Malaga

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Catedral de Málaga

Top choice in Málaga


Málaga’s elaborate cathedral was started in the 16th century on the site of the former mosque. Of the mosque, only the Patio de los Naranjos survives, a small courtyard of fragrant orange trees. Inside, the fabulous domed ceiling soars 40m into the air, while the vast colonnaded nave houses an enormous cedar-wood choir. Aisles give access to 15 chapels with gorgeous 18th-century retables and religious art. It's worth taking the guided tour up to the cubiertas (roof) to enjoy panoramic city views.

Building the cathedral was an epic project that took some 200 years. Such was the project’s cost that by 1782 it was decided that work would stop. One of the two bell towers was left incomplete, hence the cathedral’s well-worn nickname, La Manquita (The One-Armed Lady). The ticket price includes use of an audio guide as well as entry to the Ars Málaga museum of religious art and African artefacts in the Bishop's House opposite.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Málaga attractions

1. Ars Málaga

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Worth visiting for the building alone, a grand bishop's palace opposite the cathedral with an imposing portico, intricate tile work and head-tilting…

2. Museo Revello de Toro

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Showcases the work of 20th-century Málaga artist Félix Revello de Toro (b 1926) in a 17th-century mansion that was once the workshop of religious sculptor…

3. Museo de Málaga

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Spread out over two floors in Málaga’s neoclassical Palacio de Aduana, this vast, newly renovated museum houses art and archaeological collections. The…

4. Museo Picasso Málaga

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This unmissable museum in the city of Picasso’s birth provides a solid overview of the great master and his work, although, surprisingly, it only came to…

5. Teatro Romano

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The story of the unearthing of Málaga's Roman theatre is almost as interesting as the theatre itself. Dating from the time of Augustus (1st century AD),…

6. Museo de Arte Flamenco

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Laid out over two floors in the HQ of Málaga's oldest and most prestigious peña (flamenco club), this collection of photos, posters, costumes, fans,…

7. Museo Carmen Thyssen

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Located in an aesthetically renovated 16th-century palace in the heart of the city’s former Moorish quarter, this extensive collection concentrates on…

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