Christmas cheer in the air

The heart of the historic city is festooned with illuminations – along the main roads into the city, the tree-lined Alameda in front of the port and the pedestrianised shopping street Calle Larios, which runs from the Alameda into the heart of the old town.

Along the Alameda the trees are girdled with tiny glittering lights and the park in front of the port is full of Christmas cheer as visitors browse the myriad of market stalls. Wend your way through spectacular light installations along Calle Larios and discover the giant Christmas tree in the main plaza at the end where carol singers, musicians and street entertainers gather.

Splendid Nativity scenes are an important part of the celebrations. Each town and village has at least one, and in Malaga there are plenty to choose from, including the enormous scene at the foot of Calle Larios where it meets the Alameda, the intricate Nativity on show in the Cathedral, and the fabulous scene in the entrance to the Malaga Glass and Crystal Museum using exquisite blue and grey Lladro figurines.

CLC World visitors will find that the simplest way to enjoy the Christmas festivities in Malaga is to go by train. You can hop on board the C1 at Fuengirola and be at the top of the Alameda in 46 minutes. From Fuengirola the train leaves at 20 minutes and 40 minutes past the hour and on the hour while the return times from Centro Alameda are 10, 30 and 50 minutes past the hour, with the last train leaving at 22.30 – and at just €3.35 each way letting the train take the strain is the best option.

Nearer to your CLC World resort you can also enjoy the Christmas spirit in towns like Fuengirola and Marbella. Head in late afternoon to soak up the atmosphere, enjoy the lights, and why not buy a bag of roasted chestnuts from one of the street sellers to complete the taste of Christmas cheer.

Main Picture credit: Gonzalez-alba
Sub pic credit: fernand0