1st Andalucia BIG Festival in Malaga, Costa del Sol/ Spain

Woahhh, this is what Málaga has been waiting for: a festival, that offers international acts in mega-size! Think 3 huge stages, 45.000m2 of artificial grass, bars at every corner, dozens of food trucks offering local cuisine, VIP areas with terraced views, 100.000 festival goers over the three days and a line-up to totally die for – yep, you’re almost there…Málaga itself is the third-most visited touristic hot spot in Spain by now (after Barcelona & Madrid), and is just a brilliant place for a city break. The September sun is still warm and summer certainly hasn’t finished by then. Yet, this festival has catapulted it all up a notch, as you’ll have global superstars coming to town, when you fly down South.

Organised by the lovely people behind the iconic Mad Cool festival in Madrid, this was going to be a huge gig for the city, the Costa del Sol and for Andalucia. We loved the eclectic mix of bands and singers, who made the very first edition of the Andalucia BIG Festival one to remember. Mad Cool’s co-director Javier Arnaiz thinks that Málaga ‘has everything to have a first-class festival’, and so they went to work on a line-up like no other for their first edition.

The first day kicked off with Franz Ferdinand, Suede, Biffy Clyro and Stereophonics headlining. On Friday, 9 Sept, Jamiroquai was headlining, as well as the gorgeous Michael Kiwanuka, the Glass Animals and Paolo Nutini. Claudia Peifer clocked in on Sunday, when Muse, Years & Years, Los Planetas, Nikki Hill and Aurora topped the bill, amongst many others. The sheer size of the place was incredible – people were hanging out everywhere, completely relaxed, everything was easy, everyone was welcoming. So watch our cover of the very first edition NOW, when Norwegian pop princess Aurora delighted the crowd, Nikki Hill delivered solid rock and R’n’B, and Years & Years brought London’s Camden Town to Málaga. What a glorious 3 days it was!

ANDALUCIA BIG FESTIVAL

So, if Mad Cool co-director Javier Arnaiz thinks, that Málaga has what it takes to stage a music festival of the tallest order, you better listen up! Covering the city’s Recinto Ferial with 45.000m2 of artificial grass is inspired, as making over 100.000 festival goers feel welcome to relax and chill out just about anywhere in the festival area is no mean feat. Sponsored by the Junta de Andalucia to the tune of 3.5 Million Euros (of which 80% came from the European Feder funds), it was clear the Andalucia BIG Festival as a music event HAS to be a success.

And no doubt, it was! With a world-class line-up including Franz Ferdinand, Stereophonics, Biffy Clyro, Jamiroquai, Michale Kiwanuka, the Glass Animals, Paolo Nutini, Muse, Years & Years, Los Planetas, Aurora, Nikki Hill and so many more artists on stage, there was always something going on to guarantee you to have a good time. Food and other amenities were brilliantly carried out, with a water fountain that had hardly any queues (another great thing)! Food stalls and trucks offered great nosh from Thai to veggie & vegan, to Indian and South American/Latin cuisine (Mexico, Venezuela & Cuba), not forgetting festival favourites like great pizzas. The organisational experience of Mad Cool’s team definitely shone through!

Supposedly Andalucia’s biggest festival to date, they want to make this brand new festival an annual event – yes please, is what we say! At the same time, synergy with the community, sustainability and respect for the environment are high up on the list of priorities. The organisers have a vision of linking people from all over the world through culture and music, wanting to make it such an experience, that it will attract music fans from all over the globe. Featuring genres such as pop, indie, rock, electronic dance music, R’n’B and new trends with emerging talent, they should be well on their way to achieve this!

MÁLAGA – JEWEL OF THE SOUTH

If you’ve been watching the city of Málaga’s progress during the last few years, you might feel slightly dizzy by now. Steamrollering forward on a cultural and entertainment level, Málaga is the third most visited city in Spain by now, after Barcelona and Madrid! No wonder that the guys behind Mad Cool said ‘yes’ to organising the debut event of the Andalucia BIG Festival! Classic attractions like the Alcazaba Castle, the Picasso Museum & his birthplace, the Encarnación Cathedral, the Thyssen Museum, as well as the Centre Pompidou are all huge cultural references for a visit.

However, the gazillions of tapas bars and little restaurants situated in narrow, cobble-stone alleyways and roads will charm you no end. World-class cuisine and Michelin-starred eateries (Byoko, Vino Mio, La Antxoeta Art Restaurant, Kaleja & Taró) are there to ‘bowl’ you over, whilst theatres like the Teatro Cervantes will quench your thirst for experiencing and ‘feeling’ not just Spanish culture and dance, but offer shows by global stars in performance arts and music too. Street art, murals and sculptures also make the capital of Andalucia such an exciting experience, whilst fairs and fiestas here are legendary, so they definitely know how to party and be merry.

With many European destinations just a couple or three ours flight time away, Málaga is the ideal city break offering on average over 300 days of sunshine a year. All major European airlines fly to Málaga airport (Air France, Air Lingus, British Airways, KLM, Scandinavian Airlines, Air Europa, Royal Air Maroc, Lufthansa, ITA Airways, Iberia, Swiss & TAP Air Portugal), so there are no excuses. And apart from the city’s fabulous sights and hugely attractive calendar, there’s also 14km of coastline, which is home to 16 beaches…so don’t forget to pack your swimming trunks! Heading the Costa del Sol, you’ll find another 150km of beaches when you head South, peppered with great holiday destinations such as Fuengirola, Mijas, Benalmadena, Marbella, Estepona, Sotogrande, all the way past Gibraltar to Tarifa.

Being a cool 2800 years old, Málaga is one of the oldest, continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe. Founded at around 770 BC by the Phoenicians, they already knew then that this was a great place to go, so if you haven’t been yet, start planning for your ultimate Andalusian holiday experience pronto!

Exploring Jardin Majorelle – Yves Saint Laurent’s Garden in Marrakesh

Fashion lovers (and followers of the hit Netflix show, Inventing Anna) will know all about Jardin Majorelle. 

The stunning garden oasis of design icon Yves Saint Laurent is now open to the public, so you know TA-DAH.TV had to stop by for a visit. 

So, what is it like in the enchanting gardens, what can you do there and is there a best time to visit? Here’s everything we know and why Jardin Majorelle has to be on your Marrakesh itinerary.

A Brief History of Jarden Majorelle

Crafted by the visionary artist Jacques Majorelle in the early 20th century, these lush gardens were his lifelong passion project. 

Fast forward to the swinging sixties, when fashion legend Yves Saint Laurent stumbled upon this oasis and fell head over heels. 

Enchanted by its charm, he and his partner, Pierre Bergé, rescued the gardens from developers and breathed new life into the site, preserving Majorelle’s legacy and adding their own touch of elegance. 

YSL’s influence, incredible architecture, stunning plant life and intoxicating colours are all some of the reasons why the gardens attract over 900,000 tourists a year. 

Today, Jardin Majorelle stands as a living tribute to art, nature, and the enduring spirit of creativity. But who started the site?

Claudia Peifer explores Jardin Majorelle in Marrakesh for TA-DAH.TV

Who Was Jacques Majorelle?

Son of renowned art nouveau furniture designer Louis Majorelle, Jacques was enchanted by Morocco’s vibrant culture and colorful streets. 

His Orientalist paintings of North Africa, including Morocco, are legendary, with some featured on 1920s travel posters. 

But his most iconic contribution? The mesmerizing cobalt blue buildings at Jardin Majorelle, inspired by Moroccan skies and Tuareg veils, now known as “Majorelle Blue”!

What is At Jardin Majorelle?

It’s not quite a hot air balloon watching the sunrise over the Atlas Mountains, but Jardin Majorelle is just as enchanting. But what are the main attractions in this secluded inner-city oasis?

Instagram YSL museum in Marrakesh

Musée Berbère

If we told you there is an incredible museum on-site at the gardens, you’d probably be forgiven for thinking it’s a comprehensive collection of YSL designs and fabrics or first works by the iconic Majorelle. But, its contents are arguably much more significant than that. 

In fact, the exhibit cases in The Pierre Bergé Museum of Berber Arts are jam-packed full of indigenous Moroccan and Berber artifacts. Some 600 relics are housed here including textiles (apt for YSL), metalwork and… wait for… jewels!

You heard us, honest-to-goodness chiseled jewels.

Villa Oasis Gardens

The gorgeous gardens are like a balm on the senses. Babbling water features accent every turn in the cobbled path which leads past the myriad of stunning plant life.

Tones of quintessentially terracotta tones play against the bullets of Majorelle Blue. Listen carefully as you wonder and you may just be serenaded by songbirds or croaking frogs.

Yves Saint Laurent Memorial

The gardens are laden with Instagrammable moments – the potent of which is the YSL memorial statue. 

Consisting of a gorgeous Roman pillar, the touching tribute was left to the great designer by his partner Pierre Bergé. Bergé placed the pillar in the stunning gardens following the icon’s passing in 2017.

Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakesh

If you came to Marrakesh for YSL indulgence, then this is the museum for you. Inside its super chic walls, you’ll find exhibits, stunning artworks, a library and so much more.

Four shots of the lush plant life in Jardin Majorelle in Marrakesh, Morocco.

When is The Best Time to Visit Jardin Majorelle?

The gardens open at 8:30 am every day and close at 6 pm with the final entries at 5:30 pm. Although the opening times are broad, we’d suggest getting there as early as possible. 

Because this is a super popular spot with international tourists, the later you leave your experience the tougher you may find it to get in. Plus, by the time 11 am rolls around, there are lots of people who want to grab shots of the iconic spots. 

So, get there for the opening or be willing to wait for your picture moments. But Jardin Majorelle is only 2 miles from central Marrakesh, so grabbing a taxi, bus or even a horse-drawn carriage (hello Anna Delvey) shouldn’t be too hard.

How Much Does it Cost to Tour Jardin Majorelle?

As of January 2023, the only way to bag tickets to the gardens and museums is via the on-site ticket booths or via online purchase. 

You can buy tickets to Jardin Majorelle from the site’s online store. On the site you have the option to purchase tickets to the gardens, the YSL museum, the Pierre Bergé Museum & gardens or a combined ticket. 

A combined ticket gets you into all three areas and will set you back around £25 per person. However, passes are roughly £13 for students and free for kids under 10 years old.

Discover More Iconic Sites On Our Travel Channel

We’re not ashamed to say we get around. In fact, we love nothing more than visiting gorgeous locales and bringing the experiences back to you. 

And we do all that, right here on our Travel Channel. Check it out now for more escapes across Europe. 

Alternatively, if you’re here for the museums and fashion vibes, you might be better placed over on our dedicated Arts and Culture Channel

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