Historical walls in Malaga
Malaga is a city that rewards the curious. Walk the streets of the old quarter and you’re moving through layers of history – Phoenician, Roman, Moorish and Christian – most of it barely obvious unless you’re looking for it.
To find that history, look for the walls, those defences up to 15 metres high and 4 metres thick that once entirely enclosed the city. Most were demolished or buried as Malaga grew and expanded towards the sea. But stretches survive, often in unusual places such as under glass floors and in hotel basements, and they’re more accessible than you’d expect.
This guide tells you where to find them. Join us as we walk the walls in Malaga!
Layers of history
Malaga · c. 770 BC to 1487 AD
onwards
Foundation of Malaka
Phoenician traders from the eastern Mediterranean established a settlement they called Malaka — likely meaning “queen” or “salt” — on the hill where the Alcazaba stands today. They came for the rich fishing grounds and to trade salted fish, textiles and metals across their vast Mediterranean network. The first walls were built to defend the settlement from the hill down to the sea.
5th century AD
Municipium Malacitanum
Rome absorbed Malaga during the Second Punic War and the city became a prosperous municipium with full Roman civic status under the emperor Domitian in 82 AD. The Romans built a theatre capable of holding 2,000 spectators — its ruins are still visible below the Alcazaba. They extended the walls, laid roads, and developed the garum (fish sauce) industry that made the city wealthy across the empire.
1487 AD
Mayurqa — jewel of Al-Andalus
The Moors arrived in 711 and over the following centuries transformed the city into one of the most prosperous ports in Al-Andalus. The Alcazaba was built in the 11th century on Phoenician and Roman foundations; Gibralfaro Castle was connected to it by a double-walled corridor in the 14th century. The medina inside the walls supported a thriving silk, iron and dried fruit trade. The sea still reached the foot of the Atarazanas dockyards.
The original layout
The Phoenicians were the first to build walls in Malaga, a practice that both the Romans and Moors continued as they needed to defend their city. Most of the full-circle of walls was built during the Moorish reign in Malaga and lasted for several centuries until the city began to grow.
Malaga expanded in several directions, particularly north in the old quarter and west across the Guadalmedina River, both beyond the walls. The city also began to look south to the sea to gain land and by the 18th century, the city walls were no longer in use.
To get the best idea of what the walled city looked like in Moorish times, head for the Gibralfaro Castle. Inside the fortress there’s a good exhibition that includes a model and map of the city showing where the historical walls around Malaga originally went. This model is helpful in getting your bearings.
When you look at the model, you’ll probably be surprised to discover how much of Malaga city centre has been gained from the sea.
The map above clearly shows that the Mediterranean used to lap at the feet of Atarazanas, the dockyards during Moorish times and now as the largest indoor market in Malaga. The entrance to the market on the south side is one of the original gates to the walled city.
Historical walls in Malaga as defences
| Alcazaba and Gibralfaro | |
|---|---|
| What you’ll see | Moorish walls (12-14th centuries) |
| Where to find it | On the hillside to the east of the old quarter |
| Must-know info | Open 9am to 8pm (1 April to 31 Oct), 9am to 6pm (1 Nov to 31 March). €7 entrance to each monument, €10 combined ticket. Free on Sunday after 2pm. |
Perhaps the best historical walls in Malaga are (unsurprisingly) in the Alcazaba Fortress and Gibralfaro Castle. They dominated the walled city of Malaga from their privileged hilltop position and both have defensive rings of walls.
The Alcazaba has its own set of walled defences – you can walk along some of them when you visit the Fortress. These are further fortified by the walls around the Gibralfaro Castle, once defended by another set of walls on the sea side.
Top tip
Take a walk around the entire perimeter of the Gibralfaro Castle along the walls, complete with turrets and battlements. Not only do you get to soak up some history you can also enjoy 360-degree views of Malaga centre, the Mediterranean coast and the Malaga mountains inland. Choose a clear day for the best vistas.
Read our dedicated guide to the Alcazaba Fortress and Gibralfaro Castle
Calle CarreterÃa
This street that runs along the north side of the old quarter boasts the best-preserved section of medieval walls in Malaga, dating from the 11th century. Walk along the street and keep your eyes open for the walls, heavily restored but still magnificent.
This section runs for just 8 metres along the street but the height of the walls (15 metres) and their width (4 metres) give you a good idea of what the original historical walls in Malaga must have looked like.
| What you’ll see | Moorish walls (11th centuries) |
| Where to find it | Calle Carreteria 62-64 |
| Must-know info | Open 24/7, free |
Read our self-guided walking tour in this part of Malaga
Hidden stretches of historical walls in Malaga
There are several places in Malaga where you can see the original walls, both Roman, medieval and Moorish.
Calle Arco de la Cabeza
This pedestrian street running parallel to Calle CarreterÃa contains some of the original medieval walls. This is one of the longest stretches in the city (34m), although they’re ramshackle and have been incorporated into newer buildings. However, they still give you an insight into the original walled old quarter.
| What you’ll see | Medieval walls (12-14th centuries) |
| Where to find it | Calle Arco de la Cabeza 1-7 |
| Must-know info | Open 24/7, free |
Top tip
Carry on walking southwest along Calle Arco de la Cabeza and visit the Oratorio de Santa MarÃa Reina church with its stunning ceiling frescos. Then continue round the corner to take a look at an amazing vertical garden in Malaga. Our Calle Andres Perez walking tour has all the details.
Music Museum
At the back of the museum behind the shop, you can see a stretch of medieval wall including original 11th century stones lit up under the glass floor.
| What you’ll see | Medieval walls (11th centuries) |
| Where to find it | Calle Beatas 15 |
| Must-know info | Open Mon 10am to 4pm, Tues to Sun 10am to 7pm (all times 30 minutes later from 25 June to 6 September). €6.20 |
Roman Walls
As is the case in most Spanish cities, Malaga has its own Roman stamp. The Theatre is the largest monument, but the Roman empire also left behind historical walls in Malaga. You can see them at:
Hotel Vincci Posada del Patio
It isn’t often that a 5 star hotel comes complete with an original stretch of Roman walls. You can see these in the basement. You don’t have to be a guest at this hotel – just ask at reception.
| What you’ll see | Roman walls (1st century) |
| Where to find it | Pasillo de Santa Isabel 7 |
| Must-know info | Open during the day, free |
Picasso Museum
After you’ve admired the art in the permanent and temporary exhibitions at this museum, don’t miss the impressive stretch of Roman walls in the basement.
| What you’ll see | Roman and medieval walls |
| Where to find it | Calle San Agustin 8 |
| Must-know info | Open daily from 10am until 6pm (Nov-Feb), 7pm (March-June & Sept-Oct) or 8pm (July-Aug). €13 |
Plaza de la Marina car park
This underground car park in the city centre took years to build because of the remains found in the excavations. They included a section of Roman walls, now preserved in the north corner. To see them, just pop down the stairs on the Calle Larios side of the street.
| What you’ll see | Roman walls (1st century) |
| Where to find it | Plaza de la Marina |
| Must-know info | Open 24/7, free |
University of Malaga headquarters
This Neo-Mudejar building on the Paseo del Parque houses two of the best stretches of historical walls in Malaga. You can see original remains of Phoenician and Roman walls in the basement, accessible during opening hours.
| What you’ll see | Phoenician, Roman and Medieval walls |
| Where to find it | Paseo del Parque |
| Must-know info | Open Monday to Friday 10am to 2pm & 5 to 9pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm, free |
Read our guide to Roman Malaga
Walking the walls of Malaga — a suggested route
Most of the sights in this guide sit within a compact area of the city centre, and with a little planning you can link them into a single walk that takes three to four hours at a relaxed pace.
We’d recommend doing this walk in the morning because the light is good, the streets are quieter, and the Alcazaba opens at 9am.
Walking info
The full route is around 2km on foot with gentle gradients until the final climb to Gibralfaro; allow at least 20 minutes extra if you take the path up rather than the bus. Take a taxi or the No35 bus (Paseo del Parque to the castle entrance) if the hill isn’t for you.
Start: Plaza de la Marina car park (5 minutes) Begin underground. Take the stairs on the Calle Larios side of the plaza and head to the north corner to find the preserved Roman walls from the original city excavations. Free to visit, no ticket needed. It takes five minutes and sets the tone for all the walls that follow.
Stop 2: Malaga University HQ (15 minutes) Follow the Paseo del Parque east and pop down to the basement in this building to see the Phonencian, Roman and medieval wall sections.
Stop 3: Alcazaba and Gibralfaro (at least 90 minutes) Head north and buy a combined ticket for both the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro (€10). Walk the walls in both for fabulous views of the city. Inside the Gibralfaro, the exhibition includes the model and map showing the original extent of all the walls you’ll be looking at later, setting the context.
Stop 4: Atarazanas Market (10 minutes) Back in the city centre, walk west along the Alameda Principal and turn into the market through the southern entrance, the fine original Moorish gateway to the walled city. Even if you don’t stop to shop, pause at the doorway. This arch is one of the most significant surviving pieces of Moorish Malaga, and most people walk through it without knowing what it really is.
Stop 5: Hotel Vincci Posada del Patio (10 minutes) A five-minute walk away on Pasillo de Santa Isabel. Walk into the lobby and ask at reception to see the Roman walls in the basement. You don’t need to be a guest. The walls here date from the 1st century AD and are beautifully preserved.
Stop 6: Calle CarreterÃa (10 minutes) Head north through the old quarter to Calle CarreterÃa, which runs along what was the northern boundary of the medieval walled city. The best-preserved stretch of walls is on the right as you walk east, 8 metres long, 15 metres high, 4 metres thick. Heavily restored but still remarkable, and free to see from the street.
Stop 7: Calle Arco de la Cabeza (10 minutes) Double back slightly and drop down to this parallel street to find the rougher, less-restored stretches of original Moorish wall incorporated into the buildings around them. These haven’t been restored, but we like the occasional glimpse of a more gritty Malaga! If you’re visiting in the evening, pop into the Oratorio de Santa MarÃa Reina church for its ceiling frescoes.
Stop 8: Music Museum (15 minutes) Make your way to the Music Museum on Calle Beatas. Only visit these walls if you don’t mind paying the museum entry fee (€6.20). Look down through the glass floor at the 11th-century medieval wall lit from below.
Optional stop: Picasso Museum (15 minutes) Go to Calle San AgustÃn, but only if you don’t mind paying the museum entry fee (€13). Walk down to the basement to admire the walls.
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