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MALAGA: Tapas tours in the birthplace of Picasso

The birth place of Picasso boasts Easter parades, tapas tours and its very own Pompidou Centre. It’s so much more than just a gateway to the Costa del Sol.

GO NOW: To enjoy the sunshine of Andalucia’s early spring, and for Easter week (March 25 to April 1). Malaga’s Semana Santa features hooded penitents shuffling through the rosemary-strewn streets carrying figures of Christ and the Virgin Mary – and you might spot Antonio Banderas, too. You can fly from the UAE to both Madrid and Barcelona, and take internal flights or a train.

STAY THERE: Right by the beach, the five-star Gran Hotel Miramar (doubles from €160/Dh723 without breakfast) combines grande-dame glamour with contemporary design. If you are going for Easter, book a room with a street view at the chic and central Room Mate Larios to see the processions from your window (doubles from €80/Dh360 without breakfast).

WALKHERE: From Plaza de la Merced, where Picasso was born, walk down the pedestrianised Calle Alcazabilla with the Roman amphitheatre on the left and above it the 11th-century Alcazaba fortress. Up ahead, visit the excellent Malaga Museum (museosdeandalucia.es; free), then stroll along the palm-lined paths in the Paseo del Parque to reach the glass cube that houses the Pompidou Centre (centrepompidou- malaga.eu; admission €7/Dh30) before walking back along the Muelle Uno waterfront promenade.

SEETHIS: Book tickets online in advance for the Picasso Museum (museopicasso malaga.org; admission from €7/Dh30). The exhibition And Fellini Dreamed of Picasso runs until May 13.

TRYTHIS: The Soho Street Art and Tapas tour serves up culture with bar stops (welovetapas. com; €48/Dh217 per person).

SHOPHERE: Stroll up Calle Marques de Larios, Malaga’s elegant main shopping street, then veer off into the adjoining lanes to come upon traditional shops such as Calzados Hinojosa (Calle San Juan 20), which has been selling espadrilles for almost a century.

DRINK HERE: Install yourself at a terrace table at Cafe de Estraperlo (Plaza del Poeta Alfonso Canales 4) and you will soon get chatting to the friendly team and regulars.

EATHERE: At Lola y Ludwig (Calle Vendeja 29), Andalucia meets Ireland in dishes including octopus with colcannon tart (€14/Dh63).

OFFTHEMAP: La Concepcion, three miles (5km) north of the city centre, is one of the best botanic gardens in Europe (laconcepcion. malaga.eu; €5.20/Dh23). Created in the 19th century, it is particularly voluptuous in spring. The Malaga Tour sightseeing bus (green line) is the easiest way to get there (city-ss.es/en/ malaga; ticket €1.30/Dh6). See malagaturismo. com for more information.