Málaga is a city in Andalusia, southern Spain, on the Costa del Sol in the Mediterranean Sea, and the second largest port in Spain. It has a population of 558,287 according to 2005 estimates, while the entire Málaga metropolitan area has a population of about 1,074,074, making it one of the five largest metropolitan areas in Spain. Surrounded by mountains and two rivers that feed into the Mediterranean Sea, Málaga's main sources of income are agriculture and tourism.
Painter Pablo Picasso, 19th-century politician Antonio Canovas del Castillo and actor Antonio Banderas were all born in Málaga.
Málaga is a famous tourist destination and receives a large number of visitors every year. There are a variety of very cheap charter flights between Málaga and Amsterdam and London. Many tourists come to Málaga to enjoy the good weather and the beautiful Costa del Sol.
Picasso was born here and spent his childhood here until he was 10 years old. His time in Málaga had a profound effect on his early "yellow period".
The "one-armed" Málaga Cathedral has a horse-drawn carriage parked underneath it, and at around ten o'clock, when there aren't many tourists, the driver of the carriage is chatting and the horse has nothing to do. Through the alley to the left of the church, not far from the Picasso Museum.
"This is the result of a love affair," said Christine Picasso at a press conference before the museum opened. Picasso said this, this love refers to Picasso's love for his hometown. The King and Queen of Spain also attended the opening of the museum.
The museum's building is a very typical Andalusian style building, is the 16th century, the count of Poena Vista Palace, later in the palace of the ground also excavated ancient Phoenicians, Romans and Nazarene ruins. In addition, the museum has "grafted on" a modern gallery, a 21st-century modern style, with open canvas ceilings to welcome the direct Mediterranean sunlight. This approach is quite in line with the essence of Picasso's creation: to beautify the practicality into art. So the Picasso Museum is now a fusion of 16th- and 21st-century styles.
Picasso is the pride of Málaga, and the Picasso Museum is always crowded with visitors. In addition to Picasso's early works, on the day we visited, we encountered a modern gallery displaying Picasso's ceramics, which came over from Hakone, Japan.
Natural things, especially animals, such as pigeons, birds, cat's heads and goats are Picasso's inspiration. It highlights the artistry and practicality of pottery. After he pinched his hand and pinched his fingernail, the picture became another shape in another place, and he also used the pottery method for sculpture.
Out of the museum and on to the second stop in the search for Picasso: the Church of Santiago, where Picasso was baptized.
The Church of Santiago is the oldest church in Malaga. As you enter, to the right is a marble baptismal plate, where Picasso was baptized on November 10, 1881. In those days, children had to be baptized as soon as they were born, and only those who were baptized could go to heaven. Picasso's two sisters were also baptized here.
There are two statues of the Virgin Mary in the Church, which are very famous and are carried out in procession every year at Easter in Malaga. A few bottles of olive oil are kept in front of the statue. Málaga's friends said we came at the wrong time, if we came in the afternoon, we could see a lot of them. Many people come here to make a wish, and the olive oil is a gift they give back.
Exit the church and continue on. Not far away is Melseid Square. Pigeons are piled up in the square, gathered around children. Earlier, they had also surrounded Picasso in this way. Pigeons on the square, is Picasso's father and Picasso's painting material to love.
No. 15 in the northwest corner of the square, is the place where Picasso was born on October 25, 1881. Upstairs, a room that mimics the setting of those days displays the gown Picasso wore for his baptism and the painting paraphernalia of Picasso's father. The downstairs gallery collects Picasso's illustrations. Later, Picasso's father is said to have moved next door to the third floor when he couldn't afford the rent.
The vicissitudes of Málaga's history pervade the Muslim citadel of Alcazaba at the top of the same roof, with several courtyards, barracks and passages within the walls, and it is the barracks where the uniforms and weapons of the Spanish army of the 18th and 19th centuries are on display. Climbing up to the old Hibralfaro Castle Observation Deck, it is possible to admire the gardens of the castle, overlooking the entire city and harbor, and gazing at the green hills in the distance. At the foot of the Hibralfaro hill is the restored Roman Theater, where grand open-air performances are held in the summer months, and where the famous Spanish-born Hollywood actor Antonio Banderas is said to have performed. It is said that the famous Spanish-born Hollywood actor Antonio Banderas once performed on this stage. Along the shady avenue along the coast is an old customs house where Picasso's uncle was the head of Malaga's customs, and the Malagueta bullring, which mesmerized Picasso as a child, is close by.
Speaking of Andalusia, it's all about blue skies and snow-white mountain villages. Against a backdrop of gray hills, or in the middle of a mountain field full of olive trees, a village juts out in front of us, its white walls reflecting the dazzling sunlight. This beauty is what makes Andalucía so unique.
Málaga's highway to Mijas is lined with rolling Andalusian mountains on one side and the light of the dreamy Mediterranean on the other. Málaga's lavish lunch delayed our arrival in Mijas, and the last rays of sunlight had landed on the sea.
Once a quaint white mountain village, Mijas now utilizes donkeys as living props for tourist filming rather than for plowing fields. I'd heard about the donkey-drawn taxis before I arrived, but I was too late to meet one, and I could smell one in the dusk air.
Standing on the observation deck, the near view is a stretch of white houses, the middle view is a small town of Fuengirola (Fuengirola) at the beginning of the night lights, and the distant view is the Mediterranean Sea with the color of the sea and the sky.
Next to the viewpoint, there is a small church built into the hill. The church is just a small cave dedicated to a statue of the Virgin Mary, and the platform at the top of the cave is a great place to see the view.
Wandering through the village, uphill and downhill, all the way to white houses with colorful flowers on white walls and windowsills. The front street of the mountain village is dominated by white houses lived in by local residents.
The white mikhas under the night lights look like an unreal world, permeated with warm tones of light.
Morning in Marbella is quiet. At 10:30 a.m., none of the small stores along the road leading to the Orange Tree Square in front of the city hall are open. Only the waiters in Orange Tree Square are carrying thick stacks of chair cushions and busy setting up tables and chairs for the morning market. And at that moment, the pink mandarins were in full bloom on the plaza.
Besides the quiet town of Orange Tree Plaza, the Costa del Sol's most famous marina, Banus, has already begun its day's hustle and bustle. The marina, which spans several kilometers, is home to not only the finest yachts but also top-of-the-line sports cars. Rumor has it that during the peak vacation season, there are more people on the beach than sand.
Marbella is known as the "Monaco of Spain". Like Monaco, it is the playground of some of the biggest stars, Arab princes, millionaires, royalty and bullfighters, including Hollywood's Sean Connery and Spain's own Antoine de la Vega. Hollywood star Sean Connery and Spanish native Antonio Banderas. Hollywood's Sean Connery and Spain's own Antonio Banderas, Julio Iglesias, and even the Prince of Love. Even Mr. and Mrs. Pepe of Real Madrid were once attracted to this place! What interests many people who come to Marbella is not the stunning scenery, as many are more eager to see the legendary palace of King Fahd, which is comparable to the White House in the United States. The 20-hectare palace was his frequent arrival in 1976, and it has been continually enlarged and refurbished, and it's a model of super-luxury.
The café on the marina has already started to cook fragrant coffee, followed by a steady stream of guests, soaking up the sun and seeing Gibraltar looming in the distance, it turns out that we are just a stone's throw away from Africa!
It is said that when King Fernandez of Spain first saw this land, he shouted, "Beautiful sea! Hence the name Marbella.
Transportation: To get to Malaga, you can first take a flight from Beijing to Madrid and then transfer to a plane or train. There are buses from Málaga to Mijas and Marbella.
Accommodation: In Málaga, walk out of the train station towards the city center and cross the river to Alameda Principal Street, which has many hotels on the port side; in Mijas, stay at the Hotel Mijas, which has lovely rooms and lobbies; Marbella is a resort with many local hotels to choose from.
Gastronomy: In Málaga you can enjoy the popular "Mediterranean diet", such as Victorian fish, fried fish, freshly grilled sardines, etc., which is worth trying because of the excellent ingredients and the unique way they are prepared. Sweet red wine is also famous, and Málaga also maintains the famous Andalusian tapas.
Shopping: Near Picasso's former residence in Málaga, there are many winding alleys where you can find many interesting things, such as flamenco dancing dresses, dancing shoes, flower arrangements on the head, the famous Spanish rattles and guitars. When it comes to souvenirs, Málaga's raisins and grape wines must be mentioned, and bringing a little to your relatives and friends seems to bring the sunshine of Málaga with you; the world's leading brand name stores have their flagship stores in Marbella's Barnes Marina, as well as many Outlet-type discount stores. Local favorites include casual shoes, leather bags, belts, wallets and other leather goods. Other products such as natural olive oil, sherry and grape liqueur are great gifts for friends and family.