7 Unmissable Things to Do in Antequera

Antequera Dolmens

Dolmenes de Antequera or Antequera Dolmens is a must-see place for those who love archaeology and history, but I’d even dare to say to everyone.

It consists of a complex of three dolmens; however, only two (Menga and Viera) are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

These dolmens date back to the Neolithic, and if you wonder what a dolmen is, it’s a tomb, so you’re actually visiting a very old cemetery.

Viera Dolmens are pretty small but as impressive as Viera Dolmens. The latter has one of the biggest rocks on the site, which is actually the rooftop of this dolmen. The weight is equivalent to 44 elephants (quite impressive!)

This dolmen also has a well, which wasn’t common in dolmens so researchers believe it was built before the dolmen and could date back to the Bronze Age (around 2,000BC to 700BC).

Although it’s possible to visit it on your own, a guide can give you all the insights. There’s also this video which explains very well the dolmen function.

I visited with a guide, and I’m glad I did because otherwise I wouldn’t have known the importance of these dolmens.

Alcazaba de Antequera

Muslims spent a lot of time in Southern Spain, when it was actually called Al-Andalus. During their time in the Iberian Peninsula, they built amazing fortress palaces like the Alcazaba.

Many believed that its famous tower, Torre del Homenaje, was built in the 12^th century, but it’s actually from the 16^th century.

As happens with the dolmens, it’s worth visiting with a guide. Inside the Alcazaba there isn’t much so this is another reason why a guided visit is great.

Whether you opt for the guide or not, I highly recommend taking the time to walk on the walls and take in the stunning mountain and city views.

Another interesting fact is that they host different events inside the Alcazaba.

Museo de Antequera

The best place to learn about the history of Antequera is its museum. It’s one of the most complete museums I’ve visited in Malaga province.

As you enter, you find a beautiful patio with a well, and then you have over three floors explaining the history and civilisations that lived in Antequera, from Neolithic to modern times.

Expect to see more dolmens (tombs), objects, statues and paintings. You can easily spend over an hour there.

You’ll also like to know that the entry to the museum is free.

Try the local dishes

I’m a big foodie, so eating the local food is always on my top list, and if it’s on yours too, you’ll likely enjoy the typical dishes of Antequera.

You can find them in Malaga, but there’s no better place to eat a typical dish than in the actual place where it originated, or that’s what I believe.

One of the must-try dishes is Porra Antequerana. It’s similar to the Salmorejo Cordobés and if you aren’t familiar with that dish either, it consists of a thick tomato-based soup topped with hard-boiled eggs, ham and extra virgin olive oil. It’s served cold, so it’s perfect for those warm summer days in Antequera.

Another recommendation is Mollete Antequerano. This isn’t a dish but a type of bread. It’s white, soft and in the shape of an oval. It’s quite tasty and you can have it with different kinds of cold meat, but my preferred choice is with tomato spread and Iberian ham.

Last but not least, dessert! Bienmesabe is a traditional dessert made with eggs, almonds, ladyfingers, syrup, cinnamon and sugar.

El Torcal de Antequera

Do you love breathtaking views and mountain landscapes? El Torcal de Antequera, also known as El Torcal, is an unmissable nature reserve.

This place is like no other – large and unusual limestone rock formations and lush green landscapes. It makes you feel like you aren’t in Malaga.

It’s so unique that it has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

El Torcal is completely free, and you don’t need to book any tickets or make a reservation. The routes are open for public use and are signalised. If you want to explore it on your own, I highly recommend checking out this leaflet that also includes a map.

If you want to learn more about this place and feel more comfortable exploring it with a guide, they also have different types of guided visits. The El Torcal under the full moon tour sounds great!

Wander the old town

Antequera old town is absolutely beautiful and you can find gems in every single corner, from emblematic fountains to arched doors and statues.

Schedule some time to simply walk through the historic centre, take photos of the picturesque streets and enjoy the atmosphere.

You can also stop at viewpoints like Mirador de las Almenillas (my favourite!)

Here are some squares, fountains and monuments, I’d add to my itinerary if I were you:

• Plaza San Sebastián – An Important square and local meeting point with a fountain in the middle.
• Plaza Soso Viejo – Here you’ll find the statue of the Infante Don Fernando riding a horse and the Antequera Museum.
• Fuente del Toro – Beautiful fountain with potable water.
• Puerta de Estepa – A three-arched door that was the main road to Estepa, a town in Sevilla. The central door was used as a passageway for horses and carriages, whereas the arches on the side were for pedestrians.  

Peñón de los Enamorados

The moment you step into Antequera, you have views of Peñón de Los Enamorados. You can see it from many different sites, but my favourite is from La Alcazaba.

This mountain has a fascinating romantic story behind, since I visited Antequera with a guide once, it was my favourite part of the tour.

The legend tells that there was a princess who fell in love with one of the prisoners. She took care of him until they planned an escape. She took him out of prison and both escaped.

They went to El Peñón, to the top of the mountain, but they soon realised that they were followed by soldiers. They had two options. Option one was to surrender and give up on their love. Option two was to die together. They decided to die so they could be together in eternity. They jumped before they were caught by soldiers.

How to get to Antequera

The easiest way to get to Antequera is by car. The car journey is only an hour, and the route is quite straightforward.

However, if you don’t want to rent a car, that’s absolutely fine; you can also visit Antequera by public transport.

You have two options: train or bus. The train is faster, but you must know that Antequera train station isn’t in the centre, so you’ll have to take a taxi or walk 20 minutes to the centre. The bus journey is longer, but it leaves you in the centre.