Alcazaba of Malaga

The Alcazaba was begun by the Hammudid rulers of Malaga in the early eleventh century, enlarged after the Zirids of Granada took the city in 1056 and rebuilt up to the fourteenth century, and it climbs the hillside in two walled enclosures joined by a zigzag of gates designed so that no attacker could charge straight through. Columns and marble from the Roman theatre at its foot were reused in its construction, and the two monuments now sit directly against each other, a millennium apart. Inside the upper enclosure are courtyards with channels and pools, horseshoe arches, and gardens of jasmine and bougainvillea, along with a small archaeological display. A walled passage links it to the Gibralfaro castle higher up the hill, and the terraces look over the port and the bullring.

Highlights

• The double walls - two enclosures joined by angled defensive gates.
• The reused Roman columns - marble taken from the theatre below.
• The palace courtyards - patios with water channels and horseshoe arches.
• The port view - Malaga's harbour and bullring from the terraces.

When to go

Spring and autumn for comfort; the climb is steep and shadeless in summer heat. Mornings are quieter, and Sunday afternoons are free for visitors, which makes them busy.

Practical notes

The site is steep with cobbles and steps throughout, though a lift from the far side reaches the upper level. Cruise arrivals fill it in the middle of the day. The palace rooms are largely empty, with the interest in the architecture and gardens.

Nearby

The Roman theatre is at the foot; Gibralfaro castle is above and the Picasso Museum a few streets away.

Key facts