Alcazaba de Málaga
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The Alcazaba de Málaga is an 11th century walled fortress built on a hill overlooking the city and the sea. It is my number one must see when visiting the pretty seaside city of Malaga.
Have you been to the Alhambra in Granada and the Alcazar Real in Seville? The Alcazaba in Malaga is the most well preserved of its type in Spain. You can visit this citadel and walk the paths, imagining what life was like here so many centuries ago.
Enter through the Puerta de la Boveda and notice how you must make a U-turn to enter the next portal. This was designed to slow possible attackers and is a standard feature of Moorish fortifications.
Follow the path as it proceeds past lovely trickling fountains and through several gardens to pass through the second wall at Puerta de los Cuartos de Granada. Here you can explore the Palace and the Cuartos de Granada.
Originally there were three defensive walls surrounding the palace but only two of the inner walls remain.
The site of the Alcazaba was previously a Roman settlement, and materials from those structures were reused in the construction of the Alcazaba. You can see the remnants of a Roman theater next door which was built by Emperor Caesar Augustus in the first century.
You can combine a guided tour of the Alcazaba with a visit to the theater.
Visit the Castillo de Gibralfaro after your visit to the Alcazaba Malaga. The castillo, a fortress built in the 10th century, is located on the hillside above. The name Gibralfaro comes from Greek and Arabic and refers to the Phoenician lighthouse that previously stood on this spot. Have a meal with a view or spend the night at the Parador de Malaga Gibralfaro. Click here to check prices and availability for the parador.
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Do you know the meaning of alcazaba? It comes from the Arabic word al-qasbah (قصبة) meaning walled fortress or citadel. Have you been to the Alhambra in Granada? That is another alcazaba and definitely worth a visit.
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