Climb to the Gibralfaro

Gibralfaro has been the site of fortifications since the Phoenician foundation of the city of Málaga circa 770 BC. The location was fortified by Abd-al-Rahman III in 929. The Gibralfaro Castle sits behind (and above) the Alcazaba, and is famous for its three-month siege in 1487 by the Catholic monarchs King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, which ended when hunger forced the Malagueños to surrender. The most visible remains of the castle are the ramparts. In 2005, a thick forest of pines and eucalyptus trees were planted on the hill.

It was a tough walk up the hill, with lots of stairs and steep walking paths. Luckily we had purchased tickets to both monuments as there was a huge queue waiting to buy tickets when we got to the top. There was no waiting for us, we were able to walk straight in. Once we had wandered around the Castle and climbed the ramparts to take in the breathtaking views of Malaga, we had a cold drink in the bar.Read more