Malaga, the capital of the Costa del Sol, has in recent years seen a surge in the number large cruise ships sailing around the Med, stopping off in the city and further increasing its attraction with the traditional sun and beach tourism in the area. Malaga is also Marbella, Torremolinos, Nerja, Benalmádena, and now more than ever before culture. The international press named Malaga as “the city of the museums”, and it’s no wonder when we look at its current offer.
Malaga’s global projection as a cultural capital has been growing continuously in terms of both quantity and quality. It currently boasts more than 35 museums and exhibition centres open to the public and in this article we’re going to take a look at some of the more important and well-known places.
The one that’s most talked about in the media is the Centre Pompidou Malaga, home to the Georges Pompidou National Centre for Art and Culture in France. It’s located in a space known locally as Muelle Uno and called El Cubo. It’s the second international branch of the original centre in Paris, the first outside France that opened to the public in 2015. Its success story to date and ability to capture the interest of the general public is nothing short of remarkable.
If we talk about culture, Malaga is Picasso and Picasso is Malaga. The Museu Picasso Malaga (MPM) is one of the two centres dedicated to Pablo Picasso in his hometown. The other is the Picasso Foundation Casa Natal Museum (Birthplace Museum). The first houses close to 300 pieces that cover all Picasso’s artistic periods, along with works with different materials and techniques that he mastered throughout his career. This is perhaps the first well-known cultural landmark in Malaga since it opened back in 2003.
Another interesting and hugely popular centre with its top quality collection is the Carmen Thyssen Museum. Located in the Villalón Palace, the museum is home to part of Carmen Thyssen- Bornemisza’s valuable collection. The art gallery with 285 works of art covers different genres of 19th-century Spanish paintings, with a special focus on Andalusian art.
And last but not least is the Saint Petersburg State Russian Museum, a branch of the Russian Museum located in the old Royal Tobacco Factory of Malaga building. It opened in 2015 and is the first branch of this important world-class cultural institution outside of Russia. In addition to the exhibition halls, the centre also has activities related to reading, music and cinema for all the family.
