Alcazaba of Malaga

The Alcazaba is a fort that belongs to the Muslim period.

It is located on a mountain called "Gibralfaro".

This fortress went through a process of construction that lasted several generations.

Its construction began in the 10th century, in the Arab period, and it continued until the 18th century.

It was then abandoned until the 20th century and in 1930 was recognized as an historic artistic monument.

Another Alcazaba you can see in Malaga is the Alcazaba of Antequera.

The process of the Alcazaba to the present can be divided into four distinct stages:

• The Arab period: covers from the 10th century to the 15th century.
• After the Reconquest: until the 18th century.
• The period of abandonment: it covers from the 19th century until the beginning of the 20th century.
• Artistic historical monument: from the 1930.

Some Muslim historians think that the man who commanded to construct the Alcazaba was Badis Ben Habús, the king of taifas Berber.
But some studies say that the Alcazaba has indications of being of Phoenician-Punic origin and having been restored by the Muslims.

Before Badis ben Habusus, the last caliphs of Cordoba, who transferred the Caliphian court to Malaga during the Fitna of Al-Ándalus, used the Alcazaba precinct as a residence.

In 1092 appeared the Almoravides, and in 1146, the Almohades.
Later, the Alcazaba became to comprise of a kingdom called Nazarita.

During the reconquest, the Alcazaba, was a Muslim stronghold in the taking of Malaga by Ferdinand the Catholic.
Fernando the Catholic defeated and conquered El Zagal, then besieged the citadel that was in the hands of Hamet Zegrí. The siege began in 1487 but failed to defeat the Muslim army.
Ali, negotiates his citizenship like Mudejar and renders the Alcazaba under the control of Zegrí. The Alcazar lasted two more days but succumbed to thirst and hunger.

In the year 1487 the Catholic kings entered the city.

Fernando the Catholic brought to Málaga the image of the Virgin of Victory, which was a gift from Maximilian I.

From that moment the patron saint of the city of Malaga is the Virgin of the Victory.

The citadel was deteriorated with time, and only at the beginning of the 20th century began to be restored.