Alcazaba, Málaga

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The meaning of the name in Arabic is citadel. It was built in 11th century by Moors, from what was a large Roman fort beforehand. The castle gradually climbs the hill for about 300 feet, and connects to Gibralfaro Fort above it. There is an archaeological museum inside and there is an outer and inner citadel, beside water theme, ponds, and gardens/flowers. Entry is through Christ's Door at the bottom level at Plaza de la Auana. The castle is patterned after the Alhambra of Granada, but not as big or ornate, however has less tourists. The castle is closed Mondays and other days open 9:30-6PM in winter and until 8PM in summer months.

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La Alcazaba is a part of Gibralfaro castle even though there is no walking from the inside from one castle to the other anymore, so you have to pay for the visit to both parts. La Alcazaba fortress was built on the ruins of a Roman fortress by the Moors in the 11th century and beside La Alcazaba are the ruins of a Roman Theatre. There used to be more than 100 towers on the fortress and 3 palaces.

While visiting la Alcazaba I was struck be its resemblance to Alhambra in Granada and later read that it was inspired by Alhambra. La Alcazaba has got an Archaeological Museum (see my photo) with artefacts from Phoenician and Muslim finds. Walking along La Alcazaba is beautiful, it stands on a hill (Gibralfaro castle stands much higher though) so the view of Malaga is beautiful - and the palaces are ever so lovely, the gardens and all the stuff in it which is still intact. The gardens are beautiful and I particularly like the pond inside one of the palaces (see my first photo).

An absolutely "must" visit while visiting Malaga. It is closed on Mondays like most of the musei and open from 9:30-20:00 in the summer time and 8:30-19:00 in the winter time.

Admittance fee is 2 euros.

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The Alcazaba is a former palace dating from the 11th century when Malaga was under Moorish control. It's located in the centre of Malaga on the lower slopes of the hill upon which Castillo Gibralfaro - a Moorish castle - was later built.

The entrance to the Alcazaba is just above street level. You pass through two angled gates before emerging into the lower precinct. The path continues on into the main part of the Alcazaba passing gardens, fountains and towers before you reach the palace. Inside the palace is a series of elegant courtyards and patios. There are good views over the city from a number of positions in the palace.

The Alcazaba is an excellent example of Moorish architecture. If you want to see some culture in the region without spending to much money I would recommend this fortification instead of the Alhambra in Granada. Less tourists and much cheaper for almost the same inpression if you ask me.
You can combine it with the Castillo de Gibralfaro (duoticket), where you have a stunning panorama of the city and it's harbour.

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On one website it dared to proclaim that Malaga's Alcazaba was better than Granada's Alhambra. This is a complete falsity as it is nowhere near as complete or impressive as the Alhambra. On the other hand Malaga's 11th Century fortress and palace is beautiful and reminiscent of the tower's of the Alhambra.

If you come to Malaga you must take a look at it and the Roman Amphitheatre below, even if you don't go in it to see the small archaeological museum.

Entrance Fee – 1.90 €
Opening Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

La Alcazaba is a major landmark of the city.It is made up of a double encircling wall and rectangular towers This fortress dates back to the 700s, although much of the structure belongs to the mid 11th century. The entrance is through the gateway known as the Puerta del Cristo (Christ's Door), where the first mass was celebrated following the Christian victory over the town.

The fortress is one of the largest Muslim military buildings preserved in Spain. It formed part of the Arab Malaka defensive system and was linked to the town ramparts, which have now disappeared.
If you visit inside the walls you can see nice views of city and admire landscapes and romantic gardens.

Some five minutes walk from the the Cathedral is Alcazaba, a 15th Century Moorish fort. The fort rambles across a hill which used to form part of the shore line, before the land that now forms the port was recaptured from the sea. Next to the fort is a 1st Century Roman theatre which is currently under restoration, the job being made all the more difficult because much of the theatre's masonry was used by the Moors in the construction of Alcazaba.

Se encuentra en las faldas del monte Gibralfaro en cuya cumbre se halla el Castillo del mismo nombre. Alcazaba y Castillo están unidos por un pasillo de monte resguardado por dos murallas zigzagueantes o rampantes llamado La Coracha. La Alcazaba es una edificación nazarí construida sobre la roca y en la que destaca la armoniosa conjunción de las necesidades defensivas y la serena belleza de sus estancias y jardines interiores; como obra militar es la más importante musulmana conservada en España.

Alcazaba is a fortress built in the 11th century by the Moors. It was built on the remains of a Roman fortress. It has an impressive double wall with a large number of defence towers and contains three palaces in Moorish style surrounded by beautiful gardens and fountains. Several terraces offer magnificent views of the town and harbour.

Inside one of the palaces, there is an archaeological museum about Paleolithic and Neolithic antiquities and an exhibition about Muslim ceramics and pottery.

It is undoubtedly a must-see attraction. Walking along the winding stone pathways and through the Moorish gates you will feel like being in another part of the world.

Alcazaba is open daily (except on Mondays) from 9.30 am to 8 pm.
Entrance fee: 1.80 EUR

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Patio de los Naranjos is a small enclosed terrace within Alcazaba planted with orange trees (as the name indicates). An important architectural feature of the patio is the set of ornate horseshoe arches overlooking the patio. When I visited Alcazaba in Feb 2005, a wedding was taking place and the newly weds being photographed right on the patio (see photos).

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Alcazaba is perhaps the most important historic monument in Málaga. Perched on a hill by the Mediterranean waters, the fortress was first built in the 8th century, right after the arrival of the Arabs into the Iberian Peninsula, over ruins of Roman buildings. Materials from the Roman ruins were used to build Alcazaba and are still visible to this day, though much of the existing walls date from the 11th century when Alcazaba was reinforced. Visits are allowed of the beautiful gardens and terraces of Alcazaba, which offer fantastic views of the city. Inside Alcazaba, there is an archeological museums displaying Roman, Phoenician and other artefacts found in Málaga over the years.