Antequera, Spain

Antequera highlights

Known for ancient megalites, fortress, historical center, nature, palace, catholic church, catholic monastery

ancient megalites is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Antequera, known as the ＂city of white churches and gongoras,＂ is a must-visit destination in Andalusia. The city offers a rich patrimony of monuments, including the Colegiata, founded in 1514, and the Church of Nuestra Senora de los Remedios, with its outstanding main altarpiece in Churrigueresque style. Visitors can walk through the historic center, admiring the noble architecture, and visit the Museum of the City, housed in the Palacio de Najera, which features the Ephebos of Antequera, a bronze sculpture from the 1st century.

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Last reviewed: 18 June 2024

Antequera description

Antequera, located in the heart of Andalusia, has a rich history dating back over a millennium. The city has been inhabited by various civilizations, including the Iberians, Tartars, Phoenicians, and Carthaginians, leaving behind a legacy of artistic and cultural heritage.

In 1410, Prince Don Fernando conquered the city, which became a strategic military fortress on the frontier. During the 19th century, Antequera suffered from the Napoleonic invasion and outbreaks of Yellow fever, but recovered in the 1830s with the emergence of a bourgeois class that encouraged expansion and industrialization.

In the 16th century, Antequera became a significant commercial center, regulating the traffic of goods between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. The city's economic fabric shifted from a military-focused economy to strengthening its agricultural and commercial activities. Antequera's prosperity slowly declined at the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th, due to Spain's loss of American colonies and military conflicts in Europe.

The city's history is also marked by its role in the rise of Andalusian nationalism, being the site of the drafting of the Federal Constitution of Antequera in 1883 and the Pact of Antequera in 1978, which led to the achievement of autonomy for Andalusia. Antequera was considered as a possible headquarters of the Andalusian government, but lost the vote in favor of Seville.

Antequera's cultural heritage is a culmination of its history, with a contemporary version in expositions of painters like Cristobal Torcal. The city has been innovative in protecting its cultural heritage, elaborating a Special Development Plan for the Historic Quarter to ensure its growth and modification occur in an ordered way.

Antequera, known as the ＂city of white churches and gongoras,＂ is a must-visit destination in Andalusia. The city offers a rich patrimony of monuments, including the Colegiata, founded in 1514, and the Church of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, with its outstanding main altarpiece in Churrigueresque style. Visitors can walk through the historic center, admiring the noble architecture, and visit the Museum of the City, housed in the Palacio de Nájera, which features the Ephebos of Antequera, a bronze sculpture from the 1st century.

The city is also famous for its gastronomy, with specialties like the mollete of Antequera, porra, and bienmesabe. Antequera is surrounded by a beautiful, fertile countryside, framed by rocky mountains, and is close to the natural reserve of El Torcal, famous for its unstable limestone rocks. The city's strategic position makes it an important center of transportation logistics, with several industrial parks and the new Logistics Centre of Andalusia.

Tourists can follow the marked route of the ＂Walks in Washington Irving's Antequera,＂ organized by the Foundation El legado andalusí, which takes them through the places that inspired the renowned author. Antequera is a true crucible of history, art, and landscape, offering visitors a unique experience in the heart of Andalusia.

Today, Antequera is an important tourist and cultural center, nationally and regionally, with a population of over 44,000 inhabitants. The city is situated at the heart of Andalusia, representing and balancing the different ＂Andalucias＂ that exist.

The Antequera Dolmens Site, located just 1km from the town center, this archaeological site features two impressive earth-covered burial mounds, the Dolmen de Menga and the Dolmen de Viera, built by Bronze Age people around 2500 BC. These megalithic structures are considered some of the finest Neolithic monuments in Europe and were named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2016.

The dolmens are a testament to the engineering skills of prehistoric people, who transported huge slabs from nearby hills to construct these burial chambers. The larger dolmen, Menga, is 25m long, 4m high, and composed of 32 slabs, with the largest weighing 180 tonnes. On the summer solstice, the sun rises directly into the chamber mouth, highlighting the significance of the dolmen's geographical location. Visitors can explore the dolmens and learn about their history through guided tours, which can be booked in advance.

The site is easily accessible, with modern visitor facilities, car parking, and a reception center. The dolmens are surrounded by a small, wooded park, and the nearby mountains of El Torcal de Antequera and Peña de los Enamorados are also part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. Visitors can combine a visit to the dolmens with a tour of the town of Antequera, which offers a rich cultural heritage and stunning natural beauty. With its unique blend of history, architecture, and natural surroundings, the Antequera Dolmens Site is an unforgettable experience for tourists.

Antequera related tours

Sorry, we have no any pre-designed tour passing trough this place yet. If you would like to visit this place, please contact us.