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Discover artisan crafts in Málaga

Explore the Andalusian city’s rich craft heritage, ranging from gleaming ceramics and kaleidoscopic glass to extravagantly decorated flamenco dresses

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Words by Paul Stafford

Photo by Jonas Denil

Málaga is one of Spain’s leading centres for the arts. Building on the reputation of Pablo Picasso, who was born and spent his early years in Málaga, it now has an array of globally lauded art galleries. But traditional handicrafts have always formed an important part of the local economy. The variety of Málaga’s artisan crafts – in diverse shapes, sizes and materials – speaks volumes about the region’s cultural and historical heritage, from flamenco to the enduring ornamental influence of its Islamic rulers.

Photo by Jesper Brouwers

Málaga's crafts and where to buy them

Ceramics

Clay pottery was first made in the region thousands of years ago, but the form was elevated under Islamic rule in the 13th century with the introduction of Nasrid lustreware, painted with iridescent metallic pigments. Look, too, for barros malagueños, small clay figurines depicting personalities from the worlds of flamenco and bullfighting in the 18th and 19th centuries, painted and lacquered in fine detail. You can admire both forms of ceramics at the Museo de Málaga. Such pieces fetch nosebleed-high prices at auction, but you can buy good tiled murals, plates and planters at La Recova, a combined tapas bar and artisan shop.
Hands on a pottery wheel shaping the clay

Woodwork

Málaga was once well known for its master cabinetmakers, who served a burgeoning social class eager to purchase fine pieces for their homes. Wood carving, which reached its zenith in the 16th and 17th centuries, typically featured natural or religious iconography. Since then, the skills of ornamentation and design have been passed down the generations. Today, such talents are employed in restoration, undertaken by artisans such as those at Reinventar Vintage. Some of the finest flamenco guitars are produced by the region’s luthiers; head to Guitarras Maldonado for handmade instruments, or Pablo Requena for month-long flamenco-guitar-making courses.
A man playing a guitar

Photo by Jesper Brouwers

Metalwork

Clay pottery was first made in the region Visitors to the CAC Málaga modern art museum often overlook the nearby iron monument to the Marqués de Heredia. This seated statue is on the avenue named for Manuel Agustin Heredia, the reputedly self-made industrialist who pioneered metalworking in the city. His company was once the go-to producer of bespoke wrought-iron gates, doorknockers and other metal accoutrement for elegant homes across Spain and around the world. Today, limited metalwork is accessible at the craft level in Málaga, but you can find filigree lamps with Moroccan design motifs at La Casa Bella.
Lamp shades carved out of metal

Glasswork

In a city with so many churches, it’s no surprise to find a rich heritage of stained glass, engraving and other decorative glasswork. Viarca Taller de Vidrierías is one of the few workshops in the country producing and restoring stained glass. Museo del Vidrio y Cristal de Málaga showcases some 3,000 pieces of glass art, while the Centre Pompidou Málaga’s entrance hall is a colourful glass cube.
Shelf in a shop full of glasswork, from vases, bowls to cups

Textiles

In Málaga, textiles are most striking when connected to cultural traditions. Semana Santa (Holy Week) is the best time to witness the city in its finest regalia. Some of the Brotherhoods who parade through the city at Easter have established their own textile workshops to produce ornate tunics, pointed capirote hats and gold embroidered textiles decorating the large tronos (thrones) carried on floats. A handful of shops sell flamenco dresses, including Dos Lunas on Calle Fajardo, and nearby Viva la Feria.
Three ladies walking in colourful dresses with lots of frills at the hem

Photo by Reiseuhu

Need to know

When to go

Spring and autumn are the best times to visit, when the weather is warm but tourist numbers drop. During the peak summer season, when Andalusians typically take holidays, many shops are closed. If you want to see Málaga at its wildest, visit during the Feria, a nine-day street party in August when participants don fine flamenco outfits.

Getting there

Málaga is served by regular direct flights from Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London (various), Manchester and Newcastle, plus seasonal summer flights from cities including Bristol and Aberdeen.

Photo by Tara Vester

Getting there

Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebrations are worth visiting Málaga for, as the city comes alive.

 

Málaga Feria (Málaga Fair) is one of the biggest events in the city so for vibrant celebrations including street parties and dancing, plan your visit in August.

 

Christmas is also an ideal time to visit the city and soak up its Christmas Lights display and Three Kings Parade.

Photo by Jonas Denil

Glossary

The quality of being able to continue over a period of time, or the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance (Camrbdige Dictionary).

This refers to ‘the variability of living organisms, between and within species, and the changeability of the ecosystems to which they belong’ (The Convention on Biological Diversity).
According to the Responsible Tourism Partnership, ‘Responsible Tourism requires that operators, hoteliers, governments, local people and tourists take responsibility, and take action to make tourism more sustainable. Behaviour can be more or less responsible, and what is responsible in a particular place depends on environment and culture’. The concept was defined in Cape Town in 2002 alongside the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
The process of protecting an environment and returning it to its natural state; for example, bringing back wild animals that used to live there (Cambridge Dictionary).
A movement reducing the distance between producers and sales and consumer establishments to a radius of under 100 kilometres, with the aim of minimising the effects that large-scale industry have on the planet, including soil erosion, water pollution, and habitat loss for wild species.
Being ‘green’ is used to describe actions or initiatives that are conducted in a sustainable way, in an attempt to reduce impact on planetary resource limits. However, the word can be used to describe actions or initiatives that do not actively do this, but rather convey an ethos of being planet-friendly; eg being outside, walking or riding a bike. This can be considered ‘greenwashing’ (when an individual or company paints an action as credibly sustainable when, in fact, it is an action that beenfits them, or that should be considered the bare minimum).