Did you know…?
In building it, the Muslim people recycled pieces from the Roman theatre below it, most of them in marble, to save cost and time. As we walk around the interior, we can see columns, capitals and other pieces that break up the general aesthetic of the building.
and means citadel or urban fortress.
At the Alcazaba, the silos were deep, bottleneck-shaped deposits dug into the living rock of the mountain, designed to store food and withstand long sieges without the lack of provisions forcing surrender. By carving these spaces into the rock, moisture was prevented from affecting the grain and other foodstuffs, keeping them dry and in good condition. Today two can be seen: one near the Plaza de Armas, to the right of the entrance, and another in the main courtyard of the Patio de los Surtidores. It is known that there were more silos, but some of them have been covered up due to their poor condition and others, such as the one in front of the exit of the Torre del Cristo, were destroyed. It is said that in the last stage, as the silos became empty, the spaces were reused as dungeons to hold Christian prisoners.
its development spanned several periods. As the years progressed and military strategies and armaments evolved, the fortress was adapted through successive extensions and modifications. In its last phase of construction, Gibralfaro Castle was added to the fortified complex, significantly improving its defensive capacity and making both a key protection system for the city.
The alcazaba was not only a fortress, but also an important governmental centre. On the upper part, protected by the last walled ring, were the palaces, where the governor or the person in charge of the administration of the city of Malaga resided. This space not only fulfilled military functions, but was also the centre of political and administrative power during the Muslim period.
The Alcazaba of Malaga covers a total of 14,208 m², an extensive area that combines built and unbuilt spaces. Of these, 6,994 m² are occupied by buildings, while 7,214 m² remain as free land, probably used for the expansion of the fortress and its gardens. Within the built-up area, two main areas can be distinguished: 3,478 m² correspond to civilian constructions, including residences and administrative spaces, while 3,516 m² are dedicated to military infrastructure, such as walls, towers and other defensive structures that ensure the protection of the fortress. This distribution reflects the duality of the Alcazaba, which functioned both as the governor’s residence and as a solid military bastion.
Since the 19th century there have been various public and private initiatives to demolish the Alcazaba and flatten the hill in order to open up the city of Malaga to the new port. This project was not carried out thanks to the fact that in 1931 it was declared a historical-artistic monument thanks to people who promoted its protection.
In the residential quarter, located within the ring surrounding the private area, it has been shown that the dwellings had toilets and were supplied with water from a nearby cistern. This sanitation system was completely independent, with a carefully designed infrastructure that included a sewerage system that collected the water and waste and then evacuated the detritus to the outside, thus ensuring the hygiene and functionality of the dwellings.
At the beginning of the 19th century, when the alcazaba became useless, the people of Malaga began to build their houses in it, using the structure of the building or reusing materials to build the walls of their homes. In 1820, 113 dwellings and 431 residents were recorded in this neighbourhood.
In 1749, by royal order, due to its great deterioration and its uselessness as a military building, it was converted into a prison for gypsy women and their children, housing 1,200 prisoners. This use was maintained for two years
