We visited a number of Roman and Moorish ruins in the cities of Málaga, Cartagena and Granada. We found the most interesting Roman history in Cartagena where there was a well preserved (and partly reconstructed) theater as well as remains of the Roman forum and baths. On the other hand, Málaga and Granada had impressive Moorish palaces and fortresses, the Alcazaba in Málaga and the Alhambra complex in Granada. Both offered impressive architecture and insights into Spain’s Arabic past as well as amazing views of the two cities.
Posing in front of the Roman theater in Málaga
Ok, not a ruin, but kind of funny anyway
The 11th century Alcazaba in Málaga
The view of Málaga from the Alcazaba
Walls
Looking uphill
The irrigation system for the gardens was pretty impressive
Part of the Alhambra complex in Granada
View from the top of the hill
The gardens were also impressive
Leaving the Alhambra
Covered street in Granada. We had a great evening in the city after coming down from the Alhambra
The Roman forum and baths in Cartagena
The theater, just like the forum and baths, was right in the middle of the city
Everything looks so sunny, warm and relaxing. Impressive ruins and the Moorish ones in particular look like scenes from a different world — which I suppose they are. Kristina at the signed intersection is cool — with so many possibilities which way to go next?
So you had 4 countries in 4 days, and now a couple of thousand years of history in a few days. How to spot a Roman bath? Picture #18 upper right: that arrangement of what looks like ordered piles of bricks – that’s the hypocaust system – the floor was built on top of those pillars allowing heat to circulate below the floor (and also through the walls). Roman invention it seems. But it makes spotting baths in ruins easy.