Malaga

Málaga is a municipality, capital of the Province of Málaga, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. The city has a population of 568,305 inhabitants (as of 2018), making it the second-most populous city in Andalusia after Seville and the sixth-largest in Spain. It is also the largest sea port on the Mediterranean Sea.
The area surrounding Málaga has been inhabited for over 3,000 years and was founded by the Phoenicians as Malaka around 770 BC. It later became a prosperous trading port under Roman rule but declined after Vandals sacked it in the 5th century AD. The city regained importance during Islamic rule when it served as a capital of one of al-Andalus’s taifas (small kingdoms). In 825AD an earthquake destroyed most of the city and it was not until 1040 that it began to recover its former importance. During this time, Málaga was ruled by Taifa kings Abdallah ibn Buluggin and his son Badis ibn Hafsun who expanded its territory considerably with their conquests from Valencia to Murcia.
Málaga enjoyed great prosperity from both trade and piracy during Ottoman rule in the 16th century but declined thereafter due mainly to competition from Cádiz and Seville. It recovered somewhat in the 18th century but suffered another blow when an earthquake hit on Christmas Day 1884.
The 20th century brought further hardship to Málaga with civil war devastating much of Spain from 1936–1939 which resulted in heavy damage to infrastructure and thousands killed or exiled. The economy improved during Franco’s dictatorship (1939–1975) but following his death, tourism increased rapidly bringing new wealth to Málaga which continues today.
Málaga is now one of southern Spain’s leading tourist destinations as well as being home to a large number of immigrants from other parts of Europe, North Africa, Latin America, Asia and beyond.[16