artist impression Bosque de Málaga 2019

Walking through Calle Larios, the main shopping street in the lively centre of Málaga, I witnessed the construction of the Christmas lights for the approaching holidays. Every year the city attracts visitors and tourists from far and wide with its beautiful atmospheric lighting on Calle Larios as the highlight.

With the impressive light show of 2018 still in mind, we are looking forward to the new concept with the promising, fairytale-like name El Bosque de Navidad, ‘The Christmas forest’ which will bring Christmas to the main street. 

The huge arches that spanned the shopping street in 2018 and the three previous years, were inspired by the beautiful cathedral of Málaga. When you were under these arches in the heart of the city, you actually imagined to be inside ‘La Manquita’ the beautiful cathedral, with only one tower. Many colourful stained glass scenes and other Gothic and Renaissance elements gave this light artwork a devout appearance that even non-believers were speechless.

Over the past three years, these immense arches have shaped the beautiful Christmas spectacle on the main shopping street, each year with a different theme but always breathtaking. Now it is the turn of the residents of Liverpool to be enchanted by this impressive decoration after Iluminaciones Ximenez, the company that provides these kinds of beautiful decorations worldwide, sold the arches to this English city.

We are full of expectation and excitement with what the company Ximenez will now surprise us with during these holidays. It seems as if they wanted to keep it a secret for as long as possible, where almost all the surrounding streets have been decorated with lights and ornaments, the construction in the Larios has only just begun. However, we are convinced that this year too, the city of Málaga will be decorated with an impressive light spectacle. On artist impressions you can already see that there are arches again but less high and with luminous leaves, flowers, angels and more. On Friday 29 November we can see it with our own eyes, then the official Inauguracion de alumbrado of El Bosque de Navidad (Christmas lights switch- on ceremony) will take place. And none other than the world-famous Malagean actor Antonio Banderas will perform this opening ceremony near the 'del Marqués de Larios' statue. This light and sound show, because special music has been chosen for the show, is very worthwhile and will be visited by many people again this year. The 'lights of Málaga, as they are also called, can be seen daily until 5 January at 6:30 PM, 8:00 PM and 9:30 PM.



We highly recommend a visit to Málaga during this festive season; In addition to the light show, various Christmas markets also contribute to the festivities, including stalls along Parque del Málaga and a Mercadillo de Navidad (Christmas market) in Muelle Uno at the port, and in the many cozy bars, taperias and restaurants in the city, you can experience this end-of-year party for yourself while enjoying delicious ‘food and drinks’ ...



On behalf of the team at Second Home Andalusia, I wish you a lot of fun and a feliz navidad!


Jeannette