Downstream of the river Guadalhorce, where the valley is mixed with La Hoya, Malaga is becoming a plain full of oranges and lemon, of cane sugar and vegetables. Among vegetable gardens and hamlets, the industry dots the landscape with industrial units, overhead cables, farms and brickworks. This is what Malaga looks like along the last section of Guadalhorce river.

In the north of this big hollow which is La Hoya, an undulating landscape extends from Guadalhorce to Axarquia, being a labyrinth of streams and stream beds, covered by almond and olives trees and ancient holm oaks. It is an apparently monotone land, but nevertheless so different: shady in the village of Casabermeja; sunny in Almogia; it forms a border in Sant-Petri and Leon and a passage in Guadalmedina.

Lands of Verdiales and lost vines, which in other times conferred fame and glory to Malaga’s wines and mountains. A noisy and enterprising Malaga that ends at the bay and penetrate through the narrow valley, which opens up when it arrives at the city and climbs over slopes and hills of the great Mediterranean area. This is a great Spanish and European city that extends over the territory of a varied urban landscape, which lengthens beyond the city to east and west towards the touristic panorama of the coast.

Malaga is an open-minded metropolis that has achieved by itself to become the sixth most important city of Spain. Its strategic position between the sea and the mountains creates a special microclimate.

The Picasso Museum and the Fair and Congress Centre represent the new tourist offer of the capital, and, although these two projects are different in dimension, the social development they provoke is nearly the same. The Picasso Museum is located in the palace of the counts of Buenavista, a noble house situated in the heart of the old town and together with other important monuments such as La Alcazaba, the Roman Theatre, the Episcopal Palace, the Cathedral and the churches Santiago and San Agustin, it is a prototype of the civil 16th century Andalusian architecture. The architecture of the palace is a mixture of Renaissance and Mudejar elements. It contains a permanent collection with 200 works of art, distributed in 12 exhibition rooms. The art gallery has got 4 exhibition rooms for its temporary exhibitions and also an auditorium and a library.

The castle Gibralfaro, an Arabian fortress offers wonderful views over the city and the gardens La Concepcion are also interesting to visit in the surroundings of the city.

PRODUCTS
Agricultural productions, technology, research and development, meat.

CRAFTWORK
Pottery and goldsmithing.

Financial, educative, health service, transport, distribution and marketing.

TOURISM
Coast, sports, golf, water sports, congresses and incentives, health and cultural.

More English information of Málaga - Costa del Sol on the website of the Costa del Sol Tourist Board.