Finally, we arrived in Malaga, where we planned to spend the last day of the year, and we immediately got into the preparations, as we had to get the twelve grapes that bring good luck for the midnight tradition. We really enjoyed the preparations and the local customs, according to which ladies should wear red underwear for good luck, and then during the night we joined the huge crowd celebrating in the main square. The sight of the castle towering over the city in the evening lights was unforgettable and while toasting with champagne in the street, we felt that we could not have ended this year full of experiences in a better way.
The history of Malaga dates back more than two thousand and eight hundred years, as it was founded by the Phoenicians under the name Malaka, which is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Later, it became an important trading port under the Romans, and during the Moorish conquest, it became one of the most important economic centers of the Kingdom of Granada. The Christian armies recaptured the city in 1487, which gradually acquired its present Mediterranean character, while the Gibralfaro castle and the Alcázar fortress still proclaim the city’s proud military past on the hilltops.
One of the most important cultural aspects of modern Malaga is that it was the birthplace of the world-famous painter Pablo Picasso, whose birthplace and museum dedicated to him are located in the heart of the city. In recent decades, the city has undergone tremendous development and has transformed from a simple port city into one of the most important cultural and technological hubs in Europe. Due to the large number of museums, it is often called the city of museums, where the Pompidou Center and the Carmen Thyssen Museum await art lovers.
The city’s present is inseparable from the vibrant port life and the renovated Muelle Uno promenade, where elegant shops and restaurants line the palm trees. Malaga is not only famous for tourism and sunshine, but also an important economic engine in southern Spain, where modern technology parks and the traditional Andalusian way of life perfectly coexist. The narrow city streets, the luxurious shops of Calle Larios and the fresh fish dishes of the beachside chiringuito restaurants all contribute to the special feel of life that makes Malaga one of the most liveable cities in Spain.
