Patio de los Naranjos, Catedral de Málaga, Malaga, Guide du visiteur et quoi faire à proximité

The Patio de los Naranjos is the quiet orange tree courtyard beside Malaga Cathedral, in the historic centre of Malaga. The cathedral around it, the Catedral de la Encarnación, rose over the site of the city's main mosque after the Christian conquest, and it is famous for a tower that was never finished.

The story behind it

After the Catholic Monarchs took Malaga in 1487, the city's main mosque was replaced by a Christian church, and a much grander cathedral was planned on the same ground. Building began in 1528, in the reign of Charles V, and it went on for generations. Money was short, the engineering was demanding and politics kept getting in the way.

By the late 18th century work had stopped, and the building was never completed as designed. One of the two bell towers still stands unfinished, which is why locals have long nicknamed the cathedral La Manquita, the one-armed lady. The courtyard next to it, with its orange trees, is a calm corner that recalls the older layout of the site.

What to look for

• Look up at the cathedral's two towers, which are clearly different heights, and you can see the unfinished one for yourself.
• The orange trees of the courtyard give shade and a scent of blossom in spring, a sharp contrast with the heavy stone around them.
• Notice how the stonework mixes styles, because a build spread over so many generations left Renaissance and Baroque touches side by side.
• Step back in the surrounding lanes to see how the cathedral rises above the low rooftops of the old town.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 15 to 20 minutes for the courtyard and the exterior, or more if you also go inside the cathedral.
• Check current opening hours and access, as the courtyard and the cathedral interior can have different entry rules.
• Morning or late afternoon gives softer light and fewer crowds around the cathedral.
• The Picasso Museum, the Alcazaba, the Roman theatre and the shopping street Calle Larios are all within an easy walk.

See it on a quest

The Picasso Heist, Uncover the Secret in Málaga takes you through the old town on foot, and the cathedral area is one stop along the way. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like.

Kid Quest: Solve the case of the lost senses in Malaga is a good way to bring younger travellers to the cathedral and its courtyard. You walk from place to place, hear about each one as you reach it and solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group, and there is no guide to follow.