What is the story behind Alcazaba of Málaga?
Perched on the slopes of Mount Gibralfaro, the Alcazaba of Málaga stands as the best-preserved Moorish fortress-palace in all of Spain. Built in the 11th century during the Taifa period by the Hammudid dynasty, its double ring of defensive walls once sheltered a self-contained palatial city with bathhouses, quarters for guards, and ornamental gardens fed by an intricate system of water channels. At its feet lies a 1st-century Roman theatre whose stone was pillaged by the Moors to build the very walls above it, creating a layered monument to two thousand years of Mediterranean civilization. A walled rampart path called La Coracha climbs from the Alcazaba to the Castillo de Gibralfaro on the summit, linking two of Málaga's most iconic landmarks. In the old town at its feet rises the Renaissance Málaga Cathedral, nicknamed La Manquita for its unfinished south tower. Base yourself in the city with our Málaga guide, or explore more Andalusian and Castilian heritage through our Spain guide.