The Alcazaba de Malaga

After a few days of doing nothing at the hostel, I finally decided to explore the famous Alcazaba on Thursday.

Located on the lowest end of a ridge which connects it to the Castle of Gibralfaro, the Alcazaba is one of the first historic sites that tourists notice. With its numerous battlements, wonderfully intact guard towers, beautiful brown-red brick walls, who could not help but marvel at this place.

I began my journey on the north side of the ridge, which meant that my view of the port was obstructed by the palace-fortress complex. However, after purchasing my ticket, reading a little of the history and beginning my walk, I soon was able to see the entire city.

One aspect of the fortress that I first took note of was its absolute serenity. Perhaps, it was because I had arrived “early” in the morning. Or maybe, there weren’t enough tourists to clog up the lanes yet. Regardless, I felt that a certain peacefulness reigned within the walls. That the space was meant for relaxation. That you could truly reflect on deeper thoughts, especially ones that dwell on the passage of time.

Of course, my breath was taken away by the amount of nature and wildlife which were present along the way. On the battlements seagulls squawked loudly to announce the day. In the grass doves sounded their retreat and flew away when I walked near. On the walls male pigeons were cooing and dancing for the females. And in the trees squirrels and bees were hard at work collecting food for the day.

It wasn’t until the very top, the palace part of the palace-fortress complex, that I remembered that this place was constructed by Muslim architects approximately a millennium ago. When I arrived at the top, I was amazed by the beauty of the palace. Although not much of the decorative art or color remained, what was left was enough to astound: the looping arches, the abundant Islamic symbols on the walls and ceilings, and the small pools and fountains. The colorful gardens and lovely sound of the running water only made a beautiful place into a majestic one. All in all, I was overcome with a sense of childlike wonder while also being utterly at peace.

As I was leaving, I couldn’t help but slowly walk around the palace a second time. I had to savor every moment. It’s not every day that a place artfully mixes two of my favorite things together: nature and history. Although I didn’t want it to end, I had to leave and see a new place within the city. However, I still couldn’t stop myself from thinking about the Alcazaba for the rest of the day.