Málaga

Malaga is the capital of Malaga province as well as the administrative center of Costa del Sol coast, it is also a significant Mediterranean port and second biggest city in the south of Spain with the population of 560.000 people. Malaga was founded by the Phoenicians approximately 1100 B.C. and was named “Malaka”. It stood against Greeks, Moors, French and many others, and managed to save its traditions and architecture, that absorbed the best of those cultures.

The archaeological remains and monuments from the Phoenician, Roman, Arabic and Christian eras make the historic center of the city an 'open museum', displaying its history of more than 3,000 years.

This important cultural infrastructure and the artistic heritage have culminated in the nomination of Málaga as a candidate for the 2016 European Capital of Culture.

The famous painter and sculptor Pablo Picasso and world known actor Antonio Banderas were born in Málaga.

The most important business sectors in Málaga are tourism, construction and technology services, but other sectors such as transportation and logistics are beginning to expand. Málaga is the main economic and financial center of southern Spain, home of the region's largest bank, Unicaja, and the fourth-ranking city in economic activity in Spain behind Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. Malaga port is also one of the biggest ones in this region.

The climate is subtropical-Mediterranean  with very mild winters and hot summers. Málaga enjoys plenty of sunshine throughout the year, with an average of about 300 days of sunshine and only about 50 days with precipitation annually. Its coastal location with winds blowing from the Mediterranean Sea makes the heat manageable during the summer.

The city is an important tourist destination, known as 'the capital of the Costa del Sol'. An estimated 6 million tourists visit the city each year. Tourists usually visit the birthplace of  Pablo Picasso and the Museo Picasso Málaga, the Carmen Thyssen Museum, the old town or the beaches. The Málaga harbour is also the second busiest cruise port of the Iberian Peninsula.

A popular walk leads up the hill to the Gibralfaro castle (a Parador), offering panoramic views over the city. The castle is next to the Alcazaba, the old Muslim palace, which in turn is next to the inner city of Málaga. Other nearby attractions are the Roman Theatre, the old Jewish quarter, the Cathedral, and the Church of Santiago. The popular walk follows the Paseo del Parque (a promenade that runs alongside a grand park with many palm trees and statues) to the harbour, ending in Calle Larios, the main commercial street of the city.