With its warm temperatures and wide range of activities, the province of Malaga in Andalusia, Spain has a Christmas plan for every type of traveller, offering a wide variety of cultural and leisure activities in the capital, on the coast and inland.
Málaga, November 21 2023.- The Costa del Sol in Spain offers a wide variety of plans to enjoy Christmas in a different way and according to the tastes of each traveller, with city breaks in the capital, but also activities in the interior of the province or on the coast. In addition, during the Christmas season the towns in the province of Malaga have a special atmosphere with their lights and host activities for all ages, making a visit to the Costa del Sol even more special.
A Malaga Christmas full of lights, colours and plans
In Malaga, the capital of the Costa del Sol, the decoration of Calle Larios stands out as a particular highlight, where the lights are accompanied by a complete spectacle of image and sound. In fact, they are one of the most famous Christmas attractions in Spain. This year the decoration of the street will be the "Heavenly Angels" and the show will also include, on 27 and 28 December, the verdiales, a musical style typical of Malaga's popular culture.
In addition, the singing of the verdiales has its Fiesta Mayor de los Verdiales in the Puerto de la Torre district of Malaga on 28 December, known in Malaga as the "day of the fools". During this festival, the verdiales gangs compete in a contest in which each of them sings their songs, while the jury evaluates the performances.
On the other hand, as in previous years, a video mapping with the theme of "A Christmas Carol" will be installed in the South tower of the Cathedral of Malaga, with three daily shows at 19.00h, 20.30h and 22.00h and a duration of approximately 8 minutes for each show.
Also during Christmas the city offers unique musical opportunities, as is the case in the Cervantes Theatre with the concert "La Insostenible Big Band" on December 20th, or the New Year's Concert of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Malaga on December 30th. In the Echegaray Theatre you can enjoy the opera "Cinderella XXXIII” on December 18th and 19th, and on 15th December, Malaga Cathedral will host the Christmas Concert by the Malaga Provincial Youth Orchestra and the Santa María de la Victoria Choir.
Another option is the exhibition of Christmas cards that Diario Sur is organising in the halls of the Hotel Málaga Palacio during the month of December (from December 1st to 31st) featuring works by 24 Malaga painters with a Christmas theme. The paintings on display are original works created to illustrate Christmas.
On the other hand, shopping lovers will enjoy the capital's Christmas market which is located on Muelle Uno, next to the sea, making it a different kind of Christmas shopping experience due to the warm weather and the view of the coast along the route of the stalls.
Ronda and Antequera, Christmas in the inland of the province of Málaga
But you should also bear in mind that the province of Malaga is much more than just the capital. Inland you will find several charming towns such as Ronda and Antequera, which become even more magical at Christmas time.
Ronda's Christmas market is one of the most beautiful on the Costa del Sol, due to its spectuaculr setting. The stalls surround the Plaza de Toros bullring, allowing you to enjoy the monumental landscape of the mountains surrounding the town while you do your Christmas shopping. Moreover, at this time of the year, the New Bridge, its main monument, stands out even more with its special lighting and decoration. In fact, it is the perfect place to watch the sunset while enjoying the mountain cuisine and contemplating the scenery.
At Christmas, the town of Antequera becomes a playmobil town, as from 2 December in the old church of San Juan de Dios you can visit a large exhibition of more than 90 square metres with a thousand figures. The playmobilers will recreate the town of Binesburg, the largest Victorian town in Europe, with the largest collection of trains and vehicles of the period. Also on 2 December, the city's Christmas lights will be switched on, making its emblematic spots such as the Alcazaba, the Royal Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor and the Plaza Coso Viejo even more charming.
Estepona and Torremolinos, Christmas on the coast of Málaga
Lovers of the sea and coastal towns on the Costa del Sol can enjoy a Christmas getaway by the sea in a variety of charming seaside towns, which become even more magical at this time of year with special decorations and activities.
Estepona is an example of a coastal town with great charm, especially in the streets of the town centre and when it is decked out with Christmas lights, its beauty is accentuated. It is also the ideal destination for families, as its activities for this time of year, including the Christmas market, can be found next to the children's amusement park, offering a leisure option for the whole family.
Also on the coast, Torremolinos offers visitors the chance to enjoy its own traditions with an Andalusian flavour, such as the typical Christmas sweets that fill the bakeries, the traditional Roscón de Reyes or the popular music and folklore of pastorals, Christmas carols and Christmas zambobás that are held in different venues around the city. In addition, for the little ones, the town's Parque de la Batería hosts the 'Parque de la Navidad' with bouncy castles, theatre and children's workshops and a catering area for a day of leisure with the family, while the Plaza de la Nogalera, in the centre, has an ecological ice skating rink.
The route of the Nativity Scenes of Bethlehem
Another plan for an authentic Christmas in the province of Malaga is to visit nativity scenes. Because they are an essential part of the Spanish Christmas celebrations, there are several interesting versions of this Spanish custom to be found on the Costa del Sol. In the city of Malaga alone you can visit up to 51 nativity scenes, which also allow you to get to know some of the most outstanding buildings and corners of the town. An example of this is the nativity scene in Malaga Cathedral, the one in the Glass Museum or the one in Barriada de La Mosca.
Furthermore, in some towns such as Fuengirola, Marbella, Vélez-Málaga, Estepona and Antequera, there are competitions for Nativity scene representations, which are a good option for learning about this Christmas tradition while exploring the main towns on the Costa del Sol and discovering their charms.
But without a doubt the best option for getting to know this tradition better is to visit the Nativity Scene Museum in the town of Mollina, one of the inland white villages in the province of Malaga that is linked to oenology. It is a space of more than 5,000 square metres where you can see both traditional nativity scenes and nativity scenes in different places, such as a Victorian house, an Italian village, a temple in ruins or in a street destroyed by the war.