Mercado de Ataranzanas - Old Muslim Shipyard of Malaga
Name
The name Atarazanas comes from Moorish times, and when translated literally from the Arabic means a ‘place where ships are repaired’. Although hard to believe now, most of current building and surrounding areas were underwater during the Moorish rule and the Atarazanas was right at the sea’s edge. The are records well into the 18th century of people still fishing from the market (ship building yard’s) walls.
Malaga’s this covered market has no entrance fees, hushed corridors or guarded displays. The market’s history is rich, colourful, noisy and at times overwhelming. It encapsulates local culture through interaction and food, pervading the senses with everyday life.
History
A Nasrid shipyard
The Atarazanas was built during the reign of Mohammed V (1354-1391). The Fourteenth Century shipyard was one of the largest, most impressive buildings of its time. The Atarazanas was characterised by the seven horseshoe arches that made up its facade.
Today, one one remains, which was declared a monument of historical and artistic influence in 1978. For the more observant there are two tiny shields inscribed in Arabic near the top of the Arch with “Only God is the victor, glory be to Him.”
After Reconquista
From shipyard to market, Ataranzas underwent many transformations. Following the fall of the city to the Catholics in 1487, a convent was set up there, but apparently the sound of the waves distracted the faithful from their prayers. More appropriately perhaps, the building was then turned into a huge military fort for storing weapons. Later, it became a hospital and even housed a medical school.
By the 19th Century the original structure had all but collapsed. Thanks to the efforts of the architect Joaquin Rucoba, the original arch was saved and the market was completely rebuilt between 1876 and 1879 with iron playing a large part in its rebuilding.
