What to see in Antequera (Málaga), from its megalithic dolmens to Torcal

The city of Antequera It is one of the main stages in any tourist trip through the interior of the province of Malaga, Andalucía.

The list of attractions is long because, in addition to a very interesting historic center, is located within walking distance of some of the most important prehistoric monuments in Europe and an incomparable natural setting.

And we must not forget the local gastronomy, filled with specialties that you have to try.

Where is Antequera

Antequera It is at a historic crossroads: here the road from Córdoba to Málaga meets the road from Seville to Granada.

The one who follows the Route of washington irving, or the one Bandits. There is no excuse not to visit this city of ancient origin.

Curiosities of the history of Antequera

The poet Gerardo diego said that Antequera It is the city of “the white and gongorean churches.”

It is that, and much more: gastronomically it gives its name to the muffin, the Cum and the antequerano pious.

It is also the city of Ephebus of Antequera and the Antequera Dolmen, in addition to Fernando de Antequera and, for flamenco fans, the Girl from Antequera.

And we must not forget the Torcal of Antequera nor of the expression “let the sun rise over Antequera.”

The place it occupies has been inhabited for several thousand years, and the proof is the megalithic dolmens of Menga, Faith y The Romeral, older than the pyramids of Egypt.

Here arose a Roman colony call Antikaria and then lived a long and important Muslim period.

The city was conquered in 1410 by Fernando of Antequera, a nickname that is due to that conquest, not because it was originally from this city.

But the fact that he adopted it implies the importance that taking this prominent position had for him.

Although there are some traces of the Muslim era, the vast majority of monuments Both religious and civil buildings that are preserved date from after the conquest.

What to see when visiting Antequera, our experience

If you want to enjoy all the attractions of the city of Antequera and its surroundings, you have to have time, a day is very short.

And also, with the experience of our trip, come with a desire to walk and discover its hidden corners on foot.

Even if you use the tourist train, which passes at regular intervals through many of the most important points, you will always have to walk a little to find some special places.

Visit the Alcazaba of Antequera

One of the first places you should go to is the Alcazaba, at the top of the hill.

The interesting thing is not what remains of it, little more than the towers, but the panorama that can be enjoyed from above.

There, dominating the horizon, stands out the Lovers' Rock, which points the way to Archidona.

Legend has it that two lovers, a Muslim and a Christian, threw themselves into the void since they could not live their forbidden love.

Collegiate Church of Santa María

On the way to the center of Antequera you pass through the Giants Arch and you reach a large, very open square, a true viewpoint, where the Collegiate Church of Santa María.

It is an imposing church designed by Diego of Siloam, which has Mudejar as well as Renaissance elements, living its moment of splendor in the Golden age and with an interior that is worth a visit.

Antequera Museum in the Palace of Nájera

On the other hand, although there are some remains of Roman terms next to the collegiate church, to truly seek the presence of Rome you will have to go to the Antequera Museum, which is in the Najera Palace.

Although there are many important pieces, The jewel of the museum is the Ephebe of Antequera, a bronze statue almost five feet tall and about 2000 years old.

It is considered one of the most beautiful Roman sculptures preserved.

The palace occupies one of the sides of the Old Town square, where is also located the convent of Santa Catalina de Siena.

And in the center, the equestrian statue of the infante Don Fernando, Whoever it was king of Aragon, entering triumphantly into the city that gave him his nickname.

Churches and convents in Antequera

If there is something that stands out Antequera is in the religious heritage, with a large number of churches and convents, some with museums.

The Barefoot, Carmen, remedies, the Trinidad, Santo Domingo o San Pedro These are just some temples that we will find along the way.

The latter has almost the size of a cathedral, and it is stated that it was built at the time when Antequera competed with Malaga for being both the capital of the province and the episcopal seat.

This entire area also abounds in palaces, such as the one mentioned in NajeraThat of VilladariosThat of Serailler and many others.

What to eat in Antequera: gastronomic specialties

There is also no shortage of bars and restaurants where you can stop to rest and take in so much history.

try some local gastronomic specialties It is necessary on any visit.

For breakfast we will have already tried the antequerano muffin, but in a meal you cannot miss the Antequera truncheon (a kind of salmorejo of tomato, pepper, garlic, bread, oil and salt but without vinegar) or the antequerano pious (salad with orange, cod and hard-boiled egg among other things).

How to visit the Antequera Dolmens, a World Heritage Site

Two of the highlights of Antequera.

The first is your megalithic monumental complex, which is registered on the list of World Heritage of the Unesco 2016 since.

Just outside are the Dolmens of Menga and Viera, next to each other.

They are about 5800 years old and are splendid examples of this type of construction.

El Menga Dolmen It is the most imposing and is made up of a gallery that leads to a chamber made up of 15 vertical monoliths.

Five enormous slabs, one weighing 180 tons, form the roof of this exceptional site, one of the best examples of megalithic art in all of Europe.

About three kilometers away is the Tholos of El Romeral, which curiously is located within the axis that connects the Menga Dolmen with the Lovers' Rock.

It should be noted that the declared set World Heritage includes these three megalithic monuments, but also the natural places of the Lovers' Rock and the Torcal, with which it forms an inseparable whole.

How to visit El Torcal de Antequera

The natural area of ​​El Torcal It is located about 15 kilometers south of Antequera.

Here erosion has modeled a strange landscape in which the limestone rock masses They take on curious shapes.

Some, the most capricious, have names like Harrier, the Muela or Lizard.

One of the most spectacular places in Torcal is Seven Tables.

Map: how to get to Antequera

Antequera It is located 51 kilometers north of the city of Malaga, just under an hour by car.