea.

After visiting all of the above landmarks on foot, refreshment time will be approaching. And happily, the final stop on your walking tour of Málaga’s architectural gems concludes in the city’s grandest covered market. The beautiful, Moorish arched entrance to the Atarazanas Market, located off the Alameda Principal about a ten-minute walk from the port, is the only part to survive from the original seven-arched shipyard built by Mohammed V in the late 14th century. You may well be wondering why he built a shipyard in the middle of the city, but in the 14th century the Mediterranean came further inland than it does today. After admiring the stunning facade and the beautiful stained-glass window at the market’s opposite side, depicting ships in the port, enjoy some tapas (fried fish here is a delicious and fresh as it gets) and a cold beer – the perfect way to conclude your walking tour of Málaga’s architectural masterpieces.