MALAGA, SPAIN

Founded by Phoenicians and thoughout history inhabited by the Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans and the Moors. Conquered in 1487 by the ´Reyes Catolicos´. Many monuments remain from these times. The Cathedral, Alcazaba (Moorish castle), the Gibralfaro fortress and the Roman Theatre, they all are witness to a long history and rich culture. Poets wrote about Málaga. The great painter Salvador Dalí spent artistically important years here. Pablo Picasso was born in the city in 1881 and his natal house is now a museum.

Today, Málaga is a cosmopolitan city and Spain's second largest harbour. A commercial and cultural centre in Southern Spain. Its offers theatres, cinemas, museums,bull ring, shopping-malls and many sports-facilities. The mild climate assures 326 days of sun each year with an average temperature of 22ºC. It is situated on the coast and a day-trip away from Granada, Sevilla, Córdoba and other places of interest.

The city is famous for its seaport and as a tourist spot. It is separated into segments, the tourist area which offers many beaches, bars, cafes, restaurants and night clubs, followed by the old part of the city ( 11 century) which is a typical old Spanish city with many interesting sites and finally the area which our school is situated "Pedregalejo" which is a more affluent quiet area, close to the beach.

How do I get to your school and get around in Malaga?
Malaga has an international airport located just outside the city. Taxis are reasonable-most trips between sites will cost 500 pesetas (US$4) or less. Taxis can be flagged on the street or at stands near larger hotels. The local bus service is also very reasonable but the best way and probably the most fun is biking! Bikes may be rented with help from the school.

Our School
The school is situated in a district of Málaga, which is called Pedregalejo. The beach is only 300 metres away. In this residential area you will find the ´Malagueños´. They prefer this coast with its many bays and authentic fish- restaurants, who prepare their daily catch ´espetos´ on the beach. The city centre is easy to reach, there is a bus stop next to the school and the buses run every ten minutes. Our two Andalusian villas have bright classrooms with a Mediterranean atmosphere. To enjoy the most of the sun you can go up to the terrace on the roof where you also have a terrific view of the mountains of Málaga (north ) or the Mediterranean sea (south ). The school has many facilities such as a TVand video room and a computer laboratory with e-mail service and Internet access. There is also a small cafeteria that serves coffee, tea or juices, ´bocadillos´ and sandwiches.

As a member of the A.E.E.A. (Asociación de Escuelas de Español de Andalucía)our school is recognised to prepare students for these exams. You can enrol for D.E.L.E through our school. The exams are held twice a year, in May and November.

School Accommodation
Self-Catering Apartments: we offer 3 types of graded apartments all with single or double rooms, fully equipped kitchens and living areas. All apartments are located in the vicinity of the school and involves a maximum of a 25-minute walk or 10 minute bus ride.

Type 1 - Standard Apartment: This is a basic apartment and offers all necessities for a pleasant stay. The kitchen comes with a washing machine. The furnished living room has a television, so you can practise your understanding of Spanish watching the news or a movie.

Type 2 - Comfort Apartment: These more comfortable apartments are recently built and better situated. They come with a fully equipped kitchen with washing machine. The living room has good furniture and a television.

Type 3 - Deluxe Apartment: These are our most modern and luxury apartments that have a very complete kitchen with microwave and washing machine. The fully furnished modern living room has a television. Also the apartments have a balcony or terrace to enjoy the sun. The apartments are set in attractive surroundings nearby the school and close to the beach.

Host Family: choice of single or doublerooms with meal options. They are normally located within 25 minutes walk of the school, or maximum 10 minutes by bus. Linens are provided by your family and will be changed once a week. Bring towels, they will be washed regularly.

Hotel: choice of single or double rooms, If you prefer to stay in a hotel or hostel,we can make the reservation for you. We can recommend two pleasant hostels in the Pedregalejo district at walking distance from the school. There is also a more luxurios hotel ten minutes by bus from the school.

Typical Cultural Activities to Expect
City tour, Flamenco dance lessons, Spanish film evenings, trips to local museums, galleries, parks, Bull fighting. Typical Spanish food can be explored on our´Tapas-Tour´ or during one of our ´Paella´ cooking lessons. To give you an unforgettable view of the coast and hinterland, we climb with you to the mountains of Málaga.

Weekend Day Trips (optional and at additional price)
At the weekend, day trips are organised to Granada, Seville and Córdoba. We also offer excursions to the lake and gorge of ´Parque Nacional El Chorro´. You can visit the typical white mountain villages surrounding Málaga -´Los Pueblos Blancos´- or go to the caves of Nerja.Furthermore there is a weekend trip to Morocco, North Africa and we offer the possibility of going skiing in the Sierra Nevada.

Prices
Programs in Malaga start from $595.00 US for 2 weeks including accommodation and tuition. We have many program options and all year round start dates. If you want more detailed pricing or start date information, we suggest you request a brochure or call us Toll Free within North America at: Tel: 1 888 526 4758 (LANGPLUS) or outside of North America at 416 925 7117.

COUNTRY TIPS
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What is the local currency?
Spanish Pesetas, or "ESP".

Are a passport, visa, or vaccinations necessary?
Citizens of the United States and Canada in possession of a valid US or Canadian passport, are not required to obtain a visa for Spain, for a period of up to three months if traveling as a tourist. In case that a stay of more than three but less than six months is intended, a visa is required. If you are a resident of the U.S. but do not hold U.S. citizenship, a visa may be required.

Visitors from the U.S./Canada do not need inoculations.

Time Difference
Spain is on central European Time, which is 6 hours a head of American Eastern Time.

Should I bring local currency, traveler's checks or use credit cards?
Spain is still a very traditional country, so everyone is very happy to accept local currency; after all, who doesn't like cash? But for safety and convenience sake, you might not want to have large amounts of either dollars or local currency on hand so we would suggest you bring along travelers checks, which are accepted almost everywhere, or major credit cards to obtain cash along the way as needed. Be aware that you will charged a 'service charge' each time you cash travelers checks, so convert enough each time to cover your expenses for several days. In addition, if your travelers checks are in a foreign currency such as U.S. Dollars, you need to be aware that you will receive a much better exchange rate if they are converted at a bank.

Cash and travelers checks can be exchanged at the official exchange rate of the day at any bank or exchange counter (airports, railway stations, tourist offices - a small commission applies); travel agencies, hotels, restaurants and stores may accept foreign currency but give you a lower rate to cover their handling.

Banking hours are normally 9:00 a.m.-5.30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday 9am-noon, Banks are closed Sundays.

Most hotels, car rental agencies, and upscale stores in the tourist areas accept credit cards. Be aware, however, that many, restaurants, cafes and stores will only accept cash so be sure to ask in advance.

How much will I spend a day?
This is very difficult to answer and depends on the person, however Spain is very reasonable and the prices below should give you a approx. idea:
Three-course meal without drink: 1500-3000Ptas
Budget meal: 1000-2000 Ptas
Cafe meal: Sandwich, dessert and coffee 500Ptas

What is the weather like?
During the summer May - September the weather is warm and dry, average temperature is around 21C. It is advisable to bring light and comfortable summer clothes, however do not forget to pack a warm sweater for the evenings at the beach or street cafe.

Will my electrical gadgets work?
Electric current in Spain is 220 volts AC at 50 Cycles per second. To operate small appliances, laptop computers or other electronic gadgets, you will need a multi-adapter. Check with a large electronics store in your area. Electric clocks, record players and tape recorders will not work properly even on converters because they use the 60 Cycle American/Canadian standard.

What is the best way to phone home?
There are public phones around Spain which use phone cards and/or coins. All these phones can be used for both local and long distance phone calls. Phone cards can be purchased in estancos, and other shops which advertise "tarjetas telefónicas" (phone cards). These come in units of 1000 and 2000 ptas.

It is also smart to obtain an overseas phone card (they are usually free-of-charge) from your long distance carrier, such as MCI, AT&T or Sprint. MCI's Worldphone Program, for example, lets you phone the US/Canada from Spain or any other European countries at greatly reduced rates from what you would pay from the regular charge. The long distance carrier will give you a special number to call when placing your call.

What major holidays are there in Spain?
New Years Day, Jan 6 May Day, May 1 June 6, Aug 25, Oct 12, Nov 1, Dec 6, Dec 8 and Christmas.

THINGS TO SEE IN MALAGA
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Sites in and around Malaga
Outstanding in Málaga: are the baroque Cathedral and the Arab fortress, with a double wall and three interior palaces. The Museum of Fine Arts houses a collection from the 19th century and works by Picasso. Larios Street is the main business artery of the city. From the top of the Gibralfaro castle there is view of the city and the port. Benalmádena has a lovely, well cared for old town in the Andalusian style. The best of Mijas is its balcony, with a wonderful view of the sea.
In Marbella: visit the old town, surrounding the Orange Square, the Town Hall, the Casa del Corregidor, the jail and the hermitage of Santiago. A very different stroll leads one to the luxury housing estates of Puente Romano, Pinomar, Rincón Andaluz, Nueva Andalucía, Puerto Banús and Cabopino. No trip is complete without a visit to beautiful old Ronda. On the eastern part of the coast, Nerja has lovely little coves and its famous vantage point over the sea, the Balcony of Europe. Nearby are the famous caves of Nerja. Inland, Fuengirola is a "white village", well cared for and clean.
Around the Alcazaba: The kings' palace, Alcazaba, which was built starting in 11th century, is Malaga's most important building of the Moorish epoch. In its interior you may visit the very interesting Archaeological Museum. Worth visiting are as well the beautiful gardens with several fountains, and the rests of a Roman theater. Very close to it there is the Castillo de Gibralfaro. Originally it was palace built probably by Phoenicians, but in 14th century Moorish Caliph Yasuf I had built over it the fortress which is conserved until today. Two of its towers are connected by ducts with the Alcazaba.
The Cathedral: After conquering Malaga from the Moors, the Catholic Kings ordered in 1528 to build a cathedral over the original mosque. Construction was not finished until 1728, and the façade is mainly of this later period. Among the highlights are the chapels, Capilla Mayor and Capilla del Sagrado Corazón, and the beautiful choir-stalls.
Museums: Museum of Arts: (Calle San Agustin, 6) The museum is located in a palace (Palacio de los Condes de Buena Vista) and exposes, among others, works of Murillo, Zurbarán and Alonso Cano. Museum of Popular Art and Customs: (Pasillo de Santa Isabel, 10) Diocesal Museum: (Plaza del Obispo, 1) Important collection of religious arts, including works of Niño de Guevara and Pietro Vannuci.
Churches: Santuario de la Virgen de la Victoria, in Andalusian baroque-style with Mudejar-style influences. Worth visiting are specially the crypt and the tombs of the Counts of BuenaVista. La Iglesia del Sagrario, gothic, with interesting reliefs and sculptures. It was built in 1488 over an Arabian mosque.
More attractions: In Plaza de la Merced is located the house where was born great painter Pablo Picasso. Casa del Consulado, Palacio de la Aduana and Casa Palacio del Marqués de Valdeflores are interesting examples of the architecture of 18th century. And if you want to relax, you may have a walk through one of the beautiful Mediterranean parks of Malaga: Puerta Oscura, de Picasso, de Pedro Luis Alonso, Parque de Málaga, de la Cónsula, El Retiro and la Concepción.

Only a short trip away is the beautiful and historic cities of Granada, Seville and Córdoba.

Parque Nacional El Chorro: beautiful lake and gorge.
Finally: you can visit the typical white mountain villages surrounding Málaga -´Los Pueblos Blancos´- or go to the caves of Nerja.Furthermore there is a weekend trip to Morocco, North Africa and we offer the possibility of going skiing in the Sierra Nevada.

Sports and Activities
It is possible to practice any type of sport in Malaga, from the most traditional, such as football, to swimming. Tennis is played in many courts and schools, as is basketball, volleyball and pelota. Malaga and the surrounding coastline is covered with golf courses.

Conditions for practicing water-sports is excellent. Water-skiing, motor, sailing and rowing boats are available and of course the great beaches of nearby Costa del Sol are what have made Malaga one of the most visited regions of Spain.