Mini-break: Malaga

Malaga, a port city in Andalusia, is often bypassed by tourists on their way to the beaches of the Costa del Sol. Although lacking the historical landmarks of nearby Granada and Seville, Malaga does have a few interesting sights that shouldn't be missed. The oldest would be the Alcazaba (the Arabic word for fortress), which was built during the 11th century, while the most impressive would be the 16th century cathedral. There are also a few cultural landmarks worth a visit - the Picasso museum and the contempoary art museum - CAC Malaga.

The drive to Malaga is about forty minutes so on Saturday, we left home in the afternoon with just enough time to check in at the hotel. We had booked a deluxe room at the Molina Lario, a four-star hotel right in the center of town with views to the Cathedral. It is also very near the pedestrian street Marques de Larios that leads to the main square, Plaza de Constitucion, where the chic boutiques and cafes of Malaga are found. After a short walk around the area, we went back to change for dinner at a tapas bar that came highly recommended - La Moraga.

Sunday morning was another bright and sunny day so after our hotel breakfast, we headed to the cathedral to peek inside and appreciate the mixture of Gothic and Renaissance interiors then continued on for another stroll around the tiny side streets that eventually lead to the Plaza de Constitucion. It was already noon by then and time for us to end our mini-break and head back home. We had already been to the Picasso museum so we still have the Alcazaba, the Gibralfaro castle and the contemporary art collection at the CAC to see on our next visit to Malaga.