The Cathedral at Málaga has beautiful baroque choir stalls by Pedro Mena (1658-78), in sharp contrast with the building's classic lines. The work of different artists and carvers, Mena's 42 pieces are melancholy and intimate, of great emotional intensity. Another exceptional work is the dome of the church of Santo Cristo by Alonso Cortés (1639-43); it rises in the centre of a circular ground plan to great optical effect, simulating architectural features that frame saints, martyrs and chubby angels. The 18th century Pantheon of the Counts of Buena Vista is interesting for its atmosphere; it is of white stucco on a black background, in Sanctuario de la Victoria. Two paintings are worth mentioning: Alonso Cano's brightly coloured Our Lady of the Rosary of Charity by Niño de Guevara (1690-98), a dense baroque composition.
The Municipal Museum at Antequera holds the piece chosen to close this list of suggestions. It is a bronze Ephebe, the figure of a naked youth, girded by ivy leaves and bunches of grapes. It came from a Roman villa in the fertile plains of Antequera and is a Roman version of the original 5th century BC Greek interpretation, with parallels in Volubilis (Morocco) and Pompeii.
Credit cards accepted
