MalagaMalaga is located in the southern part of Spain on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, known as Costa del Sol (the Sunny Coast). It is one of the eight regional capitals of Andalusia and the biggest coastal city in the south with approximately 600,000 inhabitants. The town is located near Sevilla and Granada and the strategically good position in the Mediterranean Sea makes it easy accessible from the Sea.
The most important industrial sectors in Malaga are the agricultural and the tourism industry, in fact, Malaga airport is between the 30 most busiest airports of Europe, it is used by more than 13 million passengers every year. The climate, with more than 300 days of sun and a year around average temperature of 23C (73F), makes Malaga a perfect location to grow olives and fruits like lemons and oranges. The perfect weather in Malaga together with the many beautiful beaches in the area make the province one of the most popular places for tourists to visit in Spain. Apart from the above sectors Malaga town has the second largest industrial port in Spain and it also has an important production of textile and alimentary products.
The city of Malaga is a very fascinating place with a rich and unique history, which gives visitors a great variety of interesting things to do and see.
Apart from all the cultural attractions, Malaga is a perfect location to enjoy life. The relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere and the perfect climate have attracted many foreigners during the last decade (both tourists and foreigners settling down in Spain). The people in Malaga, called Malagueños, are known for going out a lot at night for a chat, a drink or to eat out. The town therefore has a great variation of restaurants, bars and bodegas, which normally are busy throughout the week. The Malagueños are also known for loving everything about their town and they are particularly proud of their two world famous citizens, the painter Pablo Picasso and the actor Antonio Banderas.
Fish and seafood, along with locally produced vegetables, are the main ingredients of the traditional cuisine in Malaga. The olive oil and fine basic ingredients that characterise our cuisine are the mainstays of our rich and healthy "Mediterranean diet". In summer, gazpacho (chilled tomato soup) accompanied by a wide selection of fried fish and the famous "espetos" (skewered sardines) is the most poular order at the beach bars or "chiringuitos", where tourist can sample a wide variety of local specialities.
The Tapas bars and an impressive range of top quality restaurants of all nationalities offer the visitor an exquisite selection of dishes to suit all tastes. The local passion for good seafood is reflected in the tapas trails designated by the Malagan Hostelry Association. Tour the chiringuitos along the "Anchovy Route" in El Palo, the Sardine Route in Pedregalejo and the Squid Route to the west of the city.
MalagaIt is one of the most exciting events that takes place beginning of August. The feria of Malaga is characteristic because of during the day the feria takes place in the centre of the city around Calle Larios. The centre gets transformed, with shops converted into "casetas" (typical stalls of the ferias where local delicacies are served accompanied by a chilled glass of manzanilla wine (sherry) or a sweet Malaga wine), with horses carrying people dressed in typical costumes.... Most of the "Malagueños" dress up and line the streets along with thousands of visitors under a really lively ambience plenty of music and local dances.
In the evening the feria party is transported enterely to the "real de la feria" located at the southwest of the centre to Cortijo de Torres, with more than 200 "casetas" open to the public. People from all ages enjoys together the feria until quite early in the morning , it is simply a way of enjoying life without loosing traditions. A really expected moment of the fair is when the port of "El Real de la Feria" is lit up by the firework display, turning the city into an explosion of light and colour and announcing the official inauguration of the feria.
Another important event during the fair is that it is the high bullfighting season of Malaga .During all the fair each evening a bullfight or "corrida de toros" takes place in LA Malagueta bullring, with the participation of the most famous and important bullfighters of the moment.
Andalucia is the world's biggest producer and exporter of the so-called "liquid gold of the Mediterranean", famous throughout history for its extraordinary flavour, its uses in cookery, and for its many medicinal qualities.Olive trees were introduced into Andalucia by Phoenician merchants, by means of their trading routes, and afterwards it was the Romans who perfected the production techniques until the oil of Hispania was considered the highest quality in the whole empire.When the Arabs invaded, they increased still further the cultivation of olives and productions of the oil whose Spanish name (aceite) originated from the Arabic "al-zait", meaning olive juice.The olive tree and its olives are part of an authentic ancestral culture in Andaluca, with knowledge passed down from parents to children for generations, and experience gained through the hard work involved in picking the fruit and pruning the trees.In Jaen, Cordoba and Malaga - the three Andalucian provinces with the highest production, tens of thousands of families work in the olive industry and the almost 900 oil mills registered in Andalucia produce between 700 000 and one million litres a year. At present, the whole sector is undergoing modernisation and improvement. As gourmets already know, virgin olive oil, whehter used as it is or for frying, is the secret of success of the salads, dressings, soups and fish of a Mediterranean Diet, which begins each day with a good slice of bread wiht olive oil.
Types of Olives in Andalucia:
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