La Concepción botanical garden

La Concepción was planted in the 1850s by a Málaga family who used the port to bring in whatever grew in the tropics; a century and a half later it is a full jungle five kilometres from the cathedral. Paths climb through bamboo, palms and enormous ficus trees whose aerial roots hang down like curtains, past ponds, a neoclassical pavilion and a viewpoint over the city.

For a session it solves the problem Málaga otherwise has in summer: shade. The canopy is high and dense, so the light on the ground is soft and even from mid-morning to late afternoon, and you can work at the hours when the beach and the port are unusable. Green is the dominant colour, which suits pale clothing and skin tones.

Spring is the peak: the wisteria arbour flowers around March and April and the whole tunnel turns lilac. Autumn is quieter and the light angles lower through the trees. Winter mornings can be damp underfoot but the garden is at its emptiest.

Entry is ticketed and the garden has its own opening days and hours, which change with the season — check both, and check what is required for a professional session, since the garden is municipally run. It is a fifteen-minute taxi from the centre, the paths are gravel and there are slopes, so flat shoes; bring insect repellent for the evening slots near the ponds.