The bustling city of Málaga is not only the capital of Málaga province but also the unifficial capital of the Costa del Sol. Thanks to its international airport, excellent highway system and port facilities, Málaga is for many visitors the gateway not only to the Costa but also to the rest of Andalucía.
Like so much of this region Málaga has a rich and colourful past which we can appreciate to this day. The amphitheatre dates back to Roman times, the 11th century Alcazaba was built by the Moors and, sitting atop the hill and overlooking the city, the Gibralfaro fortress was the work of the ancient Phoenicians.
The main central shopping areas are near the cathedral and around the Calle Larios where there is a mix of elegant boutiques, handicrafts and modern stores.
During Semana Santa or Easter Week in Málaga much of the Old Quarter is closed to traffic and every night there are religious processions featuring the city's old "cofradías" or brotherhoods bearing ornate statues of the Virgin Mary thought the streets to the sound of muffled drums. Behind them trail hundreds of penitents dressed in black and hooded torchbeares.
Another date to remenber is mid-August, the time for Málaga's famous Feria. Whereas Semana Santa is a time of piety, passion and sadness, the daytime Feria in the city centre is a time for passionate gaiety, women in colourful flamenco dresses and parades of riders on horseback. The bars are filled to overflowing. And in the fairgrounds on the outskirts of the city festivities continue well past dawn.
But the cappital of the Costa del Sol in never short of excitement. The pace of the nightlife continues thoughout the year around the Calle Larios in the Plaza Uncibay and the Plaza de la Merced and in the Plaza Malagueta near the bullring. The warm summer evening are perfect for eating a late supper in the hundreds of outdoor restaurants where the delicious smells of "fritura malagueña" (mixed fried fish) mingle with the fragrant orange and lemon blossoms. Along the 18 kilometres of beaches on either side of the city, try the "espetos de sardinas", sardines on a spit. They're delicious. There are several golf courses near Málaga: the Real Club de Campo, founded in 1925 and Spain's oldest golf club, the El Candado course five kilometres east of the city, the Guadalhorce on the Cártama road and the Añoreta course east of Málaga and just north of Rincón de la Victoria.
Anda what's more, an extraordianry weather, 321 sunshire days in a year. All these characteristic make of our destination Málaga Costa del Sol/Costa del Golf, an authentic paradise for golf lovers an their companions.