La Alcazaba: from fortress to major tourist attraction
Harrison Gregory
The Alcazaba castle stands proudly on the hills of Malaga, once defending the city against enemies. Now it is a major tourist attraction, drawing visitors because of its beautiful gardens and the panoramic views from the spot
Malaga is the largest city on the Costa del Sol. It is a genuine Andalusian city with some of the most distinctive buildings and spots on the coast and in Andalucía. One of the major buildings is the Malaga Alcazaba. ‘La Alcazaba’ was a military fortress built around 1055 by Badis, a ta’ifa ruler.
It sits proudly on the hills, almost in the centre of Malaga, overlooking the city, the sea and in the distance, the African coast of Morocco.
The building was erected on the remains of a Roman fortress when the Moors occupied the city and Malaga became one of the most distinguished trading centres in the whole Iberian peninsula.
The castle was originally protected by three walls, one of which has been destroyed, and a purposely staggered entrance for maximum defence against any enemies. In many ways the Alcazaba seems more like a garden with palaces than a castle because of the wonderful, well-established gardens in the shade of the Gibralfaro Castle.
Nowadays the Museo Arqueológico (the Archaeological Museum) is housed at the Alcazaba. This is an important collection that includes numerous Phoenician and Muslim artifacts. Also, at the Gibralfaro, there is a large museum explaining the history of the two attractions.
The Alcazaba is an important building of Moorish architecture with its impressive double wall and many defence barriers. The castle was originally inspired by the Alhambra in Granada and contains some of the same features, such as beautiful gardens and fountains.
The Alcazaba is the best preserved one in Spain, and in that respect is more impressive than the Alhambra. Two of the main delights of the castle are the vivid gardens from April to June and the panoramic views over Malaga and the bay. For more information telephone La Alcazaba on: 952 227 230.
(source: Sur In English)
