Welcome to Riding Hood
Pablo Picasso is the most famous and influential artists of the 20th century. He is also one of the few artists whose work is instantly recognisable, even for people with only a passing interest in art. Although he lived most of his adult life in France, he was born in the southern Spanish city of Malaga, and spent the first ten years of his life in the city. To mark this, there is a huge museum dedicated to Picasso’s life and work which is an essential visit for anyone with an interest in art.
The museum is in the centre of town about 20 minutes drive from the airport, but it’s probably best ignoring the car hire in Malaga airport and heading in to town on public transport, then returning later to collect your hire car. Malaga is notorious for traffic jams and parking in high season is almost impossible due to the number of tourists and the congestion. The Picasso museum is open every day except Monday, and entry is good value at 8 euros per adult, with hefty discounts for students and pensioners and free entry for children under the age of 12. Inside you’ll find a massive collection of Picasso’s work, ranging from early childhood drawings to some of his most well known work produced during his time living in France. As well as the permanent display of Picasso’s work, the museum is also home to an ever changing array of temporary exhibitions, featuring work of other artists related to Picasso or other displays about Picasso’s life and work. To get the most out of the visit try to get on one of the guided tours which leave every hour and are offered in both Spanish and English.
Once you’ve seen all that the museum has to offer, make sure to pass through the bookshop to pick up a souvenir before heading out into the city. Picasso’s childhood home is nearby but although interesting it can not compete with the much larger museum in terms of exhibits. Head back out to the airport and get your car from car hire Malaga airport and enjoy the freedom to explore the countryside and hills surrounding Malaga, which might even give you the inspiration to create some artwork of your own. There are several small whitewashed villages close to Malaga such as Mijas and Ronda which are well worth the effort to visit, but bear in mind that in the summer they are often crowded with tour parties from the coastal resorts. Try to organise your visit for early in the morning or late in the afternoon and you’ll have a better chance of having the place to yourself.