Malaga CF visitor guide | Estadio La Rosaleda guide

Construction started on Estadio La Rosaleda (The Rose Garden) in 1936, but did not finish until 1941 as a result of the Spanish Civil War. It served as the home of CD Málaga, who played 20 seasons in La Liga between 1949 and 1990, until 1992, when they went bust. Club Atlético Malagueño, the reserve team of CD Málaga, inherited the stadium, changing their name to Málaga Club de Fútbol in 1994. Officially, however, Málaga CF is a distinct entity with a different founding date and no official relationship with CD Málaga.

The stadium, a two-tiered bowl, was redeveloped for the World Cup in 1982 and again in 2001. It seats 28,963 people, and is owned in equal proportion by the municipality of Málaga, the Málaga Provincial Council and the Government of Andalusia.

How to get there

The stadium is in the north of the city, on the west bank of the river. For those who want to drive, free parking is available under La Rosaleda shopping centre, a few hundred yards from the stadium. Walking from the city centre is fairly straightforward, and takes about 20 to 25 minutes. Buses also run to the north of the city. A taxi will cost around €5.

Where to drink

The adjacent shopping centre has many restaurants where you can get something to eat and drink before the march. If you are coming from the city centre, Bar Logueno, on Marín García, is an old tavern popular with locals. Get a few cold beers and enjoy some plates of cured ham and cheese. There are plenty of atmospheric bars around Plaza Uncibaj too.