Malaga Cathedral
Sign up free — See who's going and message them.
Is this your place? Get the badge for your websiteAbout
More photos 11
1 / 11
Why go
- Look up at the unfinished south tower that gave the cathedral its nickname, “La Manquita” (“The One-Armed Lady”).
- See Andalucía’s tallest cathedral vaults, reaching 41.79 metres.
- Examine the mahogany and cedar choir stalls, crafted by Luis Ortiz and decorated by Pedro de Mena, who also made 40 statues for the church.
- See the choir’s two 18th-century organs, with their striking horizontal trumpet pipes.
- Look for Diego de Vergara’s semicircular high altar, made in 1541.
Opening hours
Today10:30 – 18:30Show all
Don't miss
- Façade arches and medallionsThree lower arches have doors framed by reddish marble columns. Above them, the central medallion depicts the Annunciation; the side medallions show Saints Cyriacus and Paula.Above the main portals
- Santa Barbara and San FranciscoSanta Barbara has a Gothic altarpiece; San Francisco has 16th-century tombs.Chapels of Santa Barbara and San Francisco
- Incarnation altarpieceJuan de Villanueva designed this neoclassical altarpiece in 1785.Chapel of the Incarnation
- The Beheading of Saint PaulEnrique Simonet painted this work in 1887 while staying in Rome.1887
Interesting facts8
-
84 metres
The north tower stands 84 metres tall, reaching 92 metres including its weather vane.
Catedral de Málaga - Wikipedia -
1784
The tower holds 14 bells; Francisco Venero cast eight of them in 1784.
Catedral de Málaga - Wikipedia -
The three naves are equally high, with the central nave wider than the side naves.
Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica de la Encarnación - Wikipedia -
The cathedral has two pulpits made of Cabra marble and decorated with religious motifs.
Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica de la Encarnación - Wikipedia -
The cathedral has gardens and an orange-tree courtyard recalling the former mosque.
Catedral de Málaga - Wikipedia -
The decorated vault has numerous shallow domes.
Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica de la Encarnación - Wikipedia -
48 bass
Each organ has 48 bass and 59 treble stops across three manuals.
Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica de la Encarnación - Wikipedia -
Juan Salazar Palomino carved figures of the Annunciation and the cathedral’s patron saints in the 18th century.
Málaga Cathedral - Wikipedia
Shorts
History
Construction ran from 1528 to 1782 and ended unfinished. Diego de Siloé supplied the original design and initial plans, which no longer survive. An 18th-century levy on ships calling at Málaga helped finance construction. A plaque says parish funds intended to finish the tower instead helped British colonies gain independence from Great Britain. Roof leaks have threatened furnishings and damaged vault reliefs, prompting safety nets.
- 1528Christian conquerors began building the cathedral over a mosque.
- 1551–1554Cristóbal de Morales served as chapel master in his final years.
- 1592García de Haro commissioned Hernán Ruiz III to build the choir.
- 17th centuryWork advanced little; builders completed only the choir.
- 1721José de Bada led a major construction phase.
Show all
- 1768The cathedral opened for worship in its present form, with towers and part of the chapel area unfinished.
- 1776Work accelerated as trade with America began to open.
- 1782Construction stopped for lack of funds, leaving the sacristies, upper sections and other elements unfinished.
- 1855Pope Pius IX granted the cathedral minor basilica status.
- 1862Queen Isabel II visited and renewed efforts to finish the cathedral, but the plan was not carried out.
- 1931Debate began over completing the building to its original design or leaving it unfinished.
- 1940s–1950sRestoration repaired chapels and replaced or recreated lost artworks.
- 2009A ceramic outer covering was applied, but soon cracked and proved largely ineffective.
- late 2021The diocese requested permission for a gabled roof.
- 2023Restoration work affected the crypt and the tombs of the Count and Countess of Buenavista and Villalcazar de Sirga.
Tips for your visit
- The cathedral roof terraces offer a viewpoint for the city fair’s opening fireworks.
- Extensive roof restoration began in 2025.
How to get there
- On footCalle Molina Lario 9, near Málaga’s port.
Sources: Málaga Cathedral - Wikipedia · Málaga - Wikivoyage (see) · Catedral de Málaga – Santa Iglesia Catedral Bas… · Historia – Catedral de Málaga · Órgano de la Catedral – Catedral de Málaga · Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica de la Encarnaci… · Catedral de Málaga - Wikipedia · Cathédrale de l'Incarnation de Malaga - Wikiped… · checked 24 Sep 2026
- Website
- malagacatedral.com/
- Phone
- +34 617 50 05 82
Questions and answers
Where is Málaga Cathedral?
It stands at Calle Molina Lario 9 in Málaga city centre, near the port.
- See who's going — faces, not ticket counts.
- Write to someone who shares your interests — no swipes, no matches, no paywall.
- Pick the event or the place to meet at — and go together.