The people of Malaga know this and, luckily, there are also more and more travelers who open their eyes to this province and see that there is much more life apart from the sun and beach. It doesn’t mean that we don’t love the Costa del Sol, but it does mean that the province of Malaga is a treasure that also houses jewels in the interior such as Ronda, Frigiliana or Antequerathe town that we put on the table today.
Located in the homonymous region, Antequera is a city in the interior of the province, about 45 kilometers from Malaga city and about 115 kilometers from the city of Granada. Converted into a fundamental crossing point on the Costa del Sol routes, Antequera has an unbeatable charm where architecture, history and one of the most impressive natural landscapes in Spain are combined.
Also popular for its gastronomy, where the Antequera porra cannot be missing, this city of just over 40,000 inhabitants It has all the charms to become the perfect autumn weekend getaway.
Blessed by a continentalized Mediterranean climate, where the winters are not very harsh and the summers are not particularly painful either, it becomes a perfect excuse to take advantage of the autumn sun rays in a plan that combines hiking and culture in equal parts.
What to see and do in Antequera
Perhaps not everyone knows that in Antequera there is a cultural asset cataloged by UNESCO since 2016. We are talking about the Dolmens of Antequera, a site where we find three megalithic monuments, considered among the most notable architectural ensembles of prehistory in Europedating from the Neolithic and the Bronze Age.
They are also supported by another of the city’s great treasures: the Torcal de Antequera. Located just 15 kilometers from the city center, this natural space has been developing over millions of yearsgiving rise to a series of karst rock formations that have created an almost lunar landscape that we would think developed by an architect.
Through erosion, the limestones of Torcal de Antequera They have been outlined over time, finding towers of rock and stones that, in many cases, resemble animals or objects and which also offer several hiking routes, converted into a first-class natural and active tourism plan.
However, Antequera does not only live on prehistory. Fundamental due to its location, the relevance of Antequera at a historical level is key both in the Muslim conquest and in the subsequent Reconquista. Of the first remains the testimony of the citadel, in the highest part of the city. Magnificent and visitable example of military architecture, it was erected in the 11th century and later expanded in the 13th century. Scene of bloody battles, it would not be until the 15th century when it was conquered by the crown of Castile. Among its most unique elements, the keep stands out greatly for its presence and height.
From that conquest, Antequera would continue to gain prominence. Proof of this is another key architectural element such as the Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayorthe most relevant church in terms of heritage in the city, or the Church of San Juan de Dios, with one of the best preserved and most spectacular altarpieces in all of Andalusia and the Church of Carmen.
Located on a spectacular hill, Antequera also allows you to dominate the views of the region, something that can be done very easily from the Almenillas Viewpointwhich is one of the most sought-after postcards of the city, in its upper part.
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Now again in cultural mode, it is advisable to go through Museum of the City of Antequera, a very complete ethnographic jewel that goes through the different eras of Antequera, including that prehistory mentioned above and where all types of vestiges are preserved from the Neolithic to the present, including the city’s Roman past and its Muslim heritage.
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