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50kms north of Malaga, this town has a population of 40,000 and has always been a commercial centre with it being located in the middle of Andalucia. The inhabitants of this area around 2000BC constructed some of Europe’s largest tombs, which were built with large boulders. In Moorish times it was a preferred spot for the Granada Emirs, before it became their first town to fall to Castile in 1410.
The Muslim castle, the “Alcazaba” looks over the town and from here you can see the area just as the Muslim guards did many hundreds of years ago. The approach to the castle is through a beautifully preserved archway, the “Arco de los Gigantes” which were built in 1585. From the Alcazaba you can visit the “Torre del Homenaje” (admission is free) and just below here you can see the “Plaza Santa Maria”. o­n the plaza is the “Colegiate de Santa Maria la Mayor”. Built in the 16th Century this church (one of 32 churches in Antequera) displays beautiful examples of Renaissance facades’. Next to the church is the excavated site of some Roman baths. Another church which should be high o­n you visit list should be the “Iglesia de Carmen”, situated o­n the Plaza del Carmen. This church is perhaps the finest in Andalucia with some amazing sculptures appealing to anyone with a taste for fine architecture.
Take the road out of the town in a north east direction will take you to the “Dolmen de Menga” and the “Dolmen de Viera” which are Ancient Tombs. Back in prehistoric times, the inhabitants of the area transported many huge boulders from the hills nearby for their chieftains, which are covered by earth mounds. The Dolmen de Menda is the larger of the two tombs being built with 32 slabs; the largest slab weighing 180 tonnes.
Not far from Antequera lies the 12 square-kilometer area of rock formations of “El Torcal”. These rock formations have been weathered down into some of the most incredible rock formations anywhere in the world over millions of years. Formed o­n the sea bed over 150 million years ago, and as the climate and terrain changed the rocks have been carved out by the wind, rain ever since. A visit here is a must, and there are two marked routes in which you can walk. A two hour and a four hour walk, depending o­n how fit you are feeling. The El Torcal visitor centre (95 203 13 89) will be able to advise you o­n other routes which are o­nly available with a guide. But a visit to El Torcal is a must for any visitor to Antequera.