The Spanish city of Malaga is more than merely a gateway to the Costa del Sol, and contains a variety of attractions for visitors, according to the Malaga City Tourist Board and Convention Bureau.

With thousands of British holidaymakers taking advantage of plentiful cheap flights to Malaga, the city sees many travellers pass through its borders on the way to the mountain and coast resorts around the Costa del Sol. However, the city’s tourist board is looking to encourage visitors to take time to explore the many attractions of the city itself.

“We’re talking about our wonderful momentous heritage from the Romans, the Catholic kings and the Jewish times,” said Antonio Montejo Romero, spokesman for the Malaga City Tourism and Convention Bureau. “We have a Roman amphitheatre for example which dates back to the first century before Christ, which is completely restored,” he added.

Mr Romero went on to say that visitors to the city are sure to find it to be a “real treasure”, thanks to the wealth of historical and cultural attractions in and around Malaga. The city’s cathedral and Alcazaba fortress are both impressive sights, and the Picasso Museum is one of the world’s leading institutions dedicated to the renowned artist. Art lovers will also be attracted to the city’s new Thyssen Museum of Andalucia, which is currently housing an exhibition of more than 60 Impressionist works, including important paintings by Monet, Miro, Picasso and Matisse.

Flights to Malaga are widely available from a huge range of carriers and airports in the UK, and provide easy access not only to the holiday hotspots of the Costa del Sol but also to a city worthy of a visit in itself.