Log in Sign up
Back to Discover
🗺️

Málaga

geography Maturity 11-13

Málaga is a big city.

(Málaga) Strait of Gibraltar, Mediterranean Sea (cropped).jpg
(Málaga) Strait of Gibraltar, Mediterranean Sea (cropped).jpg
It is in Spain. It sits by the blue sea. The sun shines a lot there. It is a warm place to be. Do you like the sun?
Port of Málaga, Northeast view 20090412 1.jpg
Port of Málaga, Northeast view 20090412 1.jpg

47 words

Málaga is a big city in Spain.

(Málaga) Strait of Gibraltar, Mediterranean Sea (cropped).jpg
(Málaga) Strait of Gibraltar, Mediterranean Sea (cropped).jpg
It sits by the blue sea. The sun shines a lot there.
Port of Málaga, Northeast view 20090412 1.jpg
Port of Málaga, Northeast view 20090412 1.jpg
Most days are very sunny. It is a warm place to be. The city is very old. People have lived there for a long time. Many people visit the city for fun. It is a busy and happy place.
Port of Málaga, Northeast view 20090412 1.jpg
Port of Málaga, Northeast view 20090412 1.jpg

79 words

Málaga is a big city in southern Spain.

(Málaga) Strait of Gibraltar, Mediterranean Sea (cropped).jpg
(Málaga) Strait of Gibraltar, Mediterranean Sea (cropped).jpg
It sits on the Costa del Sol. This means it is on the Coast of the Sun. The city is by the Mediterranean Sea.
Port of Málaga, Northeast view 20090412 1.jpg
Port of Málaga, Northeast view 20090412 1.jpg

Málaga is a very old place. People have lived there for about 2,800 years. Long ago, a group called the Phoenicians started the city. Later, the Romans ruled the area. They even built a theatre there.

Roman Malaga.jpg
Roman Malaga.jpg

The weather in Málaga is warm. It has hot summers and mild winters. The sun shines for about 300 days every year.

Espectáculo para turistas. (2393116008).jpg
Espectáculo para turistas. (2393116008).jpg
Because it is so sunny, many people visit for holidays.

Today, Málaga is a busy place for business. It is known for tourism and building things. It is also a tech hub. This means many companies work with new technology there.

Parque Tecnológico de Andalucía, view from a plane, Andalucia, Spain.jpg
Parque Tecnológico de Andalucía, view from a plane, Andalucia, Spain.jpg
You can travel to Málaga by plane or by a fast train. The city also has a large port for ships.

182 words

Málaga is a large city located in southern Spain.

(Málaga) Strait of Gibraltar, Mediterranean Sea (cropped).jpg
(Málaga) Strait of Gibraltar, Mediterranean Sea (cropped).jpg
It sits within the region of Andalusia on the Costa del Sol. This name means it is on the Coast of the Sun. The city is found on the northern side of the Alboran Sea.
Port of Málaga, Northeast view 20090412 1.jpg
Port of Málaga, Northeast view 20090412 1.jpg
This sea is part of the much larger Mediterranean Sea. The city is near the Strait of Gibraltar and the coast of Africa. Most of the urban area grew between the Guadalmedina river and the Gibralfaro Hill.
Braun Malaga UBHD.jpg
Braun Malaga UBHD.jpg

The history of Málaga is very long and spans 2,800 years.

Ánfora 131949.jpg
Ánfora 131949.jpg
Scholars believe the Phoenicians founded the city around 770 BC. They called the place Malaka. Later, the city was under the rule of Carthage. The Romans also took control in 218 BC. They made the city wealthy by making a product called garum.
Roman Malaga.jpg
Roman Malaga.jpg
After the Romans, the Visigoths and Byzantines ruled the area. In the 8th century, Islamic forces took control of the city. This changed how the city looked and worked for a long time.

Many different groups have shaped the city over the centuries.

Planta de Málaga árabe.jpeg
Planta de Málaga árabe.jpeg
In 1487, the Crown of Castile gained control during the Granada War. This was a very difficult time for the people living there. Later, the city saw industrial growth in the 19th century. However, some problems like a grapevine pest caused the population to drop later on. The city also faced hard times during the Spanish Civil War.
Carretera Málaga 1937.jpg
Carretera Málaga 1937.jpg
These events changed the city many times through the years.

Málaga is a very busy place with many different jobs.

Parque Tecnológico de Andalucía, view from a plane, Andalucia, Spain.jpg
Parque Tecnológico de Andalucía, view from a plane, Andalucia, Spain.jpg
Tourism is one of the most important ways people earn money. Construction and technology services are also very big industries. The city has become a tech hub for the region. Many companies work at the Málaga TechPark.
Málaga Ayuntamiento 06.jpg
Málaga Ayuntamiento 06.jpg
It is the fourth-largest city in Spain for economic activity. It even hosts the headquarters for a large bank called Unicaja.

Traveling to and from Málaga is quite easy today.

Interior de la nueva terminal T3 del aeropuerto de Málaga..jpg
Interior de la nueva terminal T3 del aeropuerto de Málaga..jpg
People can fly into the Málaga–Costa del Sol Airport. There is also a large port for ships. In 2007, the city was connected to a high-speed railway network.
Ave Málaga2.jpg
Ave Málaga2.jpg
This allows people to travel quickly to other places. The weather also helps people visit. The city is very sunny with about 300 days of sunshine each year.
Espectáculo para turistas. (2393116008).jpg
Espectáculo para turistas. (2393116008).jpg
This makes it a popular place for many visitors.

445 words

Málaga is a major municipality in southern Spain.

(Málaga) Strait of Gibraltar, Mediterranean Sea (cropped).jpg
(Málaga) Strait of Gibraltar, Mediterranean Sea (cropped).jpg
It serves as the capital of the province of Málaga within the autonomous community of Andalusia. The city is located on the Costa del Sol, or the Coast of the Sun. It sits on the northern side of the Alboran Sea.
Port of Málaga, Northeast view 20090412 1.jpg
Port of Málaga, Northeast view 20090412 1.jpg
This sea is the westernmost part of the Mediterranean Sea. Geographically, Málaga is positioned east of the Strait of Gibraltar. It is also located north of Africa. The urban core sits between the Gibralfaro Hill and the Guadalmedina river.
Braun Malaga UBHD.jpg
Braun Malaga UBHD.jpg

The history of Málaga spans approximately 2,800 years. This makes it one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe. Most scholars believe the Phoenicians founded the city around 770 BC. They named the settlement Malaka.

Ánfora 131949.jpg
Ánfora 131949.jpg
The city served as a waypoint for trade routes. It controlled access to the Guadalmedina. From the 6th century BC, the city fell under the hegemony of Ancient Carthage. In 218 BC, Roman rule began. The city prospered economically through the production of garum, a fermented fish sauce.
Roman Malaga.jpg
Roman Malaga.jpg
During the Roman era, the city was known as Malaca. It functioned as a confederated city under a special law called the Lex Flavia Malacitana.

Following the fall of the Western Roman Empire, several groups ruled the area. The Visigoths held control before the Byzantine Empire took over. The Byzantines expanded the docks to support fishing and trading. In 615, the Visigoth King Sisebut retook the city. In the 8th century, Islamic forces conquered the region.

Planta de Málaga árabe.jpeg
Planta de Málaga árabe.jpeg
The city was known as Málaqah in Arab sources. By the end of this period, the city was fully Islamised. The urban layout was influenced by Muhammad I, who helped shape the medina, or central urban area. Under the Caliphate of Córdoba, Málaga became an important center. The 11th century saw the rise of the Hammudids, who established the taifa of Málaga. A taifa is a small independent kingdom.

Málaga's role as a major port grew during the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada. The harbor traded silk, wine, leather, and famous regional lustreware.

Berlín Málaga XIV.JPG
Berlín Málaga XIV.JPG
It also exported dry nuts like raisins and almonds. Some figs from the Rayya region were reportedly exported as far as China. In 1487, the Crown of Castile seized the city during the Granada War. This was a violent three-month siege. After the city surrendered, the Muslim population was largely taken as captives.
Carretera Málaga 1937.jpg
Carretera Málaga 1937.jpg
The city was then repopulated by Christian settlers. The population faced challenges like typhus fever outbreaks in later centuries. In the 19th century, the city experienced early industrialisation. However, the Phylloxera grapevine pest caused a population decrease between 1887 and 1897.

Today, Málaga is a significant economic force in Spain. It ranks fourth in the country for economic activity. The economy relies heavily on tourism, construction, and technology services.

Parque Tecnológico de Andalucía, view from a plane, Andalucia, Spain.jpg
Parque Tecnológico de Andalucía, view from a plane, Andalucia, Spain.jpg
The city has become a major tech hub. Many companies are concentrated in the Málaga TechPark, also known as the Technology Park of Andalusia. The city also hosts the headquarters of Unicaja, the largest bank in the region. As of 2024, the population is 592,346. This makes it the second-largest city in Andalusia and the sixth-largest in Spain.

Transportation links are vital to the city's modern success.

Interior de la nueva terminal T3 del aeropuerto de Málaga..jpg
Interior de la nueva terminal T3 del aeropuerto de Málaga..jpg
The Málaga–Costa del Sol Airport serves the region. The Port of Málaga handles maritime traffic.
Port of Málaga, Northeast view 20090412 1.jpg
Port of Málaga, Northeast view 20090412 1.jpg
In 2007, the city joined the high-speed railway network.
Ave Málaga2.jpg
Ave Málaga2.jpg
This allows for fast travel across the country. The climate also supports the local economy. Málaga has a Mediterranean climate. This means it has mild winters and hot summers.
Espectáculo para turistas. (2393116008).jpg
Espectáculo para turistas. (2393116008).jpg
The city receives about 300 days of sunshine every year. This makes it a very attractive destination for visitors.

The geography around the city includes the Montes de Málaga mountains. This range is part of the Penibaetic System. The highest point in the municipality is Pico Reina.

Distritos Málaga.svg
Distritos Málaga.svg
The Totalán Creek forms the eastern boundary of the municipality. The Gibralfaro hill provides a high vantage point. From here, the Alcazaba fortress overlooks the city. These natural features, combined with the sea, define the landscape of Málaga.

734 words
🖼️ Images & Media (28)
File:Ánfora 131949.jpg
Ánfora 131949.jpg
File:Planta de Málaga árabe.jpeg
Planta de Málaga árabe.jpeg
File:Berlín Málaga XIV.JPG
Berlín Málaga XIV.JPG
File:Braun Malaga UBHD.jpg
Braun Malaga UBHD.jpg
File:William_Barnes_Wollen_-_Street_fighting_in_Malaga,_1869.jpg
William_Barnes_Wollen_-_Street_fighting_in...
File:Carretera Málaga 1937.jpg
Carretera Málaga 1937.jpg
File:(Málaga) Strait of Gibraltar, Mediterranean Sea (cropped).jpg
(Málaga) Strait of Gibraltar,...
File:Roman Malaga.jpg
Roman Malaga.jpg
File:Distritos Málaga.svg
Distritos Málaga.svg
File:Malaga densidad poblacion.svg
Malaga densidad poblacion.svg
File:Málaga Ayuntamiento 06.jpg
Málaga Ayuntamiento 06.jpg
File:Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Málaga.jpg
Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Málaga.jpg

+ 16 more

Up Next
🗺️
Seville
Geography
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.