In 2015, users of television website “Antena 3” named Malaga as the best Spanish city to spend Christmas in. More than 60,000 people voted for the Costa del Sol's capital, that's three times as many as for Seville, which reached only second place, but beat Madrid, which came third.
Apart from Malaga's truly memorable and magical light show at Christmas, there are the fabulous restaurants, world-class art collections in galleries and museums, not to mention the beach front with its ten kilometres of seafront promenade with bars, clubs and restaurants that visitors can look forward to at Christmas and New Year.
Every year the decorations are different. Fairy lights at Calle Larios are legendary, without compare anywhere in Spain. This year, City Hall's industrious elves have added a fantastic sound and light show into the mix. Shoppers strolling along Calle Larios at 6.30 pm or 9.00pm will be greeted by the sounds of Wham!'s hit record “Last Christmas”, before a light show erupts into the night sky that is guaranteed to draw “oohs” and “aahs” from everyone present. Daily entertainment in the evening also features Queen's “The Show Must Go On” and “O Fortuna” from the Carmina Burana.
Twinkle, twinkle, little lights...
The daily light and sound show will run every evening until 6th January 2017. An imposing tubular structure weighing 25,500 kilos has been constructed in Calle Larios to allow ca. 32,000 rows of micro-LED lights to light up an archway that can display 334 different Christmas motifs. In total, more than 1.5 million light bulbs illuminate Malaga's night sky, twinkling as stars and moons of different sizes to the sounds of varying Yuletide tunes.
Over in Calle Granada the main attraction are the 32 suspended star and moon motifs that dangle off eleven globular arches; they resemble those erected in Plaza de la Constitución, while at Plaza de la Merced a garland of glittering LED lights attracts the eye with Christmas motifs. Elsewhere streets in Malaga Old Town show a series of 92 lit-up arches with festive designs that are a feast for the eyes.
Four huge 18-metre tall, twinkling trees stand guard in Plaza Marina, Molino Lario, Parque Huelin and Plaza de la Constitución, lest anyone should forget it's Christmas!
Nativity Scenes and Christmas Markets in Malaga
As if one needed another good reason to travel up from Marbella, Estepona or Torremolinos for the day, Malaga City Hall has laid on a veritable smorgasbord of traditional Christmas markets this year. Garage Market in Soho district is great for finding arts and crafts items and antiques that make for unusual gifts.
Held in an old garage, this London-style market is a good place to come on a rainy day, since it's under cover – unlike nearby market stalls in Paseo del Parque, which sell traditional figurines handcrafted for nativity scenes. But there are also masses of typical Christmas confectionery for sale, as well as the usual smattering of tambourines, necklaces, earrings and rings, and shepherds' outfits for those appearing in nativity plays.
Following a route of 56 nativity scenes, all fiercely competing with each other, visitors can decide for themselves which one they like best and vote for their favourites. Municipal Nativity in Patio de Banderas is always among the top ten. Reinterpreted every year, the nativity scene is shown from different perspectives.
Another highlight of the nativity scene tour is the display at the Municipal Archive, where 14 life-sized figures styled like Valencian “ninots” are on show. They were created by two artists based in Valencia and Alicante, using traditional techniques to make them, such as wood and cardboard. They are then hand-painted in a style of Valencia's famous “fallas” or the San Juan bonfires.
Celebrating Christmas as well as its fifth anniversary this year, Muelle Uno is hosting “Renativity”, a comprehensive programme on the themes of sustainability, recycling and art that is aimed at families. Naturally, Father Christmas will make an appearance, too, and there are storytelling sessions for kids, concerts for all and various workshops where one can learn how to decorate Christmas trees with decorations made from recycled materials, such as snowmen made from old socks for example. Theatre performances, puppet shows, traditional and new games, classes in Bollywood acting, and various other parent-and-children's activities complete the programme.