Malaga and its Province – A Short Insider’s Guide | Spain
We can all look up online where’s the best place to eat, what’s the most interesting site to visit and where should we stay when doing research on an area but these recommendations are often tourist interpretations of a place. What about the real side to the area and where do the locals spend their time.
Málaga, Andalucía, Spain by untipografico
When you land at Malaga airport (the largest in Andalucía) you might be tempted to pick up your car hire and set off on the open road, out of the city or even province. But wait, don’t miss out on Malaga; take in the city first then head out to discover the rest of the province. Malaga province known largely for the Costa del Sol (one of the first places to attract tourism in Spain) should be well reviewed and documented. However, the city itself and the small villages in the area were relatively undiscovered. If you want an initial guide on Malaga province then look no further than this plethora of perfect places to peruse:
The City Itself – Historic Cultural Malaga
If you like Spain, you’ll love Malaga. Rich in culture from art galleries to incredible eateries, you can take in a bull fight or become engrossed with Picasso. Malaga as the birth home of the modern artist offers a multitude of modern art galleries – the Thyssen, the CAC and the Picasso Museum to name just three. When you want to relax, soak up the atmosphere and people watch then there is no better place than one of the coffee shops or restaurants. Top insider tips include: Le Panto on Calle Larios for incredible cakes, Café con Libros on Plaza Merced for thirst quenching juices and milkshakes, Taberna el Quitapenas on Calle de Marin Garcia for fresh fish and Bodega El Pimpi for Sherry and Serrano Ham.
Málaga Cathedral, Andalucía, Spain by Thomas Münter
Beyond the City and into the Mountains
Malaga province is famed for White Mountain villages where they are as picturesque as they’re traditional. Each village has its own nuances from eating a special variety of lemon sprinkled with paprika as tapas in Iznate, to slow oven cooked kid with garlic in Canillas de Aceituno. This is the real Spain, jump in a car hire in Malaga and set off around the province. On your drive from the coast it becomes mountainous very quickly and the winding roads offer some fantastic views out to sea over to Morocco. Visit Gaucin with its art shops and wonderful sunsets or the area around Grazalema which is a hiker’s paradise. Each white village offers something new, if not a culinary delight then an incredible view.
Summer Dining
Spain as a whole is rich in gastronomic delights and Malaga province is no exception. If you are beside the sea during the summer months look out for Chiringuitos (rustic BBQ’s on the beach) where the catch of the day is seasoned and grilled to perfection. During August it’s harvest time for Muscatel grapes. Try Vino de Malaga a sweet sherry which is made around most towns and villages. There are different variants, from semi sweet to syrupy sweet but all are made from the local muscatel grapes which are collected by hand.
While on holiday in Malaga, adapt to the pace of life, stop, relax and enjoy the surroundings. Plan your day around food times – breakfast anytime up to midday, lunch between 14.00hrs and 17.00hrs (make it long and leisurely), then dinner anytime from 20.30hrs onwards (the later the better in summer).
Paul Collins lives in Southern Spain and works for https://www.marbenjo.com/ a family run car hire firm based in Malaga.
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