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"Malaga" redirects here. For other uses, see Malaga (disambiguation).
Malaga (Phoenician: Malaka, Arabic: Mālaqah (مالقة)) is a city in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Spain. It is the second most populous city of Andalusia, the sixth largest in Spain and 43rd-most populous municipality in the European Union, with a population of 566,447 in 2008. It is the 8th largest European city above the Mediterranean Sea and experiences the warmest winters of any European city with a population over 250,000, with a Mediterranean-Subtropical climate. It lies in southern Spain, on the Costa del Sol (Coast of the Sun), about 100 km on east from the Strait of Gibraltar. Malaga, together with Rincon de la Victoria, Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Fuengirola and Alhaurin de la Torre create an urban area named Greater Malaga populated by 824,842 in 561.71 km² (density 1,468 hab / km²). The population of the metropolitan area (urban area plus satellite towns) is 1,091,228 (according to Plan de Ordenación del Territorio de la Aglomeración Urbana de Málaga), ranking it as the fifth largest metropolitan area in Spain. The archaeological remains and monuments from the Phoenician, Roman, Arabian and Christian epochs convert the historic center into an "Open Museum" displaying its rich history of more than 3,000 years. Malaga is the birthplace of artist Pablo Picasso and was the port city for Spanish military leader Bernardo de Gálvez, who served as Louisiana Governor. This important cultural infrastructure and the rich artistic heritage make Malaga a deserving candidate for the 2016 European Capital of Culture. It was Vicente Aleixandre, 1977 Nobel Prize laureate for Literature, who first called Malaga a "City of Paradise" which is a fitting description for the city. In addition to the fact that parks and green spaces throughout the city are covered with the beautiful Strelitzia flower commonly known as a Bird of Paradise, Malaga is a paradise in every sense of the word, from its charming citizens to its wonderful climate. Mild winters, comfortable summers and 300+ days of sunshine have converted Malaga into a golfer´s paradise with over 50 golf courses in the area. Malaga is a paradise in terms of quality of life given its privileged location between the mountains and the sea, its excellent transportation infrastructure, its vibrant business environment, its prestigious university atmosphere and its important cultural heritage.
[edit] History The Phoenicians from Tyre founded the city here circa 770 BCE. The name Malaka is probably derived from the Phoenician word for "salt" because fish was salted near the harbour. (Cf. "salt" in other Semitic languages, e.g. Hebrew מלח mélaḥ or Arabic ملح malaḥ. In the 8th century AD, duríng the Muslim Arabic rule over Spain, the city became an important trade center. Malaga was first a possession of the Caliphate of Córdoba. After the fall of the Umayyad dynasty, it became the capital of a distinct kingdom, dependent on Granada. During this time, the city was called Mālaqah (Arabic مالقة). The traveller Ibn Battuta, who passed through around 1325, characterised it as "one of the largest and most beautiful towns of Andalusia [uniting] the conveniences of both sea and land, and is abundantly supplied with foodstuffs and fruits". He praised its grapes, figs, and almonds; "its ruby-coloured Murcian pomegranates have no equal in the world." Another export good was "excellent gilded pottery". The town's mosque was large and beautiful, with "exceptionally tall orange trees" in its courtyard.[1] Malaga was one of the Iberian cities where Arab rule persisted the longest, having been part of the Emirate of Granada. While most other parts of the peninsula already succumbed to the reconquista, the medieval Christian Spanish struggled to drive the Muslim Arabs out. Malaga was conquered by Christian forces in 1487, five years before the fall of Granada.  On 24 August 1704 the indecisive Battle of Velez-Malaga, the largest naval battle in the War of the Spanish Succession, took place in the sea south of Malaga. Malaga underwent fierce bombing by Nationalist or Republican air forces and naval units during the Spanish Civil War in 1936. The well-known British journalist and writer Arthur Koestler was captured by the Nationalist forces on their entry into Malaga, which formed the material for his book Spanish Testament. Tourism on the adjacent Costa del Sol boosted the city's economy from the 1960s onwards. The magnum opus of Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona, "Malagueña", is named for the music of the Gypsies of this region of Spain. [edit] Geography[edit] LocationMalaga is located in southern Spain, on the Costa del Sol (Coast of the Sun) on the north coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It lies about 120 km north-east of the Strait of Gibraltar and Tarifa (the southernmost point of continental Europe), and about 150 km north of Africa, on a similar latitude (36°N) as Algiers in Algeria, Tunis in Tunisia, Aleppo in Syria, Mosul in Iraq, Tehran in Iran, Kunduz in Afghanistan and Fresno, California in the United States. [edit] ClimateThe climate is Mediterranean-Subtropical with mild winters and comfortable summers. Malaga enjoys plenty of sunshine throughout the year, with an average of about 300 sunshine days and only about 50 days with precipitation annually. It is located on the coastline, the winds blowing from the Mediterranean Sea makes the heat manageable during the summer.[2] It experiences the warmest winters of any European city with a population over 250,000 and over 100,000 jointly with two other cities from Andalusia: Almería and Algeciras. Its average annual temperature is 18 °C (64 °F): 23 °C (73 °F) during the day and 13 °C (55 °F) at night. In the coldest month - January, the typically temperature ranges from 11 to 18 °C (52 to 64 °F) during the day, 4 to 12 °C (39 to 54 °F) at night and the average sea temperature is 15–16 °C (59–61 °F). In the warmest month - August, the typically temperature ranges from 26 to 32 °C (79 to 90 °F) during the day, above 20 °C (68 °F) at night and the average sea temperature is 23 °C (73 °F). Average number of days above 21 °C (70 °F) is 206, average number of days above 32 °C (90 °F) is 18 (3 in June, 6 in July, 6 in August and 3 in September). Average morning relative humidity: 79%, evening relative humidity: 57%.[3] Average number of frost days is 0. Sunshine hours is till 2,815 per year, from 158 in December (5 hours of sunshine every day) to 338 in July (11 hours of sunshine every day).[4] Rain occurs mainly in winter, the summers are generally dry season, with the summer temperatures lastsing 8–9 months (from March/April to November). December, January and February are characterized by early-autumn/spring temperatures.
[edit] Cityscape[edit] Neighborhoods The old historic center of Malaga touches the harbour to the south and is surrounded by mountains to the north- Montes de Malaga (part of Baetic Cordillera), lying in the southern base of the Axarquía hills, and two rivers, the Guadalmedina - the historic center is located on its left bank - and the Guadalhorce, which flows west of the city into the Mediterranean. [edit] ArchitectureThe oldest architectural remains in the city is the Roman theater which dates from the 1st century BCE, and that was fortuitously rediscovered in 1951.  The Moors left the dominating castle on mount Gibralfaro that is connected to the Alcazaba, the lower fortress and regal residence. Both constructions built during the Taifas period (11th century) and extended during the Nasrid period (13th and 14th centuries.). The Alcazaba stands on a hill within the city of Malaga. Originally, the Alcazaba monument defended the city from the incursions of pirates. Later, in the mid-11th century, it was completely rebuilt, by the Hammudid dynasty. Occupying the eastern hillside that rises from the sea and overlooks the city, the Alcazaba was surrounded by palms and pine trees. Like many of the military fortifications that were constructed in Islamic Spain, the Alcazaba of Malaga featured a quadrangular plan. It was protected by an outer and inner wall, both supported by rectangular towers, between which a covered walkway led up the slope to the Gibralfaro. (This was the only exchange between the two sites.) Due to its rough and awkward hillside topography, corridors throughout the site provided a means of communications for administrative and defensive operations, also affording privacy to the palatial residential quarters. The entrance of the complex featured a grand tower that led into a sophisticated double bent entrance. After passing through several gates, open yards with beautiful gardens of pine and eucalyptus trees, and the inner wall through the Puerta de Granada, one finds the eleventh and fourteenth century governor's palace. It was organized around a central rectangular courtyard with a triple-arched gateway and some of the rooms have been preserved until today. An open eleventh century mirador (belvedere), to the south of this area, affords views of the gardens and sea below. Measuring 2.5 square meters, this small structure highlighted scalloped, five-lobed arches. To the north of this area were a waterwheel and Cyclopean well, penetrating forty meters below ground, a hammam, workshops and the monumental Puerta de la Torre del Homenaje, the northernmost point of the inner walls. Directly beyond was the passage to the Gibralfaro above. The church of Santiago (St James) is a splendid manifestation of Gothic-Mudejar, the hybrid style that evolved after the reconquista incorporating elements from both Christian and Islamic tradition. Also from the period is the Iglesia del Sagrario, which was raised on the site of the old mosque immediately after the city fell to Christian troops. It boasts a richly ornamental portal in the Isabeline-Gothic style, unique in the city.  The Cathedral and the Episcopal palace were planned with renaissance ideals but fell short of funds and were finished in baroque style. The Iglesia de la Victoria built in the late 17th century has a spectacular chapel in which the vertical volume is filled with elaborate baroque plasterwork. [edit] DemographicsThe province of Malaga has a population of 1,563,261 people, whilst the city only holds 566,447 according to the 2008 Census. Foreign nationalities have been significantly rising in Malaga, especially those from the UK who move for the pleasant weather. It is said that the majority of foreigners live by the coastline.[7] An estimated 6 million tourists visit the city each year.[8] [edit] EconomyThe most important business sectors in Malaga are tourism, construction, agriculture and technology services, but other sectors such as transportation and logistics are beginning to expand. The Technology Park of Andalusia (PTA), located in Malaga, has enjoyed significant growth since its inauguration in 1992 by H.M. the King of Spain. As of 2009, this high-tech, science and industrial park is home to 509 companies and employs over 13,600 people. In line with the city’s strategic plan, the campaign “Malaga: Open for Business” is directed towards the international promotion of the city on all levels but fundamentally on a business level. The campaign has a special emphasis on new technologies as well as innovation and investigation in order to position the city as a reference and focal point for many global business initiatives and projects.[9] [edit] Culture and Contemporary Life[edit] Annual Cultural EventsThe Holy Week celebration and the August Malaga Fair ("Feria de Málaga") are two well-known festivals. During the celebration of the Feria de Malaga in August, the streets are transformed into symbols of Spanish culture and history, with sweet wine, tapas, and live flamenco shows filling the town. The day events consist of live music and dancing, while the night fair is moved to the Recinto Ferial, consisting of restaurants, clubs, and an entire fair ground with rides & games. [edit] ReligionThere is a wide spectrum of religions in Malaga. Most citizens declare themselves to be Catholics. One of the most beautiful churches is the "Santuario de la Virgen de la Victoria". Islam is also represented with the construction of a new mosque. The city has an important link to Islam as it was once controlled by Muslims for more than 700 years.[10] Due to recent immigration, Islam is the second largest religion in the city.[10] The Evangelicals also have a presence in Malaga. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is also a strong growing religion. The Jewish Community in Malaga is represented by its synagogue and the Jewish Association. There is a Hindu temple and a Buddhist stupa in Benalmadena, 12 miles from Malaga. This Buddhist stupa is the biggest in Europe. [edit] Sports Malaga is home to three major professional sports teams. These include:
The city has four large sports facilities:
In city and neighbourhood, you can engage in many sports, for example: surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, swimming, diving, skydiving, paragliding, running, cycling, rowing, tennis and golf. [edit] Tourism  The city is a tourist destination, due mainly to its proximity to the Costa del Sol. Tourists also visit here to see the birthplace of Pablo Picasso. From Malaga, other cities like Seville, Córdoba, Granada, and Jaén can be reached by train, bus or car. A popular walk leads up the hill to the Gibralfaro castle (a Parador), offering views over the city. The castle is next to the Alcazaba, which in turn is next to the inner city of Malaga. A walk takes the Paseo del Parque (a promenade that runs alongside a park with many palm trees and statue) to the harbour, finishing in Calle Larios the main commercial street of the city. [edit] Sights in Malaga[edit] Malaga
The Fiesta Mayor de Verdiales takes place every year on 28 December during which Spain's April Fool Day is celebrated.[11] Fiestas de Carnaval event takes prior to the holy 40 days of Lent every February. People dressed in traditional costumes join the festivities, which include Flamenco dancing, and a parade. One more highlight of this festival is the stalls selling traditional pottery and artifacts.[11] [edit] Greater Malaga
[edit] Transportation[edit] AirportThe city is served by Malaga Airport (IATA: AGP, ICAO: LEMG), the one of the first and oldest still in operation in Spain. In 2008, it handled 12,813,472 passengers,[12] making it the fourth busiest in Spain. It is the international airport of Andalusia accounting for 85 percent of its international traffic. The airport, connected to the Costa del Sol, has a daily link with twenty cities in Spain and over a hundred cities in Europe (mainly in United Kingdom, Central Europe and the Nordic countries but also the main cities of Eastern Europe: Moscow, Saint Petersburg , Budapest, Sofia, Warsaw, Riga or Bucharest), North Africa, Middle East (Riyadh, Jeddah and Kuwait) and Northern America (New York, Toronto and Montreal). [edit] SeaportThe Port of Malaga is the city's seaport, operating continuously at least since 600 B.C. [edit] High-Speed TrainThe main rail station is Malaga María Zambrano which is connected with Madrid Atocha by Talgo 200. On December 24rd, 2007, the high-speed train AVE came into service, reducing travel time to Madrid to just two and a half hours (see also Cordoba-Malaga high-speed rail line). The city has two commuter train lines Cercanías and a metro system is under construction. [edit] Roads and highwaysThe A45 road leads north to Antequera and Cordoba. The Autovía A-7 parallels the N-340 road, both leading to Cadiz to the west through the Costa del Sol Occidental and Barcelona to the east through the Costa del Sol Oriental. Empresa Malagueña de Transportes´[13] buses are the main form of transport around the city. Malaga's bus station is connected with the city by the bus line number 4, although it is only ten minutes walk to the Alameda from there. [edit] International Relations[edit] Twin towns — Sister citiesMalaga is twinned with: [edit] Notable births
[edit] See also Find more about Malaga on Wikipedia's sister projects:  Definitions from Wiktionary Textbooks from Wikibooks Quotations from Wikiquote Source texts from Wikisource Images and media from Commons News stories from Wikinews Learning resources from WikiversityMálaga travel guide from Wikitravel
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