Málaga

Málaga is a port city in Andalusia, southern Spain, on the Costa del Sol coast of the Mediterranean. According the 2006 census the population is 558,287. ( 36°43′N, 4°25′W)

Overview

Population of the city of Málaga proper was 558,287 as of 2005 estimates. Population of the urban area was 814,000 as of 2005 estimates. Population of the metropolitan area (urban area plus satellite towns) was 1,074,074 as of 2005 estimates, ranking as the fifth largest metropolitan area in Spain. Málaga is surrounded by mountains, lying in the southern base of the Axarquía hills, and two rivers, the Guadalmedina (its on the left bank) and the Guadalhorce, flow near the city into the Mediterranean.

The climate is mild and equable, the mean annual temperature being about 19 °C (66 °F). For its broad sky and broad expanse of bay the city has been compared to Naples.

The inner city of Málaga is just behind the harbour. The quarters of El Perchel, La Trinidad and Lagunillas surround this centre. The city has much revenue from the agricultural sector and from tourism.

The Holy Week, Semana Santa, and the Málaga Fair, "Feria de Málaga" are the two most well-known of Málaga's festivals.

History

The Phoenicians founded the city Malaka here, in about 1000 BC. The name Malaka is probably derived from the Phoenician word for salt because fish was salted near the harbour; in other Semitic languages the word for salt is still Hebrew מלח mélaḥ or Arabic ملح milḥ.

About six centuries later, the Romans conquered the city along with the other Spanish areas of Carthago. From the 5th century AD it was under the rule of the Visigoths.

In the 8th century, Spain was conquered by the Moors, and the city became an important centre of trade. M álaga was first a possession of the Caliphate of Cordoba. After the fall of the Umayyad dynasty, it became the capital of a distinct kingdom, dependent on Granada. During this time, the city was called Mālaqah (Arabic مالقة).

At a late stage of the reconquista, the reconquering of Spain, Málaga became Christian again, in 1487.

Málaga did not undergo fierce bombing by Francoist insurgent air forces during the Spanish Civil War in 1936. Tourism on the adjacent Costa del Sol boosted the city's economy from the 1960s onwards.

The magnum opus of Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona, "Malagueña", is named for the music of the Gypsies of this region of Spain.

Ecclesiastical history

Under the Visigoths Málaga was made an episcopal see. The earliest known bishop was Patricius, consecrated about 290, and present at the Council of Eliberis (in present Elvira). Hostegesis governed the see from 845 to 864.

After the battle of Guadalete the city passed into the hands of the Arabs, and the bishopric was suppressed under both Moorish states.

In 1487 Isabel and Fernando besieged the city, which after a desperate resistance was compelled to surrender; and with the Christian religion, the episcopal see was restored. The first bishop after the restoration was Pedro Díaz.

The see was vacant from 1835 to 1848. The Catholic diocese was, by the Concordat of 1851, made a suffragan of the archbishopric of Granada.

Since the concordat of 1851 the Cathedral Chapter has numbered 20 canons and 11 beneficed clerics. There were in the diocese (1910) 520,000 Catholics, a few Protestants: 123 parishes, 481 priests, and 200 churches and chapels; the Augustinian Fathers had a college at Ronda; the Piarists were teaching at Archidona and the Brothers of St. John of God had schools at Antequera, at which place there is also a Capuchin monastery. In the town of Málaga were convents for women, including Bernardines, Cisterians, Augustinians, Poor Clares, Carmelites and Dominicans. The Little Sisters of the Poor maintain homes for the aged and infirm at Málaga, Antequera and Ronda.

Nowadays in Málaga there is a wide religious choice from Occident and Orient: Most of the citizens declare themselves to be Catholics. One of the most beautiful churches is the "Santuario de la Virgen Victoria". Islam is also represented with the construction of a new mosque. The Evangelic are also making themselves known through a variety of different activities and social works. The Jewish Community in Málaga is represented by its synagogue and the Jewish Association. It is also possible to visit the Hindi Temple and Buddhist Shrine en Benalmadena, only 12 miles from Málaga. This Buddhist Shrine (stupa)is the biggest in Europe.

Tourism

The city is a popular tourist destination, due mainly to its proximity to the Costa del Sol. There are very cheap flights to Málaga from countries in Northern Europe, particularly the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands and Germany.

From Málaga, other cities like Sevilla, Córdoba, Granada, and Jaén can be reached by train, bus or car.

A popular walk leads up the hill to the Gibralfaro castle (a Parador), offering extensive views over the city. The castle is next to the Alcazaba, which in turn is next to the inner city of Málaga. By taking the Paseo del Parque, a promenade that runs alongside a park with many palm trees and statues, one can walk to the harbour.

Sights in Málaga

• Alcazaba (Arabic for fortress)
• Gibralfaro Castle
• The cathedral, in the Græco-Roman style, on the site of an ancient Moorish mosque, was begun in 1528 and completed in 1719
• Harbour, one of the most important in Spain.
• The Picasso Foundation - Native Home Museum of Picasso
• Museo del Patrimonio Municipal de Málaga
• Museo Picasso Málaga
• CAC Málaga (museum of modern art)
• Museo Interactivo de la Música (MIMMA)
• Museo Municipal (city museum).
• Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares (Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions)
• Cathedral of the Encarnation (neoclasical).
• Palacio Episcopal (Bishop's Palace)
• Iglesia del Sagrario (church)
• Iglesia Parroquial de Santiago (St James's church)
• Palacio de los Condes de Buenavista
• Plaza de Toros (bullring)

Sports

• Málaga Club de Fútbol
• Unicaja Málaga [1]

Transportation

The city is served by Málaga Airport. The Port of Málaga is the cities seaport.

The main rail station is Málaga-Renfe which is connected with Madrid Atocha by Talgo 200. Later in 2007, the high-speed train AVE will come into service, reducing travel time to Madrid to just two and a half hours. The city has two Cercanías (commuter train) lines and a metro system is under construction.

Buses are the main form of transport around the city. Málaga's bus station is connected with the city by the bus line number 4, although it is only 10 minutes walk to the Alameda from there.

Car rental is available at the airport Arrivals. Many tourists prefer to hire a car; it gives maximum freedom and flexibility to explore and experience the city and surrounding areas. Car rental is cheap and the services are excellent owing to the intense competition.

Twin towns

Málaga is twinned with:

See also

• Costa del Sol

Wikipedia information about Málaga This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Málaga". It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer). Help contribute to Americola and edit this article.