Malaga, Spain

Alcazaba

These tall and sturdy fortress walls were built in the 11th century, but they still adorn the city today and are one of the most interesting architectural landmarks not only in Málaga, but throughout Spain. Alcazaba stands on the seaside hills and even from afar attracts the eye with its grandeur and picturesque setting, while from its ramparts you can enjoy wonderful views of the entire Málaga bay-with hotels and beaches-and the large port. Inside the fortress there are labyrinths of stone paths through lush greenery, bright colors, and beautiful fountains, romantic palace courtyards-patios with palms, orange trees, and small mini-pools, as well as charming towers and arch gates.

Cathedral of the Holy Cathedral

The Cathedral of Malaga was built over several centuries, which is why its current appearance features an interesting blend of architectural styles from different eras. The original project called for two symmetrically located towers, but the funds allocated to complete the construction were, as people say, diverted “to the left.” Now the cathedral is jokingly called “La Manquita” (La Manquita translated from Spanish as “one-armed”) because it has only one tower. Fortunately, the lack of funding did not affect the church’s interior furnishings. While admiring the stucco patterns on the church’s towering vaults, your head may spin.

Malaga Town Hall

The City Hall is a work of art by Spanish architects. On the building’s walls, sculptures of sailors, merchants, and fishermen have been carved. The spacious halls of the town hall are filled with collections of paintings by contemporary postmodern artists, as well as painters from the past century. The City Hall is the starting point for getting to know Malaga’s culture and history. Here you can learn in detail about upcoming events. The town hall is open for free visits.

Episcopal Palace

The Episcopal Palace in Malaga was built in the Baroque style in the 18th century. The building consists of all kinds of passages, endless staircases, and balconies. A special interest in visiting the palace will be for fans of the history of religion, since today it houses the diocesan museum of spiritual art.

Malagueta Beach

La Malagueta is a popular city beach, offering a panoramic view of the entire seafront promenade. Sand was brought here specifically from African Sahara. To get a great photo, tourists come to pose in front of the “sand” lettering with the beach’s name. Its proximity to the center of Málaga has made La Malagueta well-equipped with a wide range of amenities: children’s and playgrounds, cafés, bars, and deck chair rentals. Palm oases can be found right on the beach, where you can escape the sun.

Museum of Bullfighting by Antonio Ordóñez

Before watching the bullfight in the Plaza de Torros arena, it is worth visiting the small museum located right next to it, which reveals the philosophy of bullfighting as a ritual. The museum’s exhibits feature striking torero outfits, engravings and lithographs, saddles and tack, colorful posters, and numerous photos capturing the most intense moments of the fights. Antonio Ordóñez, after whom the museum is named, was one of the most famous Spanish matadors. During his career, he killed around 3,000 bulls. His sharp rivalry with the torero Dominguín (in which Ordóñez ultimately won) became the subject of Ernest Hemingway’s novel “Dangerous Summer”.

Automobile Museum

One of the main local treasures is the first steam car, a Stanley Steamer from 1910. The exhibition with the eloquent title “Crazy-Crash-Caos” tells the story of the consequences of road accidents and their impact on people’s minds, and at the exhibition dedicated to the history of fashion, you can see vintage dresses, hats, and suitcases. What’s interesting is that some of the museum cars (for example, a Rolls Royce from 1921 or a Cadillac “Eldorado”) can be rented. For a simple city trip or a high-fashion photo shoot-everything comes down to the price. The amount you’re willing to part with determines how original the museum excursion itself will be: from 7.5 euros for a basic visit without a guide to 45 euros for a detailed tour, a cocktail, and a concert. For 200 euros, they can even arrange a rally here.

Picasso Museum

Picasso for Spain-what light in the window, and for Malaga-especially. For the museum of his paintings, King Juan Carlos, in 2003, donated his own residence-a beautiful Palacio de Buenavista, located near the home where the future creator was born. The museum’s collection is truly rich: about 200 paintings, from the artist’s earliest works to his latest canvases-all already imbued with the spirit of surrealism. All the exhibits were donated to the museum as a gift by Picasso’s relatives and loved ones; most of them were provided from their personal collections by the artist’s daughter-in-law and grandson. Among the museum’s main masterpieces is a portrait of Picasso’s first wife, the Russian ballerina Olga Khokhlova. The entire collection is valued, according to Sotheby’s auction house staff, at about 300 million euros!

Excursion in Málaga

Malaga is one of Europe’s oldest cities. It was founded by the Phoenicians over 2750 years ago. In the city, remnants of a Phoenician fortification wall have been preserved, dating back 2700 years. Malaga also retains impressive historic buildings from the Romans and Arabs: a Roman amphitheater from the 1st century BC, the 11th-century Arab castle of Alcazaba, and the 14th-century Arab fortress of Gibralfaro. Alcazaba and Gibralfaro are considered the largest Arab-period fortification structures in Spain that have survived to the present day. In Malaga, in 1881, the genius of surrealism and cubism was born-Pablo Ruiz Picasso (tourists will see the house where he was born). In conclusion, guests will enjoy a visit to an old wine cellar with an inimitable atmosphere of a classic 18th-century Spanish tavern for a tasting of the aromatic “Malaga” and authentic Iberian ham.

Málaga - Antequera. Program for cruise passengers.

During the excursion, you will stroll through old Málaga, from the fortress walls of Alcazaba to the ruins of the Roman theater, and then, along the narrow streets of the historic center, you will make your way to the Cathedral, through the Alameda walkway, and visit a Málaga wine cellar. The small town of Antequera, which in Andalusia is called the “stone heart,” is located 45 km from Málaga. The town was founded by the Romans, who gave it the name Anticaria. The prosperity of the 16th and 17th centuries led to the creation of a significant number of beautiful temples and palaces, among which the Palace of the Marquises de la Peña de los Enamorados, the Marquises of Villadarias, or the Nájera Palace should be noted. And in the surroundings of Antequera, you can visit El Torcal-an accumulation of limestone rocks with bizarre and fantastic shapes.

Excursion to Ronda

The city got its name from the Arabs, who called it Izna-Rand-Onda (“City with a Castle”). Later, the city was favored by pirates who hid in this difficult-to-reach terrain (the city sits high in the mountains, on sheer, inaccessible rocks, at an altitude of 740 meters above sea level) after their raids. Today it is a lovely little town where you can sample truly special local sweets, Yema de Tajo, or visit the best bullfight in all of Andalusia. The bullring was built in 1785 and is the oldest in all of Andalusia. Spain’s finest bullfighters consider it an honor to showcase their skills in front of the audience of Ronda. The huge El Tajo de Ronda gorge divides the city into two parts. Along its bottom runs the Guadalevín River, which in dry weather looks like a modest stream, but in the rainy season turns into a fierce roaring, rushing torrent.

Excursion to Mijas

The first signs of settlement in the area where the little village of Mijas is located today date back to the second millennium BC. The preserved Roman legacy can be seen at Haza del Algarrobo, as well as at the villa la Butibamba. The Romans mined marble in the vicinity of Mijas. Today, the settlement of Mijas is a popular “pilgrimage” destination for tourists who value the fact that the village has managed to preserve its appearance despite the centuries that have passed and the changes that have come. There, people live the same way their ancestors did. Yes, in every house there is a television and other “wonders” of modern civilization. But if you stroll along Mijas’s narrow, spotless streets, look at the faces of its residents (their life goes on outdoors, in front of the houses), listen to their voices (how warmly and amicably they chat with one another!), you will understand: time has stood still here, to preserve this example of what Spanish rural residents have been like at all times.

For a more detailed list of excursions and their prices, you can learn more after booking the cruise in your “Customer Personal Account”.