Stories remain…

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  Teatro Romano de Málaga

  Málaga had a Roman past, and the greatest evidence of this is the city’s stone monument, the Roman Theater, which has an interpretation center where you can learn more about the life of the Romans in Málaga two thousand years ago. Just a few meters away, we will find some Roman pools under the glass pyramid, which were used for the production of Garum, a popular fish sauce made with ingredients found in the area. This was possibly one of the most important industries in the city.

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  Plaza de la Aduana

  Before we delve into the subject, let’s talk about the former Palacio de la Aduana, an 18th-century palace that now houses the Municipal Museum of Málaga. Throughout its history, it has served various purposes and has even been a place of accommodation for monarchs such as Queen Isabel II and King Alfonso XIII.

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  Reception at the Alcazaba.

  Next, we will enter the Alcazaba, specifically the visitor reception area. It was created in the 1990s on the remains of a group of Emiral houses and is slightly separated from the original fortress walls, which you can see through a glass panel. Inside, you will find a scale model of the monumental complex, which we will use to begin sharing the first details about the Alcazaba.

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  Tower of the Bóveda Vaída.

  This first access tower is named after the vaulted ceiling it has, known as “bóveda vaída”. You can also admire some marble columns that were brought from the ruins of the Roman Theater when the Alcazaba was constructed. Although it may seem strange, this type of practice was common in the past to save on construction materials.

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  Puerta de las Columnas

  The next stop will take us to the Gate of the Columns, named after the four columns that support the arches forming the gate. The capitals of these columns also belong to the Roman Theater. Additionally, we will explain the circumstances under which the warden of the Alcazaba moved to this location in the 18th century.

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  Tower of the Arch of Christ.

  Just before entering the tower, we will explain what the small balcony above the gate is and why there is a key carved in stone next to the first arch of the entrance. Once inside, you will see the niche that gives its name to this place, as it was used to house an altarpiece with a Christ when the tower served as a chapel.

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  Patio de Armas

  In our next stop, we will be at the Plaza de Armas, a beautiful Hispano-Muslim style garden with views of the Bay of Málaga. We will tell you why there are no original remains in this place and what is believed to have happened here after the conquest by the Catholic Monarchs. It is possible that there was a chapel built on the remains of an ancient mosque.

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  Puerta Cuartos de Granada

  Through this gate, we will reach the next level of the Alcazaba. But before that, we will explain how the Muslims used it to defend themselves against attackers. The one you will see is a reconstruction of the original gate, of which only parts of the arches and the lower part are preserved. We will tell you what happened to the original gate.

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  Patio de Surtidores

  In the upper garden, we will come across the so-called Patio de Surtidores, a terraced space where water jets were located, redirecting water from one fountain to another through small channels. These jets are hidden beneath the Chinese-style paving stones on the ground, which are no longer in use. This area was once occupied by small 19th-century houses that were later demolished, revealing one of the hidden treasures of the Alcazaba: a triple arch with an alfiz (a decorative surround) on one of the walls of those houses.

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  Chambers of King Badis.

  Next, we will stroll through the Taifa Palace, the part of the Alcazaba that served as the residence for King Badis, and whose remains were discovered during the restoration work of the fortress. You will see different pavilions and arcades with details of caliphal art that were attempted to be imitated during this period. You will also come across the Tower of Maldonado, which served as a royal mosque and still preserves columns with inscriptions from the Quran. From this viewpoint, we will be able to enjoy the view of Mount Gibralfaro and the bay of Málaga at its feet.
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  Nasrid Palaces.

  Then we will arrive at the Nasrid Palace, structured around two courtyards. One of them is the Patio de los Naranjos, where you can explore its museum rooms that contain artifacts related to the Alcazaba and the Muslim past of Málaga. In the Patio de la Alberca or Courtyard of the Myrtles, you will see the decorative pool that gives it its name, as well as remnants of the original floor.

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  Viewpoint.

  We will conclude our free tour in Málaga at the walkway-viewpoint located in the northwest part of the fortress walls. From there, you will have a view of the city of Málaga, including the Roman Theater, a sight that is not easily seen from other locations. The walkway-viewpoint was opened to the public in 2017 after extensive restoration and cleaning work in the area, making it one of the most visited places in Málaga by tourists.

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  17:30 End of the Alcazaba Free Tour.

  End of the tour.