If you have nothing planned on one of your afternoons in Málaga, sit at a restaurant terrace on Plaza de la Merced and watch the activity of the square over a plate of tapas. Resting on the northern edge of Málaga’s Old Town, this open square fills with tourists and locals as dusk settles in. Enjoy the bustling atmosphere and delight in the regional cuisine as you look out over the square, which is filled with local history.
The first thing you will notice upon arriving at the square is the huge obelisk that towers above it. This was built to honour the memory of General Torrijos, who was executed in 1831 after a failed attempt to assassinate the tyrannical King Ferdinand VII. Explore the rest of the square to find a statue of Pablo Picasso, a local hero in Málaga.
Look to the square’s northwest to see the place where the Church and Convent of Our Lady of Mercy once sat. This 16th-century structure was destroyed during the Burning of the Convents in 1931, when socialists and anarchists burned churches throughout Spain after a prominent royalist insult.
Come to the Plaza de la Merced on the date of a festival to watch live music or theatrical performances. In late October, the square is filled with revelry on Pablo Picasso’s birthday. Málagans remain very proud of their city’s most famous son to this day. Nearby, Picasso’s birthplace has been transformed into a museum that celebrates his artistic legacy.
Take a short walk to the southeast of the plaza to find the Alcazaba, a Moorish fortification on the foot of the Monte de Gibralfaro. From there, take the steep stairs to Gibralfaro Castle, which offers panoramic views of Málaga and the Alboran Sea to the south.
A bus stop stands at the Plaza de la Merced’s eastern corner, so you can easily reach the square by public transit. Stick around the area’s bars and restaurants late into the night, and then take a taxi back to your hotel.
