The bustling city of Málaga is not only the capital
of Málaga province but also the unifficial capital
of the Costa del Sol. Thanks to its international airport,
excellent highway system and port facilities, Málaga
is for many visitors the gateway not only to the Costa but
also to the rest of Andalucía.
Like so much of this region Málaga has a rich and
colourful past which we can appreciate to this day. The
amphitheatre dates back to Roman times, the 11th century
Alcazaba was built by the Moors and, sitting atop the hill
and overlooking the city, the Gibralfaro fortress was the
work of the ancient Phoenicians.
The main central shopping areas are near the cathedral and
around the Calle Larios where there is a mix of elegant
boutiques, handicrafts and modern stores.
During Semana Santa or Easter Week in Málaga much
of the Old Quarter is closed to traffic and every night
there are religious processions featuring the city's old
"cofradías" or brotherhoods bearing ornate
statues of the Virgin Mary thought the streets to the sound
of muffled drums. Behind them trail hundreds of penitents
dressed in black and hooded torchbeares.
Another date to remenber is mid-August, the time for Málaga's
famous Feria. Whereas Semana Santa is a time of piety, passion
and sadness, the daytime Feria in the city centre is a time
for passionate gaiety, women in colourful flamenco dresses
and parades of riders on horseback. The bars are filled
to overflowing. And in the fairgrounds on the outskirts
of the city festivities continue well past dawn.
But
the cappital of the Costa del Sol in never short of excitement.
The pace of the nightlife continues thoughout the year around
the Calle Larios in the Plaza Uncibay and the Plaza de la
Merced and in the Plaza Malagueta near the bullring. The
warm summer evening are perfect for eating a late supper
in the hundreds of outdoor restaurants where the delicious
smells of "fritura malagueña" (mixed fried
fish) mingle with the fragrant orange and lemon blossoms.
Along the 18 kilometres of beaches on either side of the
city, try the "espetos de sardinas", sardines
on a spit. They're delicious. There are several golf courses
near Málaga: the Real Club de Campo, founded in 1925
and Spain's oldest golf club, the El Candado course five
kilometres east of the city, the Guadalhorce on the Cártama
road and the Añoreta course east of Málaga
and just north of Rincón de la Victoria.
Anda what's more, an extraordianry weather, 321 sunshire
days in a year. All these characteristic make of our destination
Málaga Costa del Sol/Costa del Golf,
an authentic paradise for golf lovers an their companions.
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