Why Do I Think You Should Live in Malaga Capital?
If you are looking for a more authentic Spanish lifestyle than what is generally on offer on the Costa del Sol, I suggest you consider the City of Malaga.
Malaga is a place full of beautiful, friendly people, enjoying life at their own pace. It’s a city full of character, history, passion. Malaga invites outsiders with open arms. Food and drink to suit all pallets. Authentic tapas in tucked away bars, gourmet tapas and fine dining served to the highest standard and not forgetting the fresh fish cooked chargrilled in fishing boats on the many beaches.
Malaga is a paradise for individuals, couples and families looking for a coastal location with all the added extras of a bustling yet laid-back city.
“Ciudad del Paraíso” – the Paradise City. This is how the Nobel Prize winner for literature, Vicente Aleixandre, described Málaga. A city that vibrates with life and fascinates with its mixture of ancient history, folklore and modern culture. It is easy to imagine paradise in this harbour city that enjoys almost 3,000 hours of sunshine a year and several kilometres of beach right in the centre.
Málaga is a city with beautiful beaches:
According to the official town hall website, there are 15 beaches within Malaga’s city limits.
Being a coastal city, a beach is never far. Malaga’s beaches are not your typical tourist beaches, with row after row of sunbeds for rent, packed full of over exposed foreign bodies. In fact, you’ll be hard pressed to hear anything other than Spanish being spoken on them. The chiringuitos (beach restaurants) are a great place to enjoy freshly fried local fish (pescaíto fríto) or a refreshing drink.
Malaga is a city with a stunning new leisure port:
At the end of 2011 the long-awaited Muelle Uno was opened. It offers 14,000m2 of waterfront restaurants, shops and eateries. It has underground parking for over 1000 cars. The most exclusive part of the port, it is home to Malaga’ s only Michelin-starred restaurant (Jose Carlos Garcia’s).
This stunning addition to Malaga’s coastline is a haven for people looking for a taste of exclusivity or merely a stroll along the promenade in the sunshine.
Málaga is a city decorated with history:
The Alcazaba: This fortress palace, whose name in Arabic means citadel, is one of the city’s historical monuments and is much visited because of its history and beauty.
Castillo de Gibralfaro: This Castle, built in the 14th. Century to house troops and protect the Alcazaba, is today one of the most visited monuments in Málaga. From its walls, visitors get spectacular views of the city and you can visit the Interpretation Centre to discover the site’s history.
The Cathedral: Its full name is Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación (Our Lady of Incarnation) although in Málaga it is simply known as “the Cathedral”. Cathedrals are important in all cities, but here in Málaga it is even more important than usual. It is not only a religious building but a landmark, a national landmark, a milestone along the road and a witness to many events.
El Teatro Romano: Málaga’s Roman Theatre is one of the remaining symbols of Roman Hispania in the city. In addition to the theatre itself, it has a modern interpretation centre where new technologies present the life and customs of the time. The Theatre has also been returned to its original use and different types of shows take place inside.
Málaga boasts natural areas and green leafy walkways:
Málaga’s natural heritage boasts places of extraordinary environmental wealth, such as the Montes de Málaga natural park, the natural setting of the estuary of the Guadalhorce, the Historical-Botanical Garden of La Concepción and Málaga Park or museum spaces such as the Museo Alborania and Ecomuseo Lagar de Torrijos offer a more educational approach to Málaga’s natural resources.
Littered with cinemas, theatres, sports facilities and museums, Málaga entertains people of all ages.
So, now that you are considering Malaga city as your new destination, let’s have a look at the residential areas you may wish to live in.
The Districts of Malaga City
Map credit: ”Distritos Málaga” by Tyk – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The above image shows the 11 districts of the city of Málaga.
From personal experience, the 3 most popular areas chosen by people moving to Malaga, looking for a permanent residence are Nº1 Centro, Nº2 Este and Nº7 Carretera de Cádiz.
Centro (Spanish for Centre),also known as District 1 and Málaga-Centro, comprises de following neighbourhoods (barrios): Barcenillas, Camino del Colmenar, Campos Elíseos, Cañada de los Ingleses, Capuchinos, Centro Histórico, Conde de Ureña, Cristo de la Epidemia, El Bulto, El Ejido, El Molinillo, Ensanche Centro, Explanada de la Estación, La Aurora, La Goleta, La Manía, La Merced, La Trinidad, La Victoria, Lagunillas, Los Antonios, Mármoles, Monte de Gibralfaro, Olletas, Parque Ayala, Perchel Norte, Perchel Sur, Pinares de Olletas, Plaza de Toros Vieja, Polígono Alameda, R.E.N.F.E., San Miguel, Santa Amalia, Segalerva, Seminario, Sierra Blanquilla y Ventaja Alta.
It has a surface area of 5.87 km2 (2.27 sq mi) and a population of 84,988.
To read more about the Centro district, CLICK HERE. (article in progress)
Este (Spanish for East),also known as District 2 and Málaga-Este, comprises of the following neighbourhoods (barrios): Baños del Carmen, Bellavista, Camino de Olías, Castillo de Santa Catalina, Cerrado de Calderón, Colinas del Limonar, Echeverría del Palo, El Candado, El Chanquete, El Drago, El Lagarillo, El Limonar, El Mayorazgo, El Morlaco, El Palo, El Polvorín, El Rocío, Fábrica de Cemento, Finca Clavero, Finca El Candado, Hacienda Clavero, Hacienda Miramar, Hacienda Paredes, Jarazmín, La Araña, La Caleta, La Malagueta, La Mosca, La Pelusa, La Pelusilla, La Torrecilla, La Vaguada, La Viña, Las Acacias, Las Cuevas, Las Niñas, Las Palmeras, Lomas de San Antón, Los Pinos del Limonar, Miraflores, Miraflores Alto, Miraflores del Palo, Miramar, Monte Sancha, Olías, Parque Clavero, Parque del Morlaco, Pedregalejo, Pedregalejo Playa, Peinado Grande, Pinares de San Antón, Playa Virginia, Playas del Palo, Podadera, San Francisco, San Isidro, Santa Paula Miramar, Torre de San Telmo, Valle de los Galanes, Villa Cristina, Virgen de las Angustias.
It has a surface area of 126.63 km2 (48.89 sq mi) and a population of 67,289.
To read more about the Este district, CLICK HERE. (article in progress)
Carretera de Cádiz, also known as District 7, comprises de following wards (barrios): 25 Años de Paz, Alaska, Almudena, Ardira, Ave María, Barceló, Cortijo Vallejo, Dos Hermanas, El Higueral, El Torcal, Finca El Pato, Girón, Guadaljaire, Haza de la Pesebrera, Haza Honda, Huelin, Industrial La Pelusa, Industrial La Térmica, Industrial Nuevo San Andrés, Industrial Puerta Blanca, Jardín de la Abadía, La Luz, La Paz, La Princesa, Las Delicias, Los Girasoles, Los Guindos, Mainake, Málaga 2000, Minerva, Nuevo San Andrés 1, Nuevo San Andrés 2, Pacífico, Parque Ayala, Parque Mediterráneo, Polígono Comercial Guadalhorce, Polígono Comercial Pacífico, Polígono Comercial Valdicio, Polígono Industrial Carranza, Polígono Industrial Guadaljaire, Polígono Industrial Los Guindos, Puerta Blanca, Regio, Sacaba Beach, San Andrés, San Carlos, San Carlos Condote, Santa Isabel, Santa Paula, Sixto, Tabacalera, Torre del Río, Torres de la Serna, Virgen de Belén, Vistafranca.
It has a surface area of 5.60 km2 (2.16 sq mi) and a population of 113,424.
To read more about the Carretera de Cádiz district, CLICK HERE. (article in progress)
If you are considering living in Malaga, request my Initial Relocation Questionnaire and let me help you to make the most out of this wonderful city.