Malaga has roughly 2,800 hours of sunshine and an average temperature of 17 degrees centigrade making it an ideal holiday destination at any time of the year. Nevertheless, it is much more than the holiday coast of the Costa del Sol. The capital of Malaga is Andalucia´s second biggest city and one of its most up-and-coming. There are also interesting old towns and white-walled villages perched on top of beautiful hills inland.

Serrana de Ronda.
A visit to see the Tajo, with its spectacular drop of a 100 metres, is a must. The bull ring of the Real Maestranza de Caballerna, the Arab baths and the palaces of Mondragan and of the Marquas de Salvatierra are also worth seeing. The Sierra de las Nieves is a national reserve with coniferous forests that date back to the tertiary period and every kind of outdoor activity can be enjoyed there.

Western Costa del Sol.
Known for its tourist resorts of Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Fuengirola, Marbella and Estepona, the western coast of Malaga has theme parks, aquariums, casinos, golf courses and marinas. Overlooking the coast, set back into the hillsides are the white villages of Benalmadena Pueblo, Mijas Pueblo, Ojen and Casares.

Axarqu´a
Beyond the eastern El Palo district are the pretty hills of Axarqua. Continue along the coast, and you will come to Rincon de la Victoria, Torre del Mar, Torrox Costa and Nerja with its famous caves discovered in 1959. Just before reaching the province of Granada, there are some untouched, protected beaches where the crystalline water abounds with fish.

Vega del Guadalhorce
The river Guadalhorce runs through a valley of orange and lemon trees. Here are the towns of Alhaurin de la Torre, Alhaurin el Grande, Cartama, Pizarra, Alora and Coin. The Ardales park is a worthwhile visit as is the Garganta del Chorro which is 3 km long and has ravines of 400 metres high through which the rivers of Turin, Guadalete and Gaudalhorce run together.

Antequera
Strategically located between the Sierra of Torcal and rich agricultural land, Antequera´s economic and cultural stability throughout history has yielded important archaeological finds. The three dolmens and the Roman Ephebe are displayed in the museum there. For those who enjoy outdoor activities, there is the nature reserve of the Torcal with its spectacular limestone landscape of crags and caverns.

Malaga City.
Early Phoenician traders planted the area�s first vineyards and named it Malaka. Malaga flourished under the Muslim kings of Granada until it fell to the Christians in 1487. Prosperity returned in the 19th century when textile factories, sugar mills, shipyards and steel mills were founded. In the civil war the city was a Republican stronghold until bombed by Italian planes and falling to the Nationalists in 1937.

Although its economy has been boosted by tourism since the 1960s, Malaga is quite different from the adjoining Costa del Sol. It is a busy, modern city that has managed to keep its port and historical centre with its narrow, winding streets. The city also has wide, leafy boulevards, beautiful gardens, some noteworthy monuments, fashionable shops and great bars and restaurants.

The Picasso Museum
The 16th-century Palacio de Buenavista, converted into the new Picasso museum, boasts of more than 200 works of art including paintings, drawings, sculptures and pottery. Phoenician, Roman and Muslim features were also discovered within the foundations of the palace during building work.

The Port, the Alcazaba and the Castle of Gibralfaro
The ruins of a Roman theatre are at the foot of the Alcazaba, the palace-fortress of Muslim governors built in the 11th century that overlooks the port, the park, the city and the bull ring. It is a pleasure to walk up the cobbled ramps, among the archways and Roman columns and to gaze at the intricate decorations of the ceilings and walls in the palace. Above the Alcazaba rises the older Castillo de Gibralfaro.

The Cathedral
The cathedral, built between the 16th and 18th centuries, is known locally as La Manquita (the One-Armed) because the southern tower was never completed. Opposite the cathedral is the impressive Bishop´s Palace.

Botanical Gardens
Founded in 1850, the Finca de la Concepcion has the most important botanical garden in Spain. It is 5 km to the North of Malaga, just off the motorway that goes to Antequera and Madrid.

Beaches.
Both the city of Malaga and other resorts along the coast possess long stretches of sandy beaches that are easily accessible and have promenades, showers, sun-shades and loungers and restaurants (�chiringuitos�). Many of the latter are famous for their fried fish and delicious barbecued sardines.

Traditional Music and Handicrafts
The Fiesta Mayor de Verdiales is in December when people congregate in Puerto de la Torre to perform a colourful type of folk music and dance that probably predates Flamenco and is unique to the area.
There is a large variety of traditional crafts and trades, such as metalwork, glass making, musical instrument making, esparto weaving and pottery, which have been passed down from the Muslim era.
Local Food
There are bars and restaurants to suit all tastes, and in many of them one can enjoy the traditional Mediterranean recipes with fresh fish and sea-food. Malaga has also recently risen in culinary fame as a new generation of chefs from schools such as La Consula (Malaga) and La Fonda (Benalmadena) have further enriched the local cuisine. On the other hand, you could opt for tapas. It is a way of being able to try a little of everything, or nearly everything, that takes your fancy.

As there is so much to do and see in this province, your best guides can only be your sense of sight, smell, level of energy and the fullness of your stomach!