Antequera

Antequera is a city in the province of Málaga, located in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Known as the "heart of Andalusia," it lies approximately 45 to 60 minutes north of Málaga city, serving as a key and well-connected crossroads between Granada, Seville, and Córdoba.

The city's ancient origins are reflected in its Roman name, Antikaria, meaning "ancient city." Today, Antequera is home to about 40,000 residents and is recognized for its wealth of cultural and economic significance. Its historic center contains more than 50 monuments and buildings that date as far back as the Bronze Age, including the Menga Cave and the Viera and Romeral dolmens. The area is also noted for its UNESCO World Heritage site featuring ancient dolmens and is situated in a dramatic, hilly landscape that includes the Peña de los Enamorados (Lover's Rock).

At the top of the town, you can find the castle and Santa María Basilica. The historic center boasts a variety of churches, collegiate churches, monasteries, convents, palaces, arches, gates, shrines, stately houses, and a citadel. Notable sites include the Nájera Palace (18th century), which currently serves as the municipal museum, the Catalinas Convent, and the palace of the Marquises of La Peña, showcasing Mudejar and Renaissance architectural styles. A visit to the nearby El Torcal Nature Area is highly recommended. Don't miss the traditional Easter week celebrations, rich with ancient historical roots.

**Must-Sees**

The Real Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor is Antequera's most emblematic religious building, constructed in the 16th century and regarded as the foremost example of Renaissance architecture in Andalusia. The Colegiata de San Sebastián, built around the same time, exhibits a unique blend of styles, along with several other churches including San Juan, Santa María de Jesús, and del Carmen, as well as the Real Monasterio de San Zoilo, which houses a valuable art collection.

Among the noteworthy religious structures from the 16th and 17th centuries are the churches of San Miguel, Santiago, San Pedro, and los Capuchinos, all of which have undergone restoration. Additional examples of religious art include the churches of Nuestra Señora de Loreto and San Juan de Dios, both excellent representations of the Baroque style, alongside the convent chapels of Belén, Madre de Dios de Monteagudo, and San José.

Antequera has numerous convents established during the 16th and 17th centuries, the most prominent being the Convento de Santo Domingo, known for its exquisite Mudejar craftsmanship. Other convents worth visiting include San Agustín, La Victoria, La Trinidad, La Encarnación, Santa Eufemia, and Las Catalinas. Two chapels, referred to as the "Capillas Tribuna," and the convent of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios complete Antequera's rich inventory of religious buildings.

As you walk through the city, you will come across several stately homes from the 16th and 17th centuries. This period also saw the construction of the San Juan de Dios Hospital and El Posito (the City Granary), two outstanding public buildings, as well as the Plaza de Toros (Bullring), which opened in 1848, and the Town Hall, built on the site of a former convent.

Among the notable buildings belonging to local nobility are the Palace of the Marquises of la Peña de los Enamorados and the Palace of the Marquise de las Escalonias. The City Museum, located in the Palacio de Nájera, is home to its prized possession, the Ephebos of Antequera, an emblematic Roman sculpture.

A legacy of the Muslim period is the Alcazaba, originally built in the 11th century as part of the city walls. The Papabellotas Tower and the Torre Blanca (White Tower) were constructed later. A walk along the barbicans' passageway leads to the Arco de los Gigantes (Giants' Arch), built in 1585, and close by is the vantage point of Mirador de las Almenillas.

Antequera also features three monumental city gates (the Granada, Estepa, and Malaga Gates), several archaeological sites, ten museum spaces, and five exhibition rooms. Prominent among these are the City Museum, the Museo Taurino (Bullfighting Museum), and the Santa Eufemia Museum.