Malaga city, Costa del Sol, Andalucia

Welcome to one of Andalucia’s most vibrant cities - Málaga - perched on the edge of the Mediterranean. Ok, so it might not have the international fame of perhaps Seville (the capital of Andalucia), but more than half a million people still live here. The people of  Málaga are commonly know as Malagueños, and they’re proud of their city, the birthplace of Picasso. Actually, you can hardly move without bumping into a Picasso momento shop. But hey, if you’ve got it, flaunt it. And the Picasso Museum attracts bus loads of tourists every year.

In fairness, the streets around the Picasoo Museum in Málaga are a hub of traditional Spanish activity, as those in the know relax in tapas bars and restaurants, way cheaper than anywhere else on the coast. El Pimpi bar is probably the most famous in Málaga centre, and pleasingly it’s still untouched by mass tourism – if you want to order a drink or a spot of tapas, you better get out your phrase book because English is not spoken here. The atmosphere’s great - it’s like going into someone’s house. With different rooms, chairs, plants, nooks and crannies, and other homely stuff scattered across two floors. Just off the Plaza de la Merced there is a place called Café Libros – that’s ‘books cafe’ in Spanish. And for a good reason. It’s full of them! Simply order a coffee, grab a book from one of the shelves and while the afternoon away.

And a quick trawl through the history books reveals that the name Málaga was probably a take on the Phoenician word for salt, because fish was salted near the harbour here about 1000 years BC when the city was first established. Málaga is still a busy working harbour today. Other historical elements of Málaga include the massive Baroque Cathedral, which the Spanish locals call “La Manquita” or “the one-armed woman” – that’s because no one ever quite got round to finishing it, so she looks a bit lop-sided, with one of the bell towers still missing.

If you want to experience something totally Spanish that’s not in the Málaga tourist guides, head for La Casa del Guardia. It’s a little known venue just off the main Calle Larios in the centre of Málaga, only frequented by locals. Here, you can sample every single wine from the region. It’s so traditional. There are foreigners living in and around the city also, with the relatively young Málaga University spawning a thriving student community. Málaga is striving to be recognised for the title of European Capital of Culture 2016. Malaga - the thinking man’s Costa del Sol.

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