What Malaga Looked Like in 1940 — City Life After the War

Old photographs brought to life — everyday life in Málaga after the war. Back to the past.

This video is based on real historical photographs of Málaga from 1940.
Streets, public spaces, traditions and daily life are presented as a visual journey into the city’s past.

The video features historic locations and scenes such as Acera de la Marina, Cortina del Muelle, Calle Larios, Plaza de la Marina, the Feria de Málaga and Romería of 1940, early construction of La Rosaleda Stadium, fishing contests at the Morro de Levante, and the construction of the Jardines de Pedro Luis Alonso.
Location names and events appear directly in the video through on-screen titles.

This video is not just AI! Each video represents hours of manual work: photo restoration and colorization are done by hand, while animation is created with the help of AI. Editing and music are added to create a fully immersive experience.

🎵 Music and editing help recreate the atmosphere of the era.
📖 Historical and cultural content created from authentic archival photographs.


In 1940, Málaga was living through the early years of Francisco Franco’s dictatorship, following the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1939. The city was marked by economic hardship, food shortages, ration cards and strict political control.

During this period, Spain maintained close diplomatic and ideological ties with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, which explains the presence of German military personnel and Nazi symbols in some urban scenes and public events. Although Spain officially remained non-belligerent during World War II, the influence of Axis powers was visible in ceremonies, military parades and international contacts.

Despite repression and scarcity, daily life continued. Religious celebrations, romerías and the Feria de Málaga remained essential social events, offering moments of unity and relief for the population. At the same time, early post-war urban projects — including the construction of La Rosaleda Stadium and public gardens — reflected the regime’s efforts to project stability and recovery.

This video presents Málaga in 1940 through authentic archival photographs, capturing a complex moment in the city’s history: between war and peace, hardship and tradition, foreign influence and everyday civilian life.