Travel guide – malaga
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Overview
The lively city of Malaga, on the coast about 80 miles (129km) southeast of Seville, is the gateway to Spain’s popular Costa del Sol holiday resort region. The city was also the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, and features several galleries displaying his work. Most notable is the 16th-century Museum of Fine Arts, alongside the Cathedral. Picasso’s birthplace in Plaza Merced is open to the public and showcases his life and works. Like most Andalusian cities Malaga has Moorish roots, and its illustrious past has left an imprint on the historic centre, particularly around the fortress of La Alcazaba, dating from 1065, which is now an archaeological museum. The Moorish castle nearby is now a state hotel. The city’s famous botanical garden sited on the Calle Alameda, dates from the days when Malaga was a popular winter resort for the rich and famous, and is also worth a visit.
Attractions in Malaga
Granada
Granada, a high altitude city of romance and folklore, boasts one of the most popular tourist attractions in Spain, the Alhambra palace-fortress. Built by the Nasrid rulers in the 14th century the Alhambra is the most important and spectacular piece of Moorish architecture in Spain. The huge complex, set against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains, includes the summer palace with its fountains and gardens; the Palacios Nazaries with its intricate ornamentation; and a hilltop fortress. The city also boasts a Cathedral containing a Royal Chapel in which Isabel and Ferdinand of Spain lie buried, and a Moorish medina area, known as the Albaicin, with its labyrinth of narrow streets and whitewashed houses. North of Granada is Sacromonte hill, famed for its cave dwellings which were once the home of a large gypsy community.
Climate
The summer sunshine and mild winter climate along the coast make the Costa del Sol a year-round attraction. Inland temperatures have greater extremes, with scorching summers and cold winters, where nights can become close to freezing in Granada.
Health
There are no health risks associated with travel to Spain, and no vaccination certificates are required for entry. Spain has a reciprocal health agreement with most EU countries, including the UK, providing free emergency health care at State run hospitals. UK travellers should take a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Note that private clinics are not covered, and the scheme gives no entitlement to medical repatriation costs, nor does it cover ongoing illnesses of a non-urgent nature, so comprehensive travel insurance is advised.
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