Gibralfaro Castle in Málaga, the fortress overlooking the whole bay

To talk about the first inhabitants of this part of Málaga we would have to go back several millennia, specifically to Phoenician times, when this spot was used as a maritime marker for vessels approaching the coast. That use carried on with the territory's later occupants and, by Roman times, it still kept the same function.

It was under Islamic rule that the site gradually took on strategic importance in the active defence of the old medina. And the building as we know it today arrives in the 14th century, when the Nasrid sultan Yusuf I sought extra protection to support the Alcazaba of Málaga, with both spaces linked by the land coracha, the connection and passage from one to the other.

The fortification is organised around several defensive systems, such as the double wall and the coracha itself, along with features like silos and wells that reinforced its capacity to hold out. With the arrival of the Catholic Monarchs in 1487, Gibralfaro Castle served as the last bastion in the Muslim defence of the city, besieged by Isabella and Ferdinand and becoming the last stronghold to surrender.

At Gibralfaro Castle everything makes more sense if you think of it as a circular route around a fortification with a double wall and the coracha as the strategic connection with the Alcazaba of Málaga. To find your bearings without getting lost, keep these three areas in mind.

This is where the castle's service areas were, such as barracks and stables, and where the Torre Blanca usually stands out, one of the most recognisable pieces of the whole enclosure.

In the upper area you find the Torre Mayor and the well cut into the rock, along with the Interpretation Centre, which helps put the castle's history in context with exhibits such as uniforms and weapons.

The Gibralfaro experience is also in its defensive system: the double wall, the coracha itself and the features designed to hold out, such as silos and wells, which explain why it was a key support for the Alcazaba and a last bastion in 1487.

The Gibralfaro viewpoint is a little below the castle, and it is the natural stop before (or after) going into the site. From here you get the panorama people are after when they talk about the views of Málaga: the bay, the port and the city spread out in front of you, all in one sweep, with the castle already close by and the hill for company.

If you have come with photos in mind, this viewpoint is usually the classic postcard spot because it frames the seafront and recognisable landmarks like Muelle Uno and the bullring very well. And if you can choose your moment, sunset tends to be the most rewarding for light and colour — the view changes enormously without you having to do anything more than stay a minute and look.

Gibralfaro Castle can be visited morning and afternoon, and the hours change with the time of year. To plan without surprises, keep this in mind: in summer it closes later and in winter it shortens a little.

Summer, from 9:00 to 20:00.

Winter, from 9:00 to 18:00, with last admission at 17:15.

To get into Gibralfaro Castle you have two options, depending on whether you want to see just the castle or take the chance to add the Alcazaba to the same plan.

General admission to the castle is €7. And if you fancy the full package, the combined Alcazaba and Gibralfaro ticket costs €10. The guide also notes that there are discounts for students, pensioners and residents.

The usual thing is to start at the Alcazaba with a guide and go up to Gibralfaro afterwards. You can do it with our Guided tour of the Alcazaba and Roman Theatre (1 h 30 min, from €20).

A visit to Gibralfaro Castle usually takes between 1 hour and 1 hour 30 minutes, because the route is circular and takes in both the climb up the slope and the time spent inside the enclosure.