La Concepción Gardens: A Slice of Paradise in Málaga
The Honeymoon Trip That Brought Plants from Around the World to Málaga
There was a time, towards the end of the 19th century, when Málaga was an industrial powerhouse. The second or third industrial city in Spain. Its wealthy bourgeoisie occupied the best areas, building stately homes and turning their country estates into dreamlike retreats.
Of all the families, one stood above the rest.
The story of the Loring-Heredia family
The Lorings and the Heredias were destined to meet: wealthy families, numerous children, and a medium-sized city. What no one could have imagined was that their union would give rise to one of the most beautiful gardens in Europe.
Its creators were Jorge Loring Oyarzábal, a cultured man and great merchant who became a Marquis and member of parliament, and Amalia Heredia Livermore, the tenth daughter of the industrialist Manuel Agustín Heredia — owner of Spain’s first civilian blast furnaces, where many Roma people worked and from whom they took his surname.
Amalia, a highly active cultural figure, founded the Royal Spanish Society of Natural History and was a great patron and collector. From childhood she received an exceptionally refined education with travels abroad. The Civil Hospital and La Asunción school, both founded by her, still stand in Málaga.
Years after marrying, they turned their La Concepción residence into a botanical garden that astonished all who saw it. On their honeymoon they had seen European gardens with exotic plants, and thanks to Málaga’s climate and their connections — they owned shipping companies — they decided to create their own. They hired a famous French gardener, Chamousst, and got to work. Today, as you enter or leave the city heading north, you glimpse it from the motorway like a lush forest.
The Loringian Museum and the Lex Flavia
But there’s more. For years, the couple dedicated themselves to recovering archaeological remains from the many excavations taking place across Andalusia. The most significant was the Lex Flavia Malacitana, a bronze plaque bearing the Roman laws that governed Málaga in AD 80, now held in the National Archaeological Museum.
They built a charming museum — the Loringian Museum — and displayed the plaque alongside fantastic mosaics found in Cártama and fragments of Roman statues. Some can still be seen while strolling through the garden.
After the owners passed away, La Concepción was bought in 1911 by the Echevarría-Echevarrieta family of Bilbao, who extended the garden and enriched its already astonishing botanical value. In 1990, Málaga City Council purchased the estate, and in 1991 the Municipal Botanical Trust was founded.
A record-breaking garden
La Concepción is a Romantic garden recognised in 1943 as a Historic-Artistic Garden and declared a Site of Cultural Interest. It houses around two thousand species. The monumental woodland is imposing, with centuries-old specimens of ficus, araucarias, magnolias, pines, cypresses, and cedars.
Subtropical species predominate. The palm collection — over one hundred species — is considered one of the finest in Europe. The bamboo and aquatic plants also stand out.
Around the Historic Garden, the botanical garden has gradually taken shape, with fruit trees, vines, Mediterranean plants, and aquatic species laid out methodically in different settings.
Enjoy this slice of paradise right next to the city. It’s surprising that it remains largely unknown to many tourists, and even to locals. Feel like you’re in a film — many have been shot here — and marvel at the pergola’s wisteria, planted in 1857, whose lilac flowers and soft fragrance create a sublime atmosphere.
Practical information
Camino del Jardín Botánico, 3. 29014 Málaga. Phone: 952 252 148. Self-guided and guided visits available.
If you want to discover more of the province, check out our complete guide to Málaga with beaches, villages, and monuments. And if historic gardens interest you, don’t miss the Generalife in Granada.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to visit the garden?
A leisurely visit takes two to three hours. The historic garden can be seen in about an hour and a half, but if you’re keen on botany or want to take your time with the palm collection, allow more.
Is it far from central Málaga?
Not at all. It’s about four kilometres from the city centre, on the northern exit from the city. You can get there by city bus or taxi in ten minutes.
What is the Lex Flavia Malacitana?
A bronze plaque bearing the Roman laws that governed Málaga in AD 80, discovered in the 19th century and originally displayed in the garden’s museum. It is now kept at the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid.