La Plaza del Obispo

The Plaza del Obispo, in Malaga

The Plaza del Obispo, or square of the Bishop, is one of the monumental jewels of the historic centre of Malaga, framed by the baroque episcopal palace and the cathedral. The Malaga audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this harmonious square with warm colours, that took its present appearance in the eighteenth century, one of the finest ensembles of the town.

The episcopal palace and the cathedral

The Plaza del Obispo, literally square of the Bishop, is one of the monumental jewels of the historic centre of Malaga. Its exact origin remains subject to debate: some evoke an ancient settlement, others a creation in the Muslim era. But one thing is sure, it is in the eighteenth century that the square took its present appearance, with its warm colours, its architectural harmony and its function of ideal setting for one of the most emblematic ensembles of the town. The square is indeed framed by two major monuments. On one side stands the episcopal palace, considered as the finest example of civil baroque architecture of Malaga; its construction began in 1762 and its façade, rhythmed with polychrome marbles, balconies and a great portal crowned with coats of arms, is one of the masterpieces of Andalusian baroque. On the other rises the Cathedral of the Incarnation, whose monumental façade dominates the scene in all its majesty. In the centre of the square flows a fountain of the nineteenth century, a point of freshness appreciated by the strollers. This face-to-face between religious power and sacred architecture makes the Plaza del Obispo a solemn and photogenic setting, where you willingly linger on a terrace to admire the cathedral. A place of passage of the processions of Holy Week, it is one of the spiritual and monumental hearts of the town. A baroque square and a setting of the cathedral, the Plaza del Obispo is a fine stop of the discovery of Malaga.

What to see

Here you admire one of the finest ensembles of Malaga, that took its present appearance in the eighteenth century: on one side the episcopal palace, finest example of the civil baroque of the town, whose construction began in 1762 and whose façade is adorned with marbles and coats of arms; on the other the Cathedral of the Incarnation and its monumental façade; in the centre, a fountain of the nineteenth century. The Plaza del Obispo is a jewel of Malaga. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Plaza del Obispo lies in the heart of the historic centre of Malaga, in front of the cathedral, near the calle Molina Lario, reachable on foot. It is a public square freely accessible, lined with terraces, ideal to admire the cathedral and the episcopal palace. You discover it during a walk in the centre.

What is there on the Plaza del Obispo in Malaga?

Two major monuments frame the square: the episcopal palace, finest example of the civil baroque of Malaga, whose construction began in 1762, and the Cathedral of the Incarnation, whose monumental façade dominates the scene; in the centre flows a fountain of the nineteenth century, and the square, that took its present appearance in the eighteenth century, is one of the finest ensembles of the town.

Where is the Plaza del Obispo in Malaga?

In the heart of the historic centre of Malaga, in front of the cathedral, in Spain.