A quick introduction to Malaga, the capital of the Costa del Sol

Thinking of moving to Malaga? Not sure what to expect there?

Read on for our quick introduction to the Capital of the Costa del Sol – the home of Pablo Picasso, Antonio Banderas, sun, sand, sea and an unmatched quality of life.

Location

Malaga is a medium-sized city located in Andalucía, the southernmost Autonomous Community of Spain.

The city is located where both the Guadalmedina and Guadalhorce rivers reach the northern segment of the Alboran Sea (the final part of the Mediterranean before it reaches the Atlantic Ocean).

Malaga is the biggest municipality on the Costa del Sol (the Sun Coast), which also comprises well-known resorts such as Marbella, Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Benalmádena, Mijas and Nerja.

Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport is a major transport hub, with several daily connections to major cities in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Portugal, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the Canaries and Balearics and further afield.

Likewise, Malaga’s María Zambrano train station has regular high-speed connections to Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Granada and Cordoba.

Population

With a population of just short of 600,000 people, Malaga is the second-largest city in the region, after Seville, and the sixth-largest in Spain.

While Malaga has always been a popular tourist destination, Malaga is an increasingly international hub, with large foreign communities now living in the city and surrounding areas.

With the rise of remote working, especially since the start of the pandemic, more and more foreign nationals are coming to the city, especially from Northern Europe, attracted by the lifestyle, climate and relatively low cost of living.

Several multinational companies, including Google, Vodafone, Accenture and Ericsson have also committed to the city, bringing with them thousands of jobs and significant investment.

Climate

As the name suggests, the Costa del Sol is famous for its sunshine. In fact, the area enjoys, on average, more than 320 days of sunshine per year.

Malaga enjoys a lovely climate all year round, with an average daytime temperature of 23.3°C.

The winters in the city are mild (in the low to mid-teens) thanks to the Montes de Málaga mountain range blocking the cold winds. Meanwhile, the summers are warm, but not scorching (in the high 20s to low 30s) thanks to Malaga’s proximity to the sea.

The temperatures are fairly steady all year round, with most of the rainfall coming during the winter and very little during the summer.

Occasionally, throughout the year, the famous Terral wind will strike for a couple of days, temporarily increasing the temperature by up to ten degrees.

History

The city of Malaga dates back to around 770 BC when it was established as Málaka by the Phoenicians. It acted as stop-off on the trade route between Phoenicia (modern-day Lebanon) and the Strait of Gibraltar.

The settlement then fell under Carthaginian rule during the 6th or 5th century BC until the Romans attacked in around 218 BC, driving them out.

Under the Romans, Malaga developed significantly both culturally and economically and became a major settlement in the western part of the Roman Empire (as can be illustrated by the city’s Roman Theatre). It adapted well to the Roman lifestyle and Christianity prospered.

However, after the Roman Empire fell at the beginning of the 5th century AD, the Visigoths attacked and took control for a brief period before the Moors took their place in 711 AD.

The Moors then ruled much of the Iberian Peninsula for many centuries, calling it Al-Andalus (later the inspiration for the name Andalucía), constructing a large mosque in Malaga and leaving behind many interesting Islamic structures.

Under Muslim rule, Malaga became a major trading centre, dealing especially in figs and wine. It was one of the last Moorish cities to fall when the Christian Monarchs (Reyes Católicos) attacked in August 1487.

During this new era, the majority of Moorish structures were destroyed (with the exception of the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro forts) and churches were built.

The following centuries were turbulent for Malaga, with epidemics, floods and earthquakes sending the city into economic ruin. However, this improved in the 19th century, with the arrival of increasing wealth. The construction of some of the city’s major sites, such as the Cervantes Theatre (1866) and the Calle Larios and Alameda Principal main streets (1891) happened during this period.

However, the 20th century started badly with further natural disasters and political instability during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). However, during the rule of dictator General Franco, Malaga started to flourish again as an important commercial centre.

By the 1960s, Malaga had become a famous tourist destination, part of the boom of the Costa del Sol, and continues to be so in the present day.

Things to do

Malaga is now a firmly established tourist destination thanks to its diverse culture, wonderful climate and rich gastronomy.

One of the city’s major attractions is its proximity to the sea. In addition to the fashionable Muelle Uno marina, the city has around a dozen beaches. Some are very close to the city centre, while others, such as Peñón del Cuervo, offer spectacular immersion into nature.

In addition, the city has in recent years gained the title Málaga: ciudad de museos (Malaga, the museum city). This is because as well as the Picasso Museum and the Picasso Birth House, Malaga now boasts dozens of world-class museums and galleries.

These include an offshoot of the Paris-based Centre Pompidou, a branch of the State Russian Museum, the Museum of Malaga, the Carmen Thyssen Museum, the Automobile and Fashion Museum, the Glass and Crystal Museum and many more.

Culture vultures can also take in shows at the Soho Theatre, owned by Hollywood actor Antonio Banderas (who also stars in the shows), or concerts by national and international stars at the Cervantes Theatre.

Popular monuments to visit include the Cathedral (famous for its incomplete second tower), Plaza de la Merced (which houses an obelisk and Pablo Picasso’s birthplace), the Roman Theatre, the Alcazaba palace, the Gibralfaro castle and La Malagueta bullring.

Foodies also enjoy the Atarazanas market for fresh produce and tapas, as well as many of the beachside chiringuito bars which sell the fried fish or sweet wine for which Malaga is famous.

Conclusion

Malaga is, quite simply, a fantastic place to be.

With year-round sunshine, a diverse population and rich cultural and historical heritage, it’s impossible to be bored here.

More and more foreign people are calling the city their home each year and it’s not difficult to see why.