I Could Live Here

Our first trip to Málaga...

Denise happened upon an article listing the top 5 Christmas light displays¹ in Europe. Málaga was only 4 hours away…our friends were visiting…and we wanted to explore more of Spain. The lights are spectacular! But Málaga has so much more to offer.

I love Spanish architecture and these rounded corners promote air ciculation.

Walking Tour

We rented an Airbnb property from Caneta Homes. Since we had never been to the city, or anywhere on the Costa do Sol, I chose the apartment because it had 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, was dog friendly, and looked clean and modern. It turned out, all that was true, and the location, in the old city's pedestrian center, was the perfect base for a 2-night getaway.

Our first evening in the town involved eating, drinking, and enjoying Christmas lights. As is our custom, the following morning we had signed up for a 10:00, 2-hour, free walking tour. We met Samuel at the Plaza de la Marina, which hosts nearly 300 cruise ship landings each year. We were surprised to find we were the only 2 on the tour and appreciated that he was willing to proceed nonetheless. Good guides, like great comedians, weave a story through their narrative…and this was the case with Samuel. He loves his city and its history which dates back to the Phoenicians.

Málaga’s famous fisherman statue moves about the harbor park, occupying a new location each year.

We learned about the fishermen that used to sell their daily catch directly to the public and about how Larios transformed the city into an industrial center with steel and wine. We also learned about a mayor that has held office for 22 years, and who has transformed the city into the tourist-friendly hub it is today.

Denise chats with the master across the street from his childhood home.

Malgueños are proud that Picasso was born and lived his first 10 years in their city. You see this in the shops that sell Picasso-inspired shirts, and the local artists that bring a new spin to his iconic works. There is one of the official Picasso museums in the city center, which our guide suggested inspired more than 30 additional museums² in Málaga. We also saw his first home and the church in which he was baptized.

Roman Ruins, Muslim Forts, Churches

Our tour ended at Alcazaba which offers a Roman ruin and an impenetrable fort built by the Moors. We gathered our friends and returned to Alcazaba for a closer look…

The Roman ruins and small museum are free every day.

We toured the famous Mercado, which is where the locals go for lunch…

13:00 outside the Mercado.

And we had a drink at a former brothel. Its owner thought that the word “pimp”, which he was called by the visiting sailors, was a show of affection so he adopted the name “Pimpi” which continues to this day as a restaurant and bar. After visiting this establishment we thought it best to visit some of the local churches.

The Cathedral.

We Could Live Here

I guess I should not have been surprised when I spotted Denise inspecting the local listings in the window of a real estate office. In fact, we mused about owning a small apartment here that we could use on occasional weekends and then offer as an Airbnb. The city is highly walkable … filled with things to see and do … offers great food … was a mild 70 degrees (20 Celcius) during our visit and nearly everyone speaks English! And the Christmas lights did not disappoint. What else could you ask for?

Known as “Picasso’s Church” because he was baptized there.

1. You’ll want to come back on Friday to see the holiday lights.

2. Several of the museums, including Picasso’s, are free on Sundays.