Spain is a perennially popular travel destination and for good reason too! With a well-established tourism infrastructure, plenty to see and do whether you seek culture, history or adventure, and highly competitive prices, you’ll fall in love with Spain all over again this year.
Rediscover Malaga
Malaga is a major coastal city in the autonomous community of Andalucia, Spain. Perceived as a typical and genuine city of Andalucia, Malaga is untouched by excessive tourism activities throughout the passage of time. Malaga is the second most densely populated city in Andalusia, with a total population of 566,447 in 2008.
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Extending through a land area of 385.50 sq. kilometres, Malaga is also the sixth largest city in Spain. It is seated in the southern part of the county, particularly within the Costa del Sol region. The Malaga city’s architectural heritage is the product of civilisation for more than 3,000 years, starting from the Phoenician ancestors up to this day. The stunning Nazari Castle, the Roman Theatre, and the Gibralfaro Castle of Moorish architectures are just few examples of the architectural heritage. The breath-taking Malaga Cathedral exhibits the abundant architecture from the Renaissance era to modern times.
The city’s long coast suggests a variety of sandy beaches that sprawl throughout the place. Beach destinations range from a wild and rocky inlet to a small cove where tourists can be private and enjoy its complete amenities. For those who love to be acquainted to the place, cruising on the bay and visiting several coastal villages can also be equally exciting. Aside from being a cultural hub, Malaga is also the best destination for dining pleasures. The Malaguegos cater palatable and appetising food in their restaurants and bars, where real social activity happens. Many visitors in the city will attest that the Malaga cuisine is the best food in the Mediterranean.
The cuisine ranges from inland to coastal styles which include the hotpots and conventional stews offered in several mountain villages, and the fresh fishes offered by the beach-side restaurants. Both rural and coastal restaurants serve the popular Iberian ham, which is processed in the neighbouring Andalucian Mountains. Anybody will be pleased to order a small snack of tapa, accompanied with an appetising local wine. International restaurants are also scattered throughout the city, where various cuisine from Scandinavian, Asian, Chinese, Italian, and French can be enjoyed. Unique and exciting fiesta celebrations are done in numerous towns and villages of each province, including Malaga city itself which celebrates Easter Week processions as its major event. Pilgrimages, processions, eating and drinking throughout the city are the usual scenarios during Easter.
Malaga people can have a celebration nearly every month of the year. Seated along the Mediterranean, Malaga consists of a temperate climate. The city is also the birthplace of the renowned artist Picasso. Unlike Barcelona and Madrid, Malaga provides a more laidback yet enriching visit on each of the city’s rich heritage. Transportation is accessible, whether by train, car, bus, boat, or plane. Ferry boats are available, routing between Melilla and Malaga in the North Africa; however, early reservations are advised. If someone wants to travel by plane, Malaga is served by the AGP, Spain’s third biggest international airport.
Explore a different side of Alicante
Alicante (Alacant) is a popular tourist city in Spain, and the capital of the province of the same name. It is also the comarca of Alacanti in the southern portion of the Valencian Community and the historic port in the Mediterranean Sea. As of 2008, the estimated total population of Alicante proper was 331,750, while its metropolitan area had an estimated 757,443 residents. Alicante conurbation, including nearby municipalities, was inhabited by 452,462 people. During that year, Alicante became the largest Valencian city, while the metropolitan area became the eighth largest metropolitan area in Spain, both by population.
Alicante is one of the fastest-growing cities in Spain. The economy of the city is mainly based from the tourism of the beaches in Costa Blanca. Alicante is the home of the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market. It is the place where most of the European public workers live. The University of Alicante can be found in San Vicente del Raspeig, next to the city of Alicante. Over 30,000 students attend the university.
Ciudad de la Luz, a film studio in Alicante, is one of the biggest film studios in the continent. Several international and Spanish movies such as “Manolete” by Menno Meyjes and “Asterix at the Olympic” by Thomas Langmann and Frederic Forestier are shot in the said studio. It is very easy to visit Alicante by plane since Alicante Airport is about 6.8 miles (11 kilometres) away from the south portion of the city. Several airlines serving the city include Ryanair, easyJet, Air Berlin, Iberia, SkyEurope, Monarch, Germanwings, Finnair, Thomsonfly, Aerlingus, and Cimber Sterling. There are also some buses transporting travellers from the airport to any of the destinations in the city they prefer.
Travellers from Barcelona and Madrid may opt to visit the city by train. Travelling from Madrid to Alicante by train may take about four hours, while riding from Barcelona may take about five hours. There is a modern tram system in Alicante, which runs from the coastline of Costa Blanca to Benidorm, connecting to the towns of Denia, Calpe and Altea. However, potential tourists may also go to the city by bus or by boats. The bus station is located at the western part of the city centre, and has several lines going to Valencia, Granada and Barcelona.
The Castle of Santa Barbara is one of the best features of Alicante, and one of the largest Spanish mediaeval fortresses. It was built during the 19th century by the Muslims, and can be found at the top of Mount Benacantil. Another interesting sight in Alicante is the Castle of San Fernando, built during the early 19th century, which can be found on the north portion of the city centre. The Archaeological Museum of Alicante, established in 1932, has avant-garde design, and adopts modern audio-visual techniques. It exhibits educational movies about the history of the city. The Gravina Museum of Fine Arts is a local fine arts museum with no entrance fee. Postiguet Beach is located in the heart of Alicante. There are several companies located near the popular sandy beach. Some of the companies offer boat trips and other services.
I have travelled around Spain many times and now share my experiences and knowledge on Blurtit.com, a question and answer community which connects likeminded contributors.
