All those who aspire to learn about the quintessence of Andalusia is obliged to visit the city of Antequera. To walk through its streets and admire is splendid architecture, is both aesthetically and spiritually pleasing for the lover of beauty and tradition. At about 45 kilometres from Malaga and with a population of about forty thousand inhabitants, it is situated in the heart of a rich, fertile plain, which has been populated since distant times.

Already in its surroundings, we find the most spectacular landscape of "La Sierra del Torcal", the greatest karstic formation on earth, with a perimeter of seventeen kilometres and given the status of National Natural Park since 1929.

"La Peña de los Enamorados" (declared National Monument), at the entrance to the city, tells us of stories of impossible affairs between lovers fleeing from their respective families (his Christian, and hers Arabic), throwing themselves off the highest peak of this big and beautiful elevation, surrounded by the Guadalhorce River.

Antequera maintains valuable remains that show the importance it has had throughout the centuries as a provilaged settlement in Andalusia. The three combined Dolmens, which still exist next to the city: "El Romeral", "Viera" and, above all, "Menga", are evidence that, in prehistoric times, this was a monumenttal and mythical place. But, progressing through history, we can appreciate that the Roman Antikaria is not left behind in importance and, at present, it is possible to admire at the Municipal Museum (installed at the elegant "Palacio de Najera") the "Efebo", one f the best finished examples of Roman sculpture in the whole of Spain. Its prestige does not diminish during the arabic epoc and from those times remain The Alcazaba, with its powerful walls, and the splendid "Torre del Hmenaje o de Papabellotas", which from its provileged vantage point, presides over the urban landscape of the city.

 

VIEWS OF THE CITY FROM 'ARCH OF THE GIANTS'

After it was taken over by the Christians in 1410, the city lives through new moments of splendour, characterised above all by a splendid literature, represented by "La Escuela Barroca Antequerana" (the Antequeran Baroque School) and by the monumental character of its buildings, which the passer-by can appreciate in a pleasant stroll through the numerous monuments of the sixteenth centuries.

At the top of the city, "La Real Colegiata de Santa Maria la Mayor", a Renaissance building with harmonius facade, which conjures up Roman architecture, and great interior aisles separated by austere, ionic columns. Nearby, we find "El Arco de los Gigantes", with a marked mannerist style and the enclosure of "La Alcazaba", with outstanding towers like "La Estrella" and "El Agua".

WALLS & TOWERS OF LA ALCAZABA

Entering the lower part of the city, we find the great baroque churches and the palaces. There, we find "La del Carmen", with its wide, singular aisle, mudejar, coffered ceiling and beautiful, baroque alterpieces, "San Sebastian", situated next to "El Arco del Nazareno" in one of its most pleasant corners and the Renaissance fountain in the square which bears the same name as the church.

There are other countless places of genuine, Andalucian flavour, which can only be possibly appreciate by losing oneself through the beautiful sidestreets. "La Plaza de Santiago" or "La Plaza del Portichuelo", the church of "Santa Maria de Jesus", spacious palaces like the one that presently houses the town hall, beautiful temples like the Renaissance of "San Pedro", the baroque of "La Trinidad", "San Agustin" or the attractive facde of the church of "San Juan De Dios".

The festive calendar of Antequera has its zenith during easter. The fervour of its residents and the majesty of its processions during Holy Week, the majority of which originate from the baroque era, make it one of the most interesting in the whole of Andalusia. Just as attractive is its Spring Fair, held between and of May and beginning of June, with Andalucian stalls and its "Feria Agricola y Ganadera" (AGROGANT), Agricultural and Cattle Fair. Bullfighitng fans will delight with important bullfights in which the top names at national level bullfighting take part.

Last but not least in importance of the what the city offers is its gastronomy; its dishes are of such quality that the Antequeran cuisine has given the name of the city to two dishes which are very much appreciate. "La Porra Antequerana", a summer cream par excellence, its preparation based on bread, tomato, pepper,...and of course, the very well-known, "molletes de Antequera", bread rolls ideal to take at breakfast. In addition, delicious dishes that can be sampled in countless restaurants and "tapas" bars all over the city: rice stew (arroz guisado), mallow stew (cocido con melva) and a variety of large blood pork sausage (morcon) made from the pig's tongue (both obviously from French origin), potato stew (guisos de patata) and the "bienmesabe", a subtle sweet which, with such as a name, little has to be said.

Without doubt, Antequera offers attractions for all those who come to visit without haste and with the sole intention of enjoying a beautiful city and an essential symbol of the Andalucian history.