Typical Malaga figures

Part of Malaga’s charm comes in the fact that this is a city where traditions run deep. One of the best ways to see those traditions is in the typical Malaga figures, showcased in statutes around the city.

The statutes honour characters that were an essential part of city life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Some of these traditional figures have since disappeared, but others are still very much alive and part of daily life in Malaga.

In this article, we look at four of the most typical Malaga figures, what they represent and where you can see them in the city.

Biznaguero

The biznaga is one of the symbols of Malaga and sellers of this ‘flower’ (made up of about 20 jasmine flowers) can be seen throughout the city during the jasmine season (June to August).

Dressed in traditional attire – red sash and white shirt – biznagueros (once only men but now women as well) carry an intoxicating scent of jasmine with them as they visit bars and restaurants selling their biznagas.

The biznaga is one of the symbols of Malaga and it pops up regularly in city life. For example, the gold biznaga is the top prize at the Malaga film festival. Malaga Airport also has a biznaga installation at the entrance to gates C.

This statue of a biznaguero has pride of place in the Pedro Luis Alonso gardens, near city hall. There aren’t any jasmines in these gardens, but the statue is surrounded by enormous rose beds whose fragrance is at least as strong when the thousands of roses are in flower.

Your own biznaga

If you’d like to buy a fresh one, look out for the sellers in the summer months – Calle Larios is a great place to start. Bear in mind, however, that they only last a day. For a permanent biznaga, you can buy biznaga-themed jewelry at artisan shops in Malaga – they make a great and unusual souvenir.

How do they make biznagas?

Crafting the unique biznaga flower is a traditional art, handed down through the generations. Creating each ‘bloom’ takes skill and hours of work. You can see how it’s done in the video below.

They still make biznagas in the city centre in one of the patios in La Trinidad. You can visit the patio and see the cactus holders and dried wild thistles during the Patio Festival in late May/early June.

Cenachero

Fresh fish is part and parcel of daily life in Malaga and until a few decades ago, you bought the catch of the day from the cenachero. This typical Malaga figure carried a wide flat basket from each shoulder, rather like two trays on weighing scales.

The cenachero would hawk his wares in the streets in Malaga or go from door to door to ensure everyone could buy fresh fish. Health and safety regulations no longer allow this, but you can see the statue in hommage to these fish sellers from the past on the south side of Plaza de la Marina.

You’ll notice that the cenachero had the same ‘uniform’ as the biznaguero – wide brimmed hat, white shirt and red sash around his waist.

Where to buy fresh fish nowadays

Most large supermarkets have a fish counter, but to be sure of the best and freshest catch go to one of the indoor markets in Malaga. All have a fish section and in the largest, such as Atarazanas and Huelin markets, there are multiple stores.

Some specialise in a particular type of fish or seafood – for example, in Atarazanas Market several stores sell shrimps and prawns only. Others stock just small fish such as anchovies and whitebait.

See them for yourself Tuesday to Saturday mornings, from 9am to 2pm. Note that fish stalls are closed on Mondays because fishermen don’t go out on Sundays.

Espetero

Fresh fish features again in another typical Malaga figure, but this time sardines take centre stage. An espeto of sardines (six or seven fish speared on a wooden stick and chargrilled over an open wood fire) is one of the most typical dishes in Malaga. And an experience you should definitely include on your holiday in Malaga.

Grilling an espeto to perfection is a work of art and a skill often passed from one generation to another. Almost all the beach restaurants in Malaga employ an espetero whose job also includes grilling squid, octopus and large fish.

This statue of an espetero sits on the western seafront promenade. This modern sculpture pays hommage to this unique culinary craft.

Fiestero

Last but not least in our list of typical Malaga figures is the happiest one of all. The fiestero (literally the partygoer) celebrates the tradition of the verdiales, a rich musical heritage from the Axarquía and Montes de Malaga mountains. You can see this statue in the Paseo del Parque in the city centre.

Verdiales are lively musical pieces, with several performers playing instruments such as violins, guitars, tambourines and castanets. There are also singers and dancers. All dress is traditional costume – black and white or red with lots of coloured ribbons.

Where can you see and hear verdiales in Malaga?

You can enjoy this traditional music, complete with fiesteros, several times of year:

Malaga Fair in August – during the day celebrations, verdiales groups perform in Calle Larios and the Plaza de la Constitución.

Christmas – December sees several performances of verdiales, with the annual competition at the end of the month. More details in our Christmas in Malaga post.

What other typical Malaga figures have you noticed on your Malaga holiday? Let us know and we’ll include them in this post.

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