Málaga Cathedral

In front of you is Málaga Cathedral, dedicated to the Incarnation – the great project with which the Catholic Monarchs set out to stamp their mark on the newly conquered city. It stands on the site of the main mosque, which served as a Christian church for decades.

1The finest architects of their day

Work began in 1528. Diego de Siloé had a hand in the plans, and later came Andrés de Vandelvira, Hernán Ruiz II and Diego de Vergara – almost every great name of the Andalusian Renaissance. The east end was consecrated on 3 August 1588. The rest, including the façade in front of you, was built in the 18th century, by then in a Baroque idiom.

What strikes you is the height. Its vaults are among the loftiest of any Spanish church, and its tower, some 84 metres tall, was for centuries the highest building in Andalusia after the Giralda.

2An unfinished cathedral

In 1782 the work stopped: the second tower, much of the decoration and the roof over the vaults were still missing. Hence its affectionate nickname, la Manquita – "the one-armed lady".

Inside, the highlight is the choir stalls, on which the great sculptor Pedro de Mena worked in the 17th century.

Visiting the interior and climbing to the roof require a ticket; from the square, though, you can read its whole story on the façade.

3What to look for

• The three doorways, framed by red marble columns.
• The reliefs of the Incarnation, to which the cathedral is dedicated.
• The Baroque Bishop's Palace behind you.