One of the most important monuments in Málaga is the local Cathedral of the Incarnation, called Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica de la Encarnación. Construction of the cathedral began in 1528 in the Renaissance style, but as it took more than 200 years to complete, by 1782 it was already in the richly decorated Baroque style, which is particularly evident on the exterior facades. In contrast, the interior of the cathedral is purely Renaissance.
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The cathedral was originally intended to have two towers, but only one was completed, reaching 84 metres high. That's why Malaga Cathedral is often nicknamed "the one-armed lady".
The richly decorated interior
Although visitors are already drawn to the extraordinary and somewhat unusual facade, don't miss a visit to the interior of the cathedral. You will be enchanted by the rich Renaissance decoration, headed by a carved wooden choir with a total of 42 sculptures.
One of the main attractions of the cathedral is the famous painting The Beheading of St. Paul by the painter Enrique Simonet. In the side aisles of the cathedral you can then admire several smaller chapels in different styles from Gothic to Classical.
Another rare creation is the pair of 18th-century organs still in use, which contain more than 4,000 pipes.
A visit to the roof of the cathedral
A visit to the beautifully decorated roof of the cathedral offers an unusual experience, offering a breathtaking view of the city and the forts of Alcazaba and Gibralfaro. You will see the church and Málaga from a completely different perspective.
The ascent to the roof is only via a narrow spiral staircase with 200 steps and is always organised in groups. However, there are plenty of guides available and queues form up to half an hour at most.
Entrance fees and opening hours
For the tourist public, the cathedral is open from Monday to Saturday from 10:00-18:00, and on Sundays only from 14:00.
Admission fees vary for different age groups:
- Cathedral only or roof visit only - 10 eur adults; 5,50 eur seniors over 65; 4 eur students with ISIC card
- Cathedral + roof - 15 eur adults; 9 eur seniors over 65; 7 eur students with ISIC card
Official Cathedral website: malagacatedral.com
How to get there
The cathedral stands in the historic centre of Málaga and is within a 15-minute walk of most tourist attractions.
The nearest bus stop is called Paseo del Parque (Plaza Marina) and is located about 150 meters from the entrance. Bus lines A, 1, 3, 4, 11, 19, 25, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 stop here.
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