Malaga Guide for smartphones in nine languages

Smartphones & tourism

New technologies are available for tourism in Malaga through mobile applications.

Malaga City Council presented yesterday at the Tourism Fair of Madrid the new Apps for iPhone and Android, which collect information from the audio guides of the Department of Tourism.

In the city of Malaga there are currently eight tourist routes, of which five are prepared to offer information through mobile phones. These are the routes Traditional, Botany, Sacred, Monumental and Picasso. Within days, these tours can be downloaded in Spanish, to become available finally in nine languages.

In total, will be accessible 97 points of interest, 97 photographs and 85 audios. In addition, the Apps include information of the six municipal information offices, with their respective schedules and contacts, and 17 museums and exhibition centres, with telephone numbers and connection to their websites, and additional information about the Cathedral, the Alcazaba, Gibralfaro Castle or the Roman Theatre. In addition, they also contain information of all these points in text format for those with hearing difficulties.

History, art and culture in Malaga

View of Alcazaba

The Costa del Sol in the province of Malaga is one of the most popular areas in Spain. Malaga is the capital of this area with a high concentration of wealth in history, culture and art. Whatever the direction you take in the city, you will find the ruins, art and history that date back hundreds of years. Thanks to the vibrant nightlife of this Mediterranean city, you can get an idea of contemporary culture as well.

A monument to see in Malaga is the Alcazaba, a former Moorish palace of the XI century, surrounded by beautiful gardens and fountains leading to a close by Roman amphitheater. Nowadays it houses the Archaeological Museum. There you will find many fascinating exhibits showing pieces from other Mediterranean cultures and the Paleolithic times.

The Cathedral of Malaga is an important milestone in the area. This cathedral was founded by the Catholic Monarchs and took from 1528 to 1782 to be built and actually never has been completely finished.

Besides the museums and churches Malaga, Pablo Picasso’s birthplace in the Plaza de la Merced is another obligation on any sightseeing in the city. This famous artist was born in Malaga in 1881. You can see his birthplace, and as well visit the Picasso Museum which exhibits some of his works.

Like all Andalusian cities, Malaga is a very nice capital, both during day and night and especially when there is some traditional celebration, such as Epiphany, Easter or the Malaga fair during August. However, you do not have to wait for a celebration to experience the spirit of Malaga.

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Family holidays in Malaga

Image via Wikipedia

Those who want to learn about southern Spanish culture and life style should visit Malaga on the Costa del Sol. Malaga is a modern city that nevertheless has preserved its culture and tradition. In addition, the andalusian port city offers a very peasant climate all year round. So you can always spend a pleasant holiday. Malaga also has many museums and monuments that are definitely worth a visit. There you can also learn more about the history and background of the country. But the city has to offer far more.

In Malaga you can also visit the birthplace and the museum of the famous painter Pablo Picasso; the Cathedral which was built over the old Mosque; the old Arabian fortress Alcazaba and Gibralfaro castle on an hill top, overlooking the Bay and the charming old city centre with plenty of terraces and museums inviting for a stroll or the large park close to the city centre and the harbor, with subtropical plants and trees…

No matter whether you enjoy travelling alone, with friends or with the whole family, Malaga is a great option for a language course as well as a family holiday.

In addition to a lot of culture, Malaga also offers nightlife, entertainment and of course plenty of beaches. Along the popular city beaches and beach promenades there are a large number of beach bars where you absolutely should sample the famous local seafood specialties.

Anyone interested in a trip to Malaga can easily book everything online. You do not need to have advanced knowledge of the Internet to book a trip online. The websites of the providers have an easy design and thus anyone can quickly and easily book a flight to Malaga. For this you have only enter the place of departure and destination and enthe date when you want to travel. Within seconds you will receive an overview with free offers. Similarly, you can book online your car hire in Malaga. This not only saves a lot of time, but usually also a lot of money.

Tourists place Malaga at the head of the cities with more cultural and urban appeal

Image via Wikipedia

Tourists place Malaga at the head of the cities with more cultural and urban appeal

Malaga is positioned for the first time as a leader in the group of Spanish cities that are part of the urban cultural tourism segment with increased numbers in both travelers and stays.

Malaga becomes an interesting destination for cultural tourism. The figures leave no doubt. During the month of May, a total of 88,541 people stayed in hotels in the capital of the Costa del Sol, which is an increase of 13 % over the same month last year.

The motivation of the tourists visiting the city is very diverse, but fundamentally for leisure. However, it should be noted the growing demand that exists for the city as a destination for Spanish students. Malaga is a modern Andalusian city, offering historic and artistic heritage, along with culture and wide and varied range of leisure.

There are many reasons that many travelers from all corners of the world spend their holiday in Malaga, a city that each year provides more and better attractions for visitors. The significant relation of Picasso to this city has contributed greatly to making Malaga a leading cultural destination.

The Picasso Foundation, his birth house and the Picasso Museum are the three jewels of the itinerary of the Picasso Route, all of them situated within the old town. Closeby are also situated the monumental castle Gibralfaro, the Alcazaba, the Roman theatre and the Cathedral.

Thus, with an important offer of leisure and cultural activities, Malaga, the chosen city for “sun and beach” tourism is converting into an ideal destination to combine leisure and culture at its best. Furthermore, the excellent communications with Malaga make it the perfect place to enjoy a “city break”, a type of tourism that is increasingly gaining followers. Malaga is one of those destinations that allow, thanks to the excellent communications and leisure, entertainment and culture, to make the most of a weekend.

Malaga, the tourist paradise on the Costa del Sol

Marbella overview Costa del Sol

Located at the foot of the Muslim heritage Alcazaba, Malaga on the Costa del Sol welcomes travelers with its newly expanded airport. Malaga is growing rapidly and is becoming a modern city with new transport infrastructure, modern city hotels and an increasing cultural offer, which along with its great location on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, surrounded by mountains and an almost always blue sky make it an attractive place to visit.

Malaga is synonym for sweet wines, flamenco, Picasso, beaches, golf, tapas and shopping combined with the relaxed attitude of the south. There are many local festivals and the locals love to celebrate. The people of Malaga love their August Fair, a major event in the local calendar.

Easter processions can be thrilling for visitors to the city during this time of year. Find the city life in the cultural town of Malaga or contrast it by experimenting the exclusive the jet-set life in Marbella.

International tourists have chosen the Costa del Sol since the sixties. The beaches and sunny weather made Torremolinos and Benalmadena to become mayor resort areas. Celebrities from around the world began to choose Marbella as the preferred site where buying a second home.

Currently, the contrasts are great between the cities of Marbella, Fuengirola, Benalmádena and Torremolinos and the life in Malaga city. In the same line as Granada, Malaga is a major university town, which is reflected in prices that are lower in than in other tourist areas such as Marbella.

Enter the relaxed and friendly atmosphere of the Costa del Sol and don´t be surprised if local people want to start a conversation with you on the bus or on the street.

The cultural city of Malaga offers a wide selection of museums. In the Plaza de la Merced is the birthplace of Picasso. The house is now a museum showing some of the artist’s works. Picasso is also present in another museum, the Picasso Museum and within walking distance of the Plaza de la Merced. The CAC Malaga, in the city center, is the museum of contemporary art.

Granada has the Alhambra, Malaga has its Alcazaba, a fortress of the Muslim era. After visiting the fort, take a coffee or mint tea a bit further down in the Plaza de la Merced. Sit back and enjoy the sunshine on the terraces during the day or come back here and have a drink at night. Also visit the popular Garden of the Conception in the north entrance of the city. This is one of the most beautiful gardens of Spain, famous for its archeological collection.

In Puerto Banus, Marbella you find the glamorous life of the jet-set, shiny yachts and exclusive restaurants. This is the favorite holiday spot for the holidays of celebrities. Marbella has a close relationship with the royal family of Saudi Arabia, which has a palace and a mosque in the “Golden Mile”.

Filled with small bars and cafes, the quality of life in Malaga is very high. Enjoy the summer breeze while taking a coffee in one of the beach bars.

The Mediterranean climate is pleasant and brings the sun to Malaga much of the year. The combination of sea and mountains ensures mild winters and hot dry summers. It is advisable to wear sunglasses and good quality sunscreen with a high SPF when visiting one of the most authentic cities in Andalucia.

Malaga, a gift from the Costa del Sol

Map of Costa del Sol – cities, towns, resorts, villages. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Malaga and the Costa del Sol are two major tourist destinations in southern Spain. No matter where you go in this area you will find beautiful spots, interesting places, beaches and a wealth of historic sites, plus a lively nightlife.

One of the most interesting monuments to visit in Málaga is the Alcazaba, home to many kings from the eleventh century. It is surrounded by gardens and fountains and at present houses the Archaeological Museum, with a large number of objects and pieces of the ancient history of the city of Malaga.

The Cathedral of Malaga was founded by the Catholic Kings, and was built on the site of an ancient mosque. It actually took a few centuries to build it, from 1529 until 1782, and yet one of the towers was never completed for lack of money, so it is popularly known as the Manquita (one-armed Lady). It is very interesting because, as it took so long to build, the cathedral offers a mix of architectural styles.

In Malaga there is a varied selection of good museums, plus some interesting churches. One of the most important and internationally recognized is Casa Picasso Museum, the birthplace of the great artist, located on the Plaza de la Merced.
During the third week of August is held the traditional Fair in Malaga, which is definitely worth a visit for its joy and color. In order to visit the Fair we don´t even need to be staying in Malaga, because the city has very good connections and we can enjoy a weekend getaway into the hustle and bustle of mediterranean life in summer.

The promenade of Malaga is the ideal place to dine and stroll. It has a lot of restaurants, where you should definitely sample the typical fried fish. During the night, especially in summer, you can find plenty of animation.

Malaga is a very nice place to visit. The Costa del Sol is a destination that offers great potential for enjoyment at any time of the year.