Málaga City: a photo report of the city’s landmarks and atmosphere
Photography in the city of Málaga — a selection of photos capturing the city’s streets, architecture, everyday life, atmospere and urban scenery, from day to night. This gallery contains images of the old city center, Cruz de Humilladero, the Huelín district, and the Bailen-Miraflores district. There is a separate page with pictures of the La Trinidad district and another dedicated to Málaga’s street art.
Discover pictures of the Equitativa building, the shopping street Calle Marqués de Larios, Paseo del Parque, Plaza de la Merced and many other city landmarks and hiddden corners in the city where Pablo Picasso was born.
There is a separate page with photos of the Port of Málaga: the waterfront, the palm-lined promenade and sea views.
For a different side of the city, you can also visit the Málaga Music Videos page, with flamenco guitar, street performance, piano improvisation and street dancers.
Calle Larios, La Equitativa and the Alameda Principal: ideal places for a stroll in Málaga city
Calle Marqués de Larios is a pedestrian shopping street laid out in the 19th century. The street was designed to connect the Plaza de la Constitución and the Plaza de la Marina. If you follow the street south, you have a view of the La Equitativa building on the Alameda Principal.
In the summer, awnings are hung above the street to protect visitors from the bright sun. Cultural events often take place here, such as the procession during Semana Santa. Around the Christmas period, the street is beautifully decorated with Christmas lights.
The La Equitativa building (pictured above) on Alameda Principal was erected on the site where the Larios family palace—destroyed during the Spanish Civil War—once stood. The insurance company La Equitativa acquired the plot and had the building constructed in two phases between 1951 and 1961. It combines the style of American skyscrapers with local decorative elements, such as the Neo-Islamic style tower topped by a yamur (a traditional Islamic spire finial). Today, this magnificent building houses the Only You Málaga (5-star) and Soho Boutique Equitativa (4-star) hotels. Furthermore, the rooftop terrace offers a stunning view of the city, the port, and the coastline.
The Alameda Principal is one of Málaga’s main transport corridors, with many bus lines, taxi stops and nearby access to the metro. It connects the historic centre with different parts of the city and the surrounding area. It is also a great street for a leisurely stroll. It has very wide sidewalks and benches shaded by large trees.
Below, you can see the Alameda de Colón, a side street of the Alameda Principal. The avenue runs straight through the Soho district to the industrial port (Muelle de Heredia). In the background, you can see the port cranes.
Above, you see the La Equitativa building on the Alameda Principal in Málaga—home to the Only You Hotel and the Soho Boutique Hotel—and the Plaza de la Marina, viewed from Muelle Uno (Pier 1) at sunset. Below, you see the neoclassical buildings on the Alameda Principal, next to the pedestrian shopping street Calle Marqués de Larios.
Paseo del Parque: over 100 years of subtropical natural beauty in Málaga city
Paseo del Parque is an 800-meter-long subtropic park located between Plaza de la Marina and Plaza de General Torrijos. It was laid out in the 19th century and contains numerous species of (sub)tropical plants, the species names of which are indicated on signs. One of them is the japonicum giant lily (Farfugium japonicum) also called the Giant Leopard plant (see below).
The park features benches, playgrounds, a walking promenade, and fountains such as the Fuento de Neptuno, adorned with colorful tiles. The park also contains several sculptures and an open-air theater where free concerts are regularly held.
The park offers a welcome respite from the heat during the summer season, with plenty of shaded areas, and is located just a few hundred meters from the coast, ensuring a fresh sea breeze is usually present.
Above and below, you can see the park promenade at sunset and at night. It is a very pleasant place for a walk, in any season and at any time of day.
Around the Christmas season, there is a Christmas market on the Paseo del Parque. Numerous stalls offer jewelry, handmade artisanal goods, collectibles, and other gift ideas.
Paseo del Parque is also the name of the main tree-lined boulevard/street that runs right alongside it. On the opposite side of the park stands Málaga’s City Hall.
For more pictures about Parks in Málaga City’s districts, see also the gallery Nature in The City.
The Alcazaba and the Roman theatre: two ancient monuments
The history of the city dates back to the 7th century BC, when the Phoenicians settled on the left bank of the Guadalmedina River. It became one of the most important centers of the region, named Malaka. The city was also important during the Roman era. One of the sights from that period is the Roman theater beneath the Alcazaba fortress.
The Alcazaba of Málaga is a Moorish fortress built in the 11th century, overlooking the historic centre of the city. The name is derived from the Arabic word ‘al-casbah’, which means citadel.
At the foot of the Alcazaba – on the Calle Alcazabilla, lies the Roman Theatre, rediscovered in the 20th century after centuries of being hidden beneath the ground. Parts of the Roman theater were used as foundations for the construction of the Alcazaba.Together, they reflect the layered history of Málaga, from Roman times to Al-Andalus. Today, both sites are among the city’s most visited landmarks.
Below: Málaga’s illuminated Alcazaba at night seen from Avenida de Cervantes next to Paseo del Parque.
Below: Street artist working on Calle Alcazabilla (in front of the Roman theatre and the Alcazaba).
Plaza de la Merced: where Pablo Picasso was born and ideal to take a break
Plaza de la Merced is one of Málaga’s most famous squares, lined with cafés, terraces and historic buildings. Pablo Picasso was born in 1881 at number 15 of the square, in the Casa Natal de Picasso (birthplace of Picasso), where a seated statue of the artist stands nearby today. The first floor of the house now forms a museum, displaying family photographs, personal objects such as his mother’s earrings, childhood items including shoes and toys, and paintings by his parents that may have influenced some of his later work. Pablo Picasso left Málaga at the age of eight when his father got a job in Barcelona.
In the centre of the square stands the Torrijos Monument, an obelisk dedicated to General Torrijos and his 48 companions, who attempted to overthrow King Ferdinand VII. After the failed uprising, they were executed on the beach of Málaga and buried beneath the monument.
In May, the jacaranda trees around the plaza bloom in bright purple colours. Street performers, restaurants and late-night terraces give the square a lively atmosphere.
Above: Street dancers on the Plaza de la Merced warming up and practicing for a dance performance.
Málaga’s cathedral and beautiful pictures of the old city centre
Above: the old city centre an Málaga cathedral, seen from the walking trail Sendero al Monte Victoria, which starts near Plaza de la Merced (on Calle Macizo de la Llana).
The Cathedral of Málaga, fully the Santa Iglesia Catedral Basilica de la Encarnación, or nicknamed ‘La Manquita’ (the one-armed woman). Due to a lack of funds, the southern tower was not built. Construction of the cathedral, in Renaissance style with Gothic features, began in 1528, and additions followed over the subsequent centuries until it was completed in 1783 (photos above and below).
Below, you can see the cathedral on Christmas Eve during the Christmas service, with the blue lights of police cars in the foreground.
Below, you can see Málaga Cathedral from Molina Lario Street, with its unfinished south tower.
Above and below: the Mercado de Atarazanas at night. It was built in the second half of the nineteenth century with an iron and glass structure. The rear facade with the signal window was built in 1973 by the Atanza brothers and contains 108 panels. The market hall contains all kinds of stalls with local delicacies such as fish, cheese, fruit, vegetables, and olives.
Below: charming flower store “Floristería Terracota. El Manojo de Rosas” on Calle Atarazanas in the Centre District, in front of the Mercado central de Atarazanas.
In Málaga’s historic center, you can still find many antique shops, such as “Antigüedades Los Remedios” on Calle Beatas:
Also typical of Málaga are traditional hat shops selling handmade hats, such as Bella Hats on Calle Calderería in the city center:
Below you can see Calle Granada, one of the oldest, busiest, and most pedestrian streets in the historic center of Málaga. This atmospheric street, full of restaurants and terraces, is approximately 500 meters long and runs from the Plaza de la Constitución to the Plaza de la Merced.
Above and below, you see some examples of a typical Andalusian patio. It is characteristic of residential homes in Southern Spain. It is designed to withstand the intense Mediterranean heat and serves as the private and social heart of the home. Roman and Moorish influences are combined to create shade, combined with natural beauty.
In the photo above, you can see the Iglesia Sagrado Corazón on the Plaza de San Ignacio in the old city center. Below you see Calle Beatas, an atmospheric street in the historic center of Málaga. The street is located just 50 meters from the Museo Picasso and is known for its traditional architecture, many restaurants, and the interactive music museum.
In autumn and winter, roasted chestnut stalls appear in Málaga. Below, you can see a stall at the end of Calle Carretería, next to the Tribuna de los Pobres. The steps lead down to the Guadalmedina River.
Other parts of Málaga such as Huelin and Cruz de Humilladero
Above, you can see the Los Guindos Chimney, also known as Torre Mónica, next to San Andrés Beach, in the Huelin neighborhood of Málaga. It was part of the Los Guindos lead smelting industrial factory.
Below are some photos of the 4-star H10 Croma hotel, located on Calle Prim and completed in 2022, next to the Guadalmedina River and near the historic center.
Below you see the main building of the El Corte Inglés department store on Avenida de Andalucía in the centre district.
Above: the main building (Edificio 1) of the Corte Inglés department store on Avenida de Andalucía at night. A little further down the road stands the second building on Calle Hilera, and there is also a branch in the Teatinos university district.
Above and below you can see Avenida de Andalucía, a 1,900-meter-long avenue that runs through the western part of Málaga. It is also known as the “Alameda Extension.” It continues westward, entering the Cruz de Humilladero neighborhood.
You can still see newsstands in various places in Málaga. The Kiosco Santa Gema is located on Plaza de los Tilos in the Cruz de Humilladero district:
Above you can see the San Pedro Apóstol church on Avenida de la Aurora, below the San José Obrero on Calle Virgen de las Nieves. Both churches are located in the Cruz de Humilladero neighborhood.
The yellow and red colors of the San José Obrero Church on Calle Virgen de las Nieves make it a real eye-catcher.
Typical Andalusian houses on Calle Virgen De La Estrella (above) and on Calle Virgen de la Paloma (below), both in the Cruz de Humilladero district.
Below you see the Albergue Inturjoven, at Plaza Pío XII in the Cruz de Humilladero district. The building was originally constructed in the 1950s as a dedicated boarding school and residence for young students. Today, it continues this long tradition of youth hospitality by operating as a welcoming hostel located on Plaza Pío XII. It is the perfect home base for students, backpackers, and group travelers looking to experience authentic Andalusian culture.
The Inturjoven hostel features a charming interior garden courtyard where you can relax or enjoy some shade:
Football is also an important sport in Málaga. The image below shows a training ground for the municipal team Malaka, located on Calle Virgen de las Flores in the Cruz de Humilladero district.
Below, Málaga CF’s La Rosaleda football stadium is shown on Paseo de los Martiricos, within the Palma-Palmilla district.
Below: Hospital Civil on Avenida del Arroyo de los Ángeles on the border of the Centre district and the Bailen-Miraflores district.
Below, you can see the center of District 10, Puerto de la Torre, in northwest Málaga, which retains the character of an Andalusian village.
Below: Málaga María Zambrano is the city’s main train station. It connects the city to the rest of the country via, among other things, high-speed trains (AVE).
