Blog de MalagaLodge - Todo el Ocio de Málaga

Monuments in Malaga

The Alcazaba

Alcazaba Malaga The Alcazaba was built on the site of an old Roman fortress. It is situated on the top of a hill from which it has a panoramic view of the city and sea. The construction of this defensive citadel was begun by the Abd al Rahman rulers of Cordova and finished in 1063 by Badis Ben Habbus, zirí king of Granada.

The monumental part was protected by three concentric walls, two of which remain today. It had 110 main towers and several smaller ones. Amongst the most important are the Torre del Homenaje ("Tower of Homage" or "the Keep") which was constructed during the reign of Abd al Rahman I.

The upper section of the Alcazaba is where they used to live, formed of 3 palaces of similar construction to that of Granada's Alhambra. The Alcazaba now houses the Archeological Museum.

Gibralfaro Castle

Behind the Alcazaba are the Gibralfaro Castle remains, standing on the mountain the moors called Jabul Faruk or Castillo del Faro ("Beacon Castle") from which its name derives. It was joined to the Alcazaba by a walled pathway.

It is thought that this castle already existed before the Roman conquest. Abd al Rahman III transformed it into a fortress and around 1340 Yusuf I extended it and made it the castle we see today. Inside were located the alcázar ("fortress") and mosque which unfortunately have not survived. After the Reconquest the Catholic Monarchs chose the Gibralfaro Castle as an emblem on the coat of arms they presented to the city in 1494.

Roman Theatre

In 1951, the tiers of a Roman theatre, built in the first century, were discovered under the west face of the Alcazaba. Subsequent studies showed that it fell into disuse in the third century and that part of its construction was used by the Arabs as material for the Alcazaba. Nowadays, the theatre serves as headquarters for the International Theatre Festival.

Cathedral

catedral de malaga http://www.holidayworld.es/es/a/ofertas

The building took place in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries on what was the Muslims's main mosque. Such a long period of construction explains the mixture of styles in the various parts of the building - the floor is Gothic, the altar area and pillars are Renaissance, and the towers, roof and main façade Baroque. The work was abandoned in 1782, leaving the south tower unbuilt.

The cathedral has an impressive central nave and two laterals with 15 chapels, of which stand out the Santa Bárbara and Nuestra Señora de los Reyes chapels. In the central nave are the magnificent choir stalls, the work of Ortiz de Vargas and Pedro Mena, and two organs made by Julián de la Orden between 1779 and 1781.

Courthouse

The Courthouse is located outside the town centre on the promenade going towards the Caleta beach. In 1928 the building was inaugurated as the Hotel Príncipe de Asturias. During the civil war it was used as a hospital but was then converted into the Hotel Miramar until the end of the 60's.

The building itself is considered the greatest work of the Malagan architect Fernando Guerrero Strachan. The interior design has Arab motifs which mix fluidly with other styles such as Salamantine Plateresque or French Isabelline style. The exterior is of solid, noble design, set in extensive gardens. The façade's most striking feature is the multicoloured effect created by the mixture of ceramics, tiles, ironwork and wood.

Christmas in Malaga

MalagaLodge, your Guest house in Malaga, want that you enjoy the Christmas as you have never enjoy it.

From the first days of December, the center of Malaga, his streets and principal squares are filled with lights, color and people. A spectacular Christmas decoration that invites to walk and enjoy. Numerous activities develop in these dates: concerts of music, ice skating and especially the Christmas cribs, emphasizing that of the city Hall.

It is not of surprising that in these days of December, it could walk along the beaches of Malaga. We enjoy of splendid days in these dates where it will be able to walk and to take a little the Sun.

As slightly characteristic Spanish, January 5 of every year, the “Magic Kings” (Reyes Magos) come at 17 hours to the Malaga Port, where they initiate their tour all around the city. This “Reyes Magos” ,Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar will have a Procession which they will be accompanied by a dozen of coaches, as well as by bands of music. In his walk along the principal avenues of the city, all the members of the Procession will distribute candies and caramel.

As end of the acts, the principal Administration of Post office and the Center of Telecommunications organize a brilliant festival, with actions of singers, illusionists and other artists of the city. Later there comes the deifying entry of the Kings, applauded by all the children assembled there. Candies and delicacies are distributed and toys and gifts are delivered.

From MalagaLodge we encourage ours to which you spend the Christmas with us and enjoy of everything that we offer to you.

Eating in Malaga´s Ventas

From MalagaLodge we want that you enjoy to the maximum of your period with us, so we recommend you half a day to dedicate to having lunch in one of the “Ventas” that exists in the road of the Mounts, going out of Malaga, around 10 Km from the center of Malaga.

You will enjoy the authentic Andalusian gastronomy in a very peculiar environment. The famous “Ventas”, supportive of the traditional Andalusian food along the times; at the beginning they offered food for the travellers, but now, in our times offer food to the families and people that want to enjoy of our gastronomy; people assembled in winter around the chimney of the lounges and during the summer in the terraces with the fantastic viewing-points, they share with a good wine, loin, cheese, ….

It is the whole process this of eating in a “Venta”; you can arrive around 12 30, and you can taste a glass of sweet wine with a few olives, cheese or ham while you enjoy the place and the people. Later, around 14.00 we sit down in the table for having lunch: the typical " plate of the mounts ", Lamb or Calf, Mount´s “Migas”, …, they are very typical in these restaurants. Families and young people go often because they want to enjoy that experience: typical Andalusian food, home-made food, cheap prices and good environment.

Examples of famous Ventas are: El Mirador, El Boticario, Casa Vázquez o Los tres cinco.

Do not stop enjoying this experience that from your guest house in Malaga we propose you.

Malaga's Villages: Nerja

Once again, from MalagaLodge, your guest house in Malaga, we proposes you to know another village in our city. In this case, we are going to write about Nerja.

Aproximately 20 minutes from Malaga, Nerja establishes as a valued tourist destination, where you can taste excellent gastronomy, the weather, views and the people.

As seaside village, Nerja offers beaches to the visitor and good time. Europa's Balcony is a very nice location, viewing-point where you can see in the sunny days contours of Africa, and to appear to the beaches and cliffs of the zone. Built in the 9th century, but nowadays a viewing-point on the sea. From this balcony it is possible to walk along the old town of the city, which dates back to the 15th century, very Arabic, with narrow streets and white fronts.

Also there are interesting the Aguilar's Hermitage and the Salvador's Church, both of the 17th century with Baroque and Mudejar style.

If you want to feel the nature and to move away from the worldly-minded noise, Nerja offers you a route of hiking, the Chillar river. With a distance of 8 Km, it is necessary to dedicate an entire day, since the advance along the water is slow enough. We recommend you to do this route in the summers months.

Nerja's caves: undoubtedly, his major emblem. Placed between five monuments most visited of Spain. It is A National Monument, which consists of the visit to the cave, restaurant, gardens and museum. With 4.823 meters of tour visitable, this cave consists of a geological, biological and architectural wealth without equally. The visit develops in an area of 7.000 square meters and a perimeter of more than 700 meters. But the caves not only it is famous for his archaeological deposits and his stony formation, but also for his International Festivals of Music and Dance, which every year repeats itself during the month of Julio.

We hope that you enjoy your visit Nerja from your guest house in Malaga.

The most important schools for learning spanish

Malaga is one of the most requested cities for learning Spanish. His climate, the people and his location make a requested destination. Consequently, this city offers many opportunities to learn our language; that´s why MalagaLodge want to show you the most important school for learning Spanish meanwhile you enjoy in our guest house MalagaLodge.

If we make a list of the most demanded schools, we might mention the following ones:

Spanish Picasso Institute. Located in the historical and cultural center of Malaga, “Plaza de la merced”, aprox. 300 m from MalagaLodge. Native teachers with experience of more than 15 years. It offers intensive courses of 4 weeks. It is a center associated with the Cervantes Institute. Guide offers excursions all the weekends with a teacher, kitchen courses as well as to learn to dance Fleming. Spanish learns in the same location where Paul Ruiz Picasso was born!.

Debla. Located in “camino del monte 23”. With experience for more than 30 years, it receives approximately about 700 students per year. It is a center associated with the Cervantes Institute and presents the opportunity of accreditations as the " certificate of business Spanish", as well as the " diploma of Spanish as foreign language ", issued by the institute cervantes.

Cervantes international school. One of the most important of Spain located in the “avenida Juan Sebastián Elcano 137. School Center taken refuge in the Institute Cervantes. It offers the possibility of studying different courses of Spanish, as the standard, intensively, preparatory for the examination diploma of Spanish as foreign language, or also courses of long duration, since annual, monthly, half-yearly, quarterly.

MalagaLodge helps you in everything what you need in order that your stay is as agreeable as possible.

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