The secrets of the Alcazaba of Malaga: historical visit without suitcases

Would you like to travel back in time, but without carrying the suitcases of the present? If so, take note of the following plan that we propose in LOCK & enjoy! We invite you to discover the Alcazaba of Malaga, one of the most fascinating and mysterious sites of the city.

A historic jewel in the heart of Malaga

The Alcazaba of Malaga is not just a simple monument of the city, as it is one of the most visited and, moreover, one of the most intriguing and best preserved of Islamic architecture in our country. It was built in the 11th century by the Muslims during their reign. We would like to point out that it stands out for being a huge fortress, but with a very magical and mysterious touch. It is also in the heart of the city, very close to the Roman theater. The visit lasts about two hours, therefore, we recommend that you hire any of our luggage storage in Malaga. Lockers for luggage in Málaga.. Choose the size you want and keep everything you need for as long as you need.

The Alcazaba and its secrets: what they don’t tell you in the guidebooks

Do you fancy a different visit to the Alcazaba of Malaga? We recommend you to continue reading this post that we have prepared to make your trip to Malaga unique and original. We reveal everything that does not appear in the brochures and, in addition, what the guides only tell you in a low voice. Ready?

The Whispering Passage

One of the lesser known corners of this castle is the whispering passageway, a place that looks like the set of an Andalusian spy movie! Don’t look for it on the signs because it is not part of the official tour. It is a narrow corridor where something magical happens, because if a person speaks quietly from one end, the other person at the other end hears his voice perfectly. It is not a miracle, it is pure acoustics. The curved architecture and the special composition of the walls make the sound travel without losing any intensity. Most historians believe that it was a communication system between soldiers who were located at different points of the fortification. Now, where to find it? This effect can be experienced in many points of the fortress, but especially in some sections of the first walled enclosure. However, you can also try it in the area of the Arch of Christ or in the small corridors with walls that connect the different watchtowers.

Trap doors

On your visit to the Alcazaba of Malaga you will notice that many of its doors are special because they are placed at an angle or with a bad design, and even some can not be opened because of its complex opening operation. At first glance they look like construction flaws, however, nothing could be further from the truth. Trap doors are very characteristic of Andalusian defensive architecture. The secret is that, instead of facilitating the passage, this type of doors force the enemies to turn, slow down and disorganize. At that moment, the defenders of the fortification took advantage of the situation to attack the enemy from different positions. That is to say, this design was designed so that the fortress could never be entered directly. For this reason, the Alcazaba was one of the most difficult to conquer in all of Al-Andalus.

The enchanted cistern

Another of the secrets of the Alcazaba of Malaga is its ancient cistern, a subway reservoir that supplied water to the entire castle. However, it is surrounded by legends that are worth telling in order to explain in a little more detail the history of the fortification. On the one hand, legend has it that it has a curse, since a Muslim governor ordered the execution of a former prisoner unjustly and, in addition, his soul was thrown into the cistern as punishment. Since then, some visitors claim to hear moans and screams coming from the bottom of the well. On the other hand, there are others who see it as a sacred place, since the water was never contaminated for centuries, not even when there were epidemics. You decide which legend you choose! At LOCK & enjoy! we are sure you will feel a special energy when you go down the narrow stairs and look inside. Of course, always go accompanied and never visit at night.

The governor’s room

In the upper part of the fortress there is a small room that is quickly shown in official visits: the governor’s room. It stands out for its elegance, brightness and good views. However, inside it there was a very dark history. Popular legend has it that one of the Almoravid governors fell in love with a young Christian girl, but kept her hidden in the castle. However, the girl was in love with a soldier of the same army. When the governor discovered this fact, he killed them both in that room and also sealed the windows for a long time. Many visitors claim to have felt a cold air in that room, even in the middle of summer. Don’t worry, as the room has been completely restored since that event happened, although the legend is still alive among the guides of the city of Malaga, especially the most veteran ones.

The snake’s viewpoint

One of the one of the best viewpoints in Malaga is the one located in the Alcazaba. Despite this, very few know that in medieval times it was called the balcony of the snake. The reason is that, according to a Moorish legend, a giant snake lived within the walls of the fortress and climbed every night to this viewpoint to observe the city, in order to monitor the movements of the enemy. Discover the secrets of the Alcazaba of Malaga with LOCK & enjoy! Book in advance and get access to discounts and promotions . We are waiting for you in Malaga!