Malaga Old Town private walking and tapas tasting tour

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Málaga Cathedral, one of the city’s key architectural attractions, is known locally as ‘La Manquita’, or ‘The One-Armed Woman’, due to its uncompleted second tower. Built between 1528 and 1782 near to the site of an early Almohad mosque, original plans for this huge Renaissance and Baroque-style cathedral had included two towers, but the second was never built because of a lack of funds. Construction dragged on for over two hundred years before the Mayor of Málaga commissioned Aragonese architect José Martín de Aldehuela (1729–1802) to finish the cathedral off in the late 18th century. Aldehuela’s other iconic contributions to the province include Ronda’s stunning ‘New Bridge’ and bullring.

   15 min

2. The ruins of the Gibralfaro castle lie on the slopes of the Malaga hill overlooking the city and the Mediterranean Sea. A Moorish castle of an unknown origin, Yusuf I of the Kingdom of Granada built it during the Phoenician-Punic period. The name of castle is derived from the Arab word Yabal (hill) and another Greek word Faruh (lighthouse). The name Gibralfaro means lighthouse hill.

   15 min

3. King Badis of the Zirid Dynasty built the Alcazaba Fortress in 1040 to protect the royal family from outside invaders. Situated on the highest point of the hill, it's one of the best-preserved Alcazaba (from the Arabic word al-qasbah which literally translates to the English word citadel), in Spain. The Moorish Muslim rulers that erected the fortress used the remains (visible in its columns and pillars) of a Roman theatre lying adjacent to the Moorish construction.

   15 min

4. The Museo Picasso Málaga is a museum in Málaga, Andalusia, Spain, the city where artist Pablo Ruiz Picasso was born. It opened in 2003 in the Buenavista Palace and has 285 works donated by members of Picasso's family. In 2009, the Fundación Paul, Christine y Bernard Ruiz-Picasso that owned the collection merged with the Fundación Museo Picasso Málaga that operated the museum, which is based in the home on Málaga's Plaza de la Merced that was Picasso's birthplace, and is now the Museo Casa Natal ("Birthplace Museum"). The new merged foundation is the "Fundación Museo Picasso Málaga. Legado Paul, Christine y Bernard Ruiz-Picasso" ("Museo Picasso Málaga Foundation. The Paul, Christine and Bernard Ruiz Picasso Legacy").

   15 min

5. This baroque-style structure is one of the most beautiful government buildings in Spain. The façade and interiors have many beautifully preserved works of art by well known local artists. It is located in an elegantly landscaped garden near the Alcazaba fortress.

   15 min

6. Basilica & Museum of Santa Maria La Victoria Located in the area of La Victoria just 500 meters away from the Plaza de Merced, the Basilica of Santa Maria is one of the oldest in the city, with origins dating back to the year 1487. In the museum, visitors are able to explore the crypt of the Basilica, which famously houses a stunning piece of fine art by Unzurrunzaga. There is also the side-chapel of Santa María La Victoria, a complete antithesis to the exterior of the building with glorious decoration. To the side of the Basilica, there is also an exhibition room which displays historical objects of Santa María.

   15 min

7. This parish church presides over one of the four parishes established in Málaga after the defeat of the Moors in 1487. Two fraternities that go on procession on Holy Week have chapels within the building. The fraternity of sorrows of San Juan occupies the sacramental chapel and a chapel in the right aisle and the Fused brotherhood occupies four chapels, three in the left aisle and one at the foot of the right aisle. The church was constructed combining Gothic and Mujedar architectural styles with Moorish arches and pillars. A tower was completed in 1543. The 1680 earthquake damaged the structure including the tower. A baroque style tower porch leading to the building was erected at the entrance of the church in 1770 and reconstruction of the church was completed in 1780. The tower porch has a rectangular shape with an elliptical dome. The chapels and altarpiece of the church are richly carved. There is a splendid 17th-century statue of San Juan by the artist, Franciso Ortiz.

   15 min

8. Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón is located in the Plaza de San Ignacio de Loyola. It is a neo-Gothic building constructed in 1920, according to the architectural plans of Fernando Guerrero Strachan, who was commissioned by the Jesuits. It has a basilica, divided into three naves. This church was the seat of the Archicofradía del Santísimo Cristo de la Redención y Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, for as long as their original home, Iglesia de San Juan, was being restored.

   15 min

9. El Teatro Romano is the oldest monument in Málaga City; it is situated in the cultural heart of Málaga city, at the foot of the famous Alcazaba fortress. It is one of the only Ancient ruins left in Málaga after the outwardly Republican city was bombed by Nationalist sympathizers - the Italian army during the Civil war, and one of the only remaining Roman ruins in Andalucía after centuries of warfare, and construction. The site is accompanied by the Centro de Interpretación (visitors center) which teaches visitors about the history of the ruins and its subsequent excavation.

   15 min

10. Mercado de Atarazanas is a municipal market declared of Cultural Interest in 1979. The current building, designed by architect Joaquín de Rucoba, was built between 1876 and 1879 on the site of a former naval workshop. At the present moment, the market is the best place in the city to get fresh veggies and fruits at the best price. There are also stalls with meat, fish and of course, olives. Be sure to be there early in the morning, because the market closes at about 3 pm.

    15 min

11. The public bullring of Malaga, the Plaza de la Toros de Malagueta, has hosted some of the finest bullfights in the country and many prominent Matadors have displayed their talents here. It was declared a historic artistic monument in 1976 when the centenary celebrations of the bullring were held. The Plaza de Toroz de la Malagueta was built in 1874 by Joaquin Rocoba. The inauguration of the bullring took place in 1876. The area has a Neo Mujedar style built in the shape of a hexadecagon or a polygon with 16 sides. Its diameter is 52 meters. The venue underwent extensive repairs in 2010 and now has a seating capacity of 14,000. Other facilities include 10 pens, stables, a corral to try horses and a nursing home.

    15 min

12. Plaza Merced (Plaza de la Merced) is a public square located in the barrio La Merced in central Málaga, Spain. The plaza has been a part of the city since the city of Málaga's Roman era and has been operating as a town market place since at least the fifteenth century. It is one of the largest public squares in Málaga’s city center and is also known for containing Pablo Picasso's childhood home.

    15 min

Cancellation

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Know before you go

How it compares in Malaga

• Its from-price is 98% above the median of the 114 city tours we list in Malaga.
• Its length is typical for the group.

About Malaga

Málaga is a sunny Andalusian port on the Costa del Sol, the birthplace of Picasso, with a Moorish fortress, city beaches and a thriving museum scene.

The Alcazaba, a Moorish fortress-palace, climbs the hill above the old town, with Gibralfaro Castle higher still and views over the port and bay. At its foot lie the Roman Theatre and the cathedral, nicknamed La Manquita, the one-armed lady, because its second tower was never finished.

Top-ranked sights in Malaga: Malaga Alcazaba, Malaga Cathedral (Cathedral de la Encarnación), Constitution Square (Plaza de la Constitucion).

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