What to see and do in Antequera?

The province of Malaga has an infinite number of villages and places to visit if you are looking for a getaway. For example, Antequera is one of the most touristy towns in the province. This city treasures a great landscape and architectural heritage that will leave you amazed. The ancient Antikaria, as the Romans called it, is located at a point where it is very easy to reach from Cadiz, Seville or Granada, being the centre of the whole Andalusian community.

In Antequera you can visit the old town on foot, full of charm in every corner, where you will reach the Alcazaba, enjoying incredible views. But the most famous place in the city, without a doubt, is its set of Dolmens, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016, along with the Natural Park of El Torcal and the Peña de los Enamorados. 

To get to Antequera you can take a bus, trains that connect different cities or you can always go by car. Perhaps the latter is the best means of transport to reach the most remote areas and not lose much time. leaving behind the way to get there, one of the great advantages of this city is that despite its great tourist attractions, tourism is moderate and you can enjoy it with a certain tranquility. Seeing Antequera is a must if you want to make a trip to Andalusia.

Today we tell you the 5 places to visit in Antequera that you can’t miss. ✌️✌️

Places to see in Antequera

1-. The Alcazaba, one of the places to visit in Antequera

Passing through the imposing Arch of the Giants, where we can see the three most representative icons of the city: the Castle, the Lion and a vase of lilies, you can enter the Alcazaba, one of the places to see in Antequera.

This castle from the Muslim period, impregnable for many, which stood atop the Antequera hill, was guarded by a double wall and formed part of the walled complex of the Islamic medina. 

Among its various towers, which were used for defence purposes, the Torre Blanca stands out, with a magnificent interior and views of the Peña de los Enamorados, and the Torre del Homenaje, dating from the 12th century and crowned in 1582 with a bell tower. 

As you leave the Alcazaba behind, you can stop at the Michael Haskin viewpoint, a British professor who researched the Dolmens of Antequera. From this viewpoint you can also enjoy excellent views of the Peña de los Enamorados. The entrance fee is 6€, including a visit to the Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor, located next door. The monument can be visited free of charge on Tuesdays from 2pm to 6pm.

2-. Dolmens of Antequera

Another of the most visited places to visit in Antequera, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016, is the site of the Dolmens of Antequera, made up of three cultural monuments and two natural monuments.

The ancient Megalithic Necropolis of Antequera, one of the most important in Europe, was founded more than 6,500 years ago. The Dolmen of Menga faces the Peña de los Enamorados and the Tholos de El Romeral faces the karstic landscape of El Torcal, while the Dolmen de Viera is the only one facing the sun, and is unique in the world in that while most of these megalithic monuments were aligned to mark the sunrise and sunset during the winter and summer solstices, the Dolmen de Menga faces the Peña de los Enamorados and the Tholos de El Romeral faces the karstic landscape of El Torcal.

3-. El Torcal

One of the well-known hiking routes through the picturesque karst formations of the Paraje Natural del Torcal. This incredible landscape, initially caused by tectonic plate movements and subsequently eroded by wind and rain over the millions of years since it was formed, is only 15 km from Antequera, and you can enjoy the incredible views of the Peña de los Enamorados from the road along the way.

In addition to all the natural surroundings from the Mirador de Diego Monea. If you don’t want to waste too much time at this stop, you can leave your car in the car park and from there you can go to the Mirador de las Ventanillas and do one of the two circular hiking routes; the green one, which takes about 45 minutes, or the yellow one, which takes about two hours.

4-. Iglesia del Carmen

One of the best things to do in Antequera is to visit this well-known place first thing in the morning and park your car in the car park just behind the Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen. This monument was begun at the end of the 16th century, almost on the edge of an escarpment, it was a convent of the Carmelitas Calzados and later became the seat of the old parish church of Santa Maria la Mayor. 

It is well worth visiting its Baroque-style interior, which houses a unique set of altarpieces that will leave you open-mouthed. When you leave the church, you can enjoy the views of the houses with white facades and coloured roofs of the city from its viewpoint. To learn about the history of the city and not miss anything interesting, we recommend you book a free tour of Antequera, it’s free.

5-. Torreón de Asalto

If we go down Calle del Carmen, towards the Alcazaba, we will pass in front of the Torreón del Asalto and a well-preserved section of what was the old wall, which, if we have a little imagination, takes us back to the city’s Arab past and has become another of the places to see in Antequera. It was in this area of the Moorish fortress that in 1410 the prince Don Fernando managed to open a hole for his armies to access the city and thus carry out his conquest. Right next to the keep is the Torre Albarrana de la Estrella or Postigo de la Estrella, a tower connected to the wall by a semicircular arch.

As you can see there are many things to see and do in Antequera. 

Fancy a nice lunch? 

Visit Mesón Adarve and try their delicious octopus salad. 

Do you want to discover the capital? Take a look at what to see in Malaga in two days. Already have your car to discover the province? Hire your car at Malaga airport and enjoy it at your own pace. 

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