A Spanish port that boasts Roman ruins, Moorish fortresses and ancient Arabic citadels, Malaga is a quaint coastal city perfect for an afternoon of sightseeing. Yesterday, I explored the city’s narrow alleyways and cobblestone streets by bike.
This Spanish bike tour is part of my six-day European sail with Celebrity Cruises. I’m one of their “Global Insiders” (a selected team of travel experts working with Travel & Leisure Magazine specializing in fashion, food and, in my case, adventure) invited to experience some of their new and exciting shore excursions. Highlights over the next few days will include a hot air balloon ride over Tuscany, exploring the Vatican, taking an underground tour of Rome’s Coliseum and driving a Ferrari through the French Rivera. Um…awesome! But first, a bike tour through the heart of Malaga.
Though it’s a very pedestrian friendly city, Malaga is great for cycling! I explored the Plaza de la Constitucio, gazed at the architecturally impressive Renaissance-style Cathedral in Bishop’s square, snapped a few pics in front of the Roman amphitheater, before viewing the Picasso Museum and the house where the artist was born. The city tour of Malaga by bike continued with a stop at Alcazaba Palace, a historic castle built in the 11th century for Arabian Caliphs.
With only a few hours to explore before the ship takes off for the next port, signing up for a biking tour was the perfect way to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. Working up an appetite and a bit of a sweat in the afternoon sun, I made sure to stop at one of the city’s many tapas restaurants. A little ham, a little cheese and a cold glass of fruity Sangria makes for a great way to end an afternoon of Spanish sightseeing.
Stay tuned for more posts from my European adventure aboard Celebrity Cruises….