Once upon a time, one went to Malaga only to land at the airport and head to Costa del Sol. But there is just so much to explore in Malaga. Nenu Local star Keerthy Suresh found out recently when she went to the Spanish city on a vacay. Want to follow her footsteps? We’ve got you all the reasons why you should be visiting this picturesque port city.

Malaga is Spain’s oldest continually operated port. Its modernised version has a pretty promenade with gardens, sculptures and bars. Take a stroll with your loved ones or watch the cruise ships dock as you sit and sip a glass of wine.

DOC Malaga is one of the oldest wine-making regions in the world. That apart, Malaga has another wine-making region called DOC Sierras de Malaga. Take a sip of sweet wines in some of the iconic taverns to travel back in time.

This is one of the major monuments of Spain. Alcazaba dates back to Andalusia’s days under Arabic rule and was built from the 8^th to late 15^th centuries. It was built on  the remains of a Roman fort and is a fabulous example of Moorish architecture. Walk around the maze of secret corridors as you take in astounding views of the sea.   

The old town of Malaga blends modernity and tradition in the most unique way. There are squares and terraces where you can enjoy the sunshine as you cool yourself with a drink and some tapas in Calle Granada, the central square. Don’t forget to visit Plaza de la Merced, where famous artist Pablo Picasso was born. It is a lively square dotted with bars and restaurants. This square is also a great place to hang out, packed as it is with bars and restaurants with sun-drenched terraces; the fact that it’s favoured by street performers of all kinds means there’s likely to be live entertainment.

It’s locally called La Manquita or The One-Armed Woman because the second tower was never built due to lack of funds. It’s built in Renaissance and Baroque-style architecture and makes for a gorgeous view. Apart from the stunning façade, don’t forget to check out the choir stalls.

Malaga has some of the best beaches in all of Spain. You are never far away from a beach when you are in Malaga. La Malagueta is the most popular of them all, while Playa Caleta which is a little further down, is among the cleanest. Both offer great views and have water sports as well.

Malaga is not just home to some great art museums, and the birthplace of Picasso, but has beautiful street art. No wonder Keerthy is posing here against a picturesque wall. At the Malaga Arte Urbano Soho, famous graffiti artists from across the world have painted the facades with exquisite spray painting. Walk around and you will discover a lot of artworks which will make you go ‘click, click, click’!

Check out Hansika Motwani’s London diaries here. Watch her in Oh My Friend on ZEE5.