When visiting Malaga, many tourists move around the areas of the historical center, the SoHo and the Malagueta beach. If you are looking for a more local feel, you need to visit one of the hidden gems of Malaga: the neighborhood of Pedregalejo.
Location
Pedregalejo is located right at the end of the beach La Malagueta. After you pass the old spa Ba?os del Carmen, you will immediately notice a change in the architecture. Multiple-story residential buildings give way to low-rise homes arranged in a line facing the boardwalk. Pedregalejo begins at the?Ba?os del Carmen and stretches all the way to Jaboneras Creek, which is dry until the rainy season.
You can get there by public transport with bus lines 3, 11, 34 or if you rent a bicycle for the day, take a nice 20-minute ride along the seafront bike path.
History
The origin of the name of this area is unclear as Pedregalejo comes from the word pedregal meaning quarry. However, it was called this way even before a quarry even existed there.
This lesser known district used to be mainly home to fishermen, so there is a lot of fishing tradition. In fact, many malague?os head to Pedregalejo on weekends to have lunch in one of the many fish restaurants on the boardwalk. There are still a few family-owned restaurants that head out to sea early in the morning and then sell in their restaurants the "catch of the day". Make sure to read our other posts about fish restaurants for insider tips on where to eat.
In Pedregalejo you will also find one of the oldest working shipyards in Spain. The contrast between the old and new boats always?makes?for an interesting visit to those who love sailing. Needless to say, in this neighborhood, you will find sculptures with big anchors, poems dedicated to the sea and many, many, seafood restaurants.
Spanish schools
The other thing you will find a lot of in Pedregalejo are Spanish language schools. This area of town has one of the largest concentration of language schools in the country.? The combination of tradition, beaches, great food and language schools makes for a great destination to learn Spanish while enjoying the wonders of being on the Mediterranean coast.
If you plan on visiting Malaga and doing a full immersion in our culture, then this would definitely be the place to go! Solaga offers holiday homes in Pedregalejo, so make sure to check out our portfolio to choose the right one for you.
