Ciudad+de+Málaga

**Population:**
Malaga Province: 1.141.000. Malaga Capital: 561.565.

**Location and Altitude:**
Mean Altitude in the Málaga Province is 9 m above sea level. Distances To: Granada: 129 km. Sevilla: 219 km. Madrid: 558 km.

**Weather:**
Average Temperature: 23C (73F). Sunny Days a Year: 310 days. Rainy Days a Year: Less than 40 days a year. Annual Rainfall: 59.7 cm a year.

**Tourist Information Center:**
Tourism: Over 6.5 million tourists visit Malaga Province each year. + **Punto de Información Turística**- Correos (Área de Turismo) AV ANDALUCIA 1, 29002 Málaga email: info@malagaturismo.com webpage: [|http://www.malagaturismo.com]

**Brief History:**
The strategic position to the Mediterranean Sea has always made Malaga an attractive zone for foreign invasions. The first settlement in Malaga was made by the Phoenicians who founded the city more the 3000 years ago. The town, at the time called Malaka, was used as a commercial center for the region and exploited for its richness in metals such as silver and copper. The Phoenician period lasted until about 550 b.c where Malaga was conquered by the Carthaginians who took the control over all the commerce in the area. The Carthaginian dominants ended in 218 b.c when the Romans entered Malaga and other parts of Spain. **The Roman Period** With the Roman victory Malaga formed part of Hispania Ulterior (ulterior Spain) of the Roman Empire. This was the beginning to an import period in the history of Malaga. The Romans created an economical and cultural center in Malaga and significant constructions such as the port of Malaga and the roman theatre (see photo) were constructed. Under the Emperor Tito Malaga was as well named a confederate city of Rome, which was an increase in the importance of the town in Roman Empire. In the beginning of the 4th century, hundred years after the Roman entrance, Malaga appeared as one of the regions in Spain who had adapted best to the Roman life style and was one of the only regions where the Christianity had made its strong entrance with the population. When the Roman Empire started to fall in the beginning of the 5th century the coast of Andalusia including Malaga was regularly invaded by small Visigoths tribes. The Visigoths finally conquered the entire town of Malaga in 623, where after the last Romans tropes leaved the town. The Visigoth dominants in Malaga only lasted until 711 when the Moors invaded the Iberian Peninsula from the South. This was the beginning of another long and interesting part of the Malaganean history. The first 30 years after the invasion the Moors concentrated on defending and expanding their territories. It was first in 743 under Abd Al Ariz when the Moors began to expand the town on the existing Roman and Visigoth structure. This was a period with important constructions, like the town wall and the 5 great gates and as well where the town experienced an increase in cultural and commercial activities. In the 11th century rivalry began between different noble Moorish families in Andalusia. Malaga was in this period ruled by the kingdoms Taifas and not until 1.143 when Ibn Hud took over the power Malaga got its own sovereign. After the dead of Ibn Hud Malaga falls under the Kingdom of Granada at the time ruled by Muhamad I. Malaga stayed under the different Moorish Caliphs in Granada, who were responsible for the construction of the two most important monuments in Malaga, the fortress Alcazaba (see photo), which was started in the 11th century and the castles/ fortress Gibralfaro, which was not finished until the beginning of the 15th century. In the 14th century the first Christian attends to defeat the Moorish sovereign took place. It was not until 100 years later in August in 1487 when the Christians finally defeated the Moors in Malaga, with an important help from small Christian clans within the town. After this Malaga started to change its appearance from a Muslim to a Christian town and many of the Muslim families participating in the defense of the town were killed, exposed or sold as slaves. The destruction of Moorish monuments and the construction of churches and other Christian compliments was part of the transaction from Muslim to Christian town. But not all Moorish constructions were destroyed. An example is the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro, which the Christians used, like the Moors, to defend the town from foreign attacks. In 1528 Diego de Vergara began the construction of the cathedral of Malaga, which was finished by his son in 1598. The 17th-18th centuries were bad years for the town. Although the population grew in numbers, the town was hit by several epidemics, earthquakes and important inundations, which ruined several constructions like the expansion of the harbor. In the 19th century the town grew faster and the town walls build by the Moors were demolished to give place for the amplification of the town. Napoleon also made his entrance in the town, but the French domination only lasted two years from 1810 to 1812. In this century Malaga also started to be a popular destination for rich people to spend their free time, which was the beginning to the tourist industry in the area. Important constructions such as the theatre Cervantes (1866), calle Marqus de Larios y la Alameda (1891) were also from this period. The century finished with economic crisis, new plagues and inundations. In the beginning of the 20th century the economic crisis still had its hold all over Spain and especially in Malaga, where the population suffered problems in the agricultural sector due to several natural disasters. This period was also dominated by the political instability throughout the whole country, which culminated with the Spanish civil war from 1936-39. After the civil war, during the dictatorship of General Franco, the economy in Malaga slowly recovered. It was not until the 60's tourist boom, when the economy in Malaga recovered totally. In this decade hotels and tourist resorts were build all over Malaga and Costa del Sol, which still today is one of the most popular destinations with more than 6 million tourists visiting the region every year. Apart from the tourist industry Malaga is also today a cosmopolitan city with Spain's second largest port and third largest international airport. It is also known as the business and cultural center for the southern part of Spain and every year there are celebrated more than 100 international conventions in the region.
 * The First Settlements**
 * Moorish Epoch**
 * The Christian Period**
 * 20th Century and Today**

**Gastronomy:**
The typical cuisine of Malaga is like throughout Andalusia, light, healthy and always prepared with fresh Mediterranean ingredients. The use of olive oil for cooking in Andalusia has proven to decrease the possibility of heart diseases, improve the blood circulation and digestion and the oil as well is rich in vitamins (A, D, E, K). Being a costal province has made a great influence in the cuisine of Malaga, which includes a great variety of seafood. Some of the most typical dishes are Shrimps in all variations, roasted or boiled, fried fish (Pescaito Frito), Chanquetes (a small fish in the anchovy family) and boquerones in vinagre (also a small fish which has been marinated in vinegar for a day). Apart from seafood Malaga and the rest of Andalusia are probably most known for the cold vegetal soup Gaspacho (for recipe see below). Gaspacho is a very refreshing dish mainly served during the summer and is made by fresh blended vegetables. It is also possible to find meat dishes of a good quality in Malaga. Especially the many variations of chicken are worth to try and specialities as Rabo de Toro (bull's tail) can also be recommended.

**Festivals:**
In la Feria you can also find horse parades, flamenco concerts and locals in traditional regional dresses.
 * 1st of January** - New year's day. National holiday.
 * 5-6th of January** - The procession of the 3 Holy Kings. In Spain this event is celebrated with big parades for children where various famous people get the "honor" to play one of the 3 kings. On the morning of the 6th of January is when the children receive their gifts.
 * 3th and 4th weekend of February** - Carnival. The yearly carnival is celebrated all over Spain with events like parades, mask and costume parties.
 * 28th of February** - Day of Andalusia. A state holiday throughout Andalusia.
 * March/April** - Easter-Week. Easter is one of the most important religious events in Malaga, and the rest of Andalusia. It is celebrated with impressive religious processions where statuettes of Jesus and Virgin Maria are carried around the town, with music and participants in special costumes.
 * 1st of May** - International Labor day. A national holiday in Spain.
 * 3rd of May** - Cruces de Mayo. This day is celebrated (principally in Granada) with competitions in decorating the most beautiful cross with flowers, but is not a holiday in Malaga.
 * 18th of June** - Corpus Christi. This is a religious event celebrated with processions in the center of Malaga, but is not a holiday.
 * 23rd of June** - San Juan. San Juan is the longest day of the year and is celebrated with campfires and parties on the beach. (not a holiday)
 * 16th of July** - Virgen del Carmen. Virgen del Carmen is the patron of the sea and previously used to be a holiday in Malaga.
 * Starting 2nd Saturday of August for 9 days** - The traditional summer town festival "Feria de Agosto". La Feria is a weeklong town festival, which is celebrated during the daytime in the city center and during night in an open square in the outsides of Malaga. The main objective is to have fun and people are dancing, singing, eating, and drinking in the many tents all over the Feria square.
 * 15th of August** - Asuncin de la Virgen. This is a national holiday celebrating one of the patrons of Spain.
 * 19th of August** - Incorporation of Malaga in the kingdom of Catilla. This is a local holiday in the province of Malaga.
 * 8th of September** - Virgen de la Victoria. Local holiday in the capital of Malaga.
 * 12th of October** - Dia del Hispanidad. This is a national holiday with official parades celebrating "being Spanish".
 * 1st of November** - All Saints day. National holiday in Spain. Halloween is celebrated in some places in Malaga but it is not a Spanish tradition.
 * 6th of December** - Constitution day in Spain. This is a National holiday, but is only celebrated with official events.
 * 8th of December** - Imaculada Concepcin. This is a national holiday celebrating the patron of Spain, la Imaculada Concepcin.
 * 25th of December** - Christmas day. National holiday.
 * 28th of December** - Los Santos Inocentes. Apart from being the day where people makes jokes upon each other (like 1st of April in many other countries), this is celebrated with Flamenco dancing and other festivities in Malaga.

Museums/Monuments/Places to see:
+ **The Picasso Museum** Palacio de Buenavista, San Agustn, 8. Phone 902 44 33 77 Opening hours: Tuesday -Thursday: 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, Friday - Saturday: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm, Sundays and Holidays: 10:00 am to 8:00 pm (Closed Mondays). The museum Picasso Mlaga is located in the old quarter of the city, next to the Cathedral of Malaga and Plaza de la Merced the birth place of Picasso. This museum was opened in 2003 in the restored Palacio de Buenavista a beautiful sixteenth-century palace. The museum holds permanent collection of works made by Picasso where a large part has been donated directly by the Picasso family. + **Bullfighting Museum** Plaza de Toros "La Malagueta". Paseo de Reding Phone 952 22 62 92952 22 62 92 Opening hours: Monday-Friday 10-13 and 17-20. In this museum you can find different examples of bull fighting articles as well as information about the history of bull fighting in Malaga and the rest of Spain. + **Pablo Ruiz Picasso Public Foundation** Pl. de la Merced, 15. Phone 652 06 02 15952 06 02 15 Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 10.00-14.00 and 18.00-21.00. The Pablo Ruiz Picasso Public Foundation is located in the house were the painter was born in 1895. The museum contains drawings and other works made by Picasso as well as videos, photos and other material about Picasso's life and work.