This blog is a brief review of a walking tour that we took in Malaga whilst on our most recent visit aboard Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines Borealis.
WHY DID WE CHOOSE AN ORGANISED TOUR
We have visited Malaga on a number of occasions and tried more than once to go into the Alcazaba. This time we thought we would make sure of getting there. We booked a walking tour in the historic landmarks of the city through Viator. Viator is a platform where travellers can find and book a wide variety of tours, activities, and attractions, including everything from guided tours to surf lessons and everything in between.
The trip was booked with Viator before we left home. Accessing their website was easy and from there you simply enter which city you are visiting and on which date. There are options that suit most preferences, price points and whether they are suitable for those which accessibility requirements.
MEETING POINT
Information given to us prior to the tour was comprehensive and well organised and entry tickets to landmarks included where appropriate. We were given details of the meeting point, the time and a link to a locator map. In this instance the meeting point was the Piramide de Cristal where we were met by our guide Maria.
ROMAN THEATRE
Our first stop was the Roman Theatre. Dating back to the first century, it was built during the reign of Emperor Augustus and is thought to have held up to 2,000 people. After the Romans were defeated much of the stone was taken and used elsewhere. What was left remained buried for centuries until discovered in 1951.
ALCAZABAR
Our next stop was the Alcazabar which is located adjacent to the Roman Theatre. The Alcazaba was a fortified palace-citadel with its origins dating back to the Roman Empire. Its strategic location overlooking the city and the sea made it a key defensive structure and the residence of rulers.
The history surrounding this structure is very absorbing and our guide was able to bring much of it to life for us. If you book a visit to the Alcazabar totally independently you can also book audio guides to give more information. But there is nothing quite like having a local guide with you so that they can answer questions.
Once through the fortifications you end up in the area of the former palaces. These are located at the top of the structure and you can also get very good views of the city and port areas.
EL PIMPI
On our way to the next major landmark we were taken to El Pimpi. This is a bar/restaurant of some renown and frequented by the rich and famous. Indeed one of its owners is Antonio Banderas. Walking through the property you can see a gallery of some of those patrons and some of the barrels have their autographs as well.
MALAGA CATHEDRAL
Our final destination on this tour was the magnificent Malaga Cathedral. Officially called the Cathedral of Santa Maria de la Encarnación, work began on its construction in 1528. The Cathedral was completed in 1782, although one of its towers remains unfinished, earning it the nickname “La Manquita” (the one-armed lady).
OUR REVIEW AND TIPS
We found this Viator trip to be very interesting and good value for money. The fee included the guide and their expert knowledge for the duration of approximately 3 hours together with entrance to the landmarks were applicable.
A couple of tips:
We would suggest that anyone wishing to visit the Alcazaba needs to be relatively mobile. The ancient paths and steps can be quite steep and uneven in places.
It may not be suitable for anyone who does not like heights.
If you get a choice of start time on a tour, take an early one to avoid the crowds – and in the summer period this may also avoid too much heat.
SEE MORE
A more detailed report on the tour is available in the Malaga Ports of Call page on our Website together with a video of this visit.
