MALAGA (Malaca)		Quality of Remains
		Ease of Access
		Atmosphere & Setting

History & Occupation:

The earliest known settlement at this strategically important site is the city of Malaka, founded by the Phoenicians. An economic and trading centre, Malaka was conquered by Carthage in 55BC and prospered once more under their rule until 218BC when Roman involvement put an end to Carthaginian rule in Spain. The city continued to prosper once more, particularly as with many towns in Southern Spain in the production of the fish sauce garum, in the Republican period and by the reign of Titus was made a municipium. Christianity came to Roman Malaga in strength and the area became a haven for Christians in the late Empire. Malaca continued on despite the barbarian incursions of the 5th century under the rule of the Eastern (or Byzantine) Empire and fell to the Visigoths only in the 7th century.

Remains and Visit:

Well preserved and carved into the hillside below the Moorish castle, the only reminder of powerful Malaca that can be seen now is the theatre.

Images:

2 views of the theatre		Aerial view (c/o Google Earth)