Antequera
Day Trip
Antequera sits right in the heart of Andalucía, strategically placed on Spain’s high-speed rail network, which makes it an excellent day trip from Malaga, Córdoba, Granada or Seville.
Antequera is most famous for its ancient dolmens, which were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016, but the Alcazaba (citadel) and town centre – with its many churches and convents – are also well worth visiting.
When Washington Irving visited Antequera in 1829 and surveyed the view from the Alcazaba he wrote “Below me, in its lap of hills, lay the old warrior city so often mentioned in chronicle and ballad.” This gave us the inspiration for our audio tour of Antequera, which tells about the town’s history and legends while guiding you around the historic centre and citadel.
Morning
Historic Centre of Antequera
Explore Antequera’s attractive historic centre, including the town museum on Plaza Coso Viejo, which gives a useful introduction to the town’s history, covering the prehistoric, Roman, Muslim and Christian periods. The medieval Muslim town was perched on the top of the hill, and the Alcazaba, or citadel ($), has been lovingly restored. From the hill, you get fantastic views across to the striking Lovers’ Rock (Peña de los Enamorados) and the limestone formations of El Torcal.
Antequera has a huge number of churches and convents, with the Iglesia del Carmen ($) and the deconsecrated Real Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor ($) being particularly worth a visit.
Lunch
Antequera’s local specialities include game meat and porra antequerana, which is a thick, tomato-based soup served cold sprinkled with ham and boiled egg. Good lunch options include Mesón Juan Manuel and the slightly more upmarket Mar de Gloria. Tucked away on Calle Jesús, Bar El Reloj offers tapas with fabulous views across to the Alcazaba.
Antequera is also famous for its crumble cakes like polvorones and mantecados, traditionally made by the nuns in the town’s many convents. You can sample them in a café or patisserie, or even buy direct from a convent.
Afternoon
Dolmens of Antequera
FREE
Antequera’s impressive dolmen site consists of three separate megalithic monuments, the oldest of which is almost 6,000 years old. In 2016 they were recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to their unique orientation towards two landforms: the Peña de los Enamorados and El Torcal.
The Menga and Viera dolmens are just a 20-minute walk (or a short taxi ride) from the town centre; if you’re travelling by car, there is a car park on site. The excellent interpretation centre gives the historical context for the dolmens and shows how they might have been built. It also explains their orientation, including their relationships with the sun. The Romeral tholos, which is slightly further from town, is best visited by car.
Related audio tours
Questions and answers
Antequera makes a perfect day trip to see the almost 6,000 year-old UNESCO-listed dolmens and the historic centre, including a Moorish citadel. It has excellent road and rail links, so it makes an easy day trip from Málaga, Granada or Córdoba.
Yes, Antequera is very easily accessible by public transport as it is on the AVE high-speed train network, and there are also regular buses from Málaga.
It is far more convenient to take the train to Antequera station, which is on the edge of the town, about a 20 minute walk to the centre. Antequera Santa Ana, on the other hand, is 18 km away, so you would need a taxi to the town centre. Not all of the trains stop at Antequera, so check which station you’re booking.
The M-253 bus from Málaga bus station goes to Antequera bus station, which is conveniently located just outside the historic town centre. It takes about 40 minutes and only costs a few euros.
Antequera is a very pleasant town with numerous hotels, bars and restaurants, so it is a good choice for an overnight stay. Although you can cover Antequera’s main sights in a day, it’s centrally located within easy reach of Málaga, Córdoba, Granada and Seville, so it makes a great base for exploring Andalucía. It’s a fairly laid-back place, however, so don’t expect a lively nightlife.