Interesting facts
Population: approx 44,000
What the natives are called: Antequeranos
Monuments: Antequera is the town with the most monuments in all of Andalusia, it has far too many to mention here.
The most popular outstanding sites being the Arco de los Gigantes (Giants Arch); the Alcazaba Fort; Torre del Homenaje (Tower of Homage); Renaissance Fountain; Colegiata de San Sebastian (Church of San Sebastian); La Encarnacion Convent; Museo Conventual de las Descalzas (Convent Museum); Museo Municipal Palacio de Najera (Municipal Museum); Puerta de Granada (Granada Gate); Plaza de Toros (Bullring); Museo Taurino Municipal (Municipal Bullfight Museum); Paraje Natural El Torcal (El Torcal Nature Park);
When you approach Antequera from the N-331 (A-45) Autovia you descend into a broad expansive plain of different colours and shades of ocre and green, depending on the season. On your right you cannot fail to see the Pena de los Enamorados (Lover's Rock) with a legendary tale of a doomed romance between a Christian and a Moorish couple who leapt to their deaths in a tragic suicide pact. On your left situated below the El Torcal massif, can be seen the Christian towers amongst Arab walls, this is against the backdrop of a typical white painted, red roofed town houses interspersed with the towers of the many churches.
History
The city owes it's name to the Romans (Antikaria), and over the centuries it has evolved into the spelling we know it as today. Many traces of the Roman way of life remain in Antequera and also in some of the neighbouring towns, this heritage is considered as the most important relics of the Roman Malaga era, bathhouses, villas, sculptures, ceramics, mosaics and many other relics from the Roman period have been turning up in recent years as clear proof of its great and ancient history.
Over the centuries it has been invaded and conquered by various tribes and nationalities, from the Iberians, Tartessians, Phoenicians and Cartaginians, whom have all left the mark on the city in one form or another.
The Arabs extended and strengthened the town by building the Alcazaba fort and surrounding the Medina with a wall.
The Christians under the command of the Infante (Crown Prince) Don Fernando captured it in 1410, from then it began to experience a growth in the building of churches and convents and other artistic heritage for the next 200 years. This was maintained right through until the end of the eighteen century when an epidemic of yellow fever and the invasion by Napoleon in the early nineteenth century, decimated the town when it was already going through a bad period of wealth and growth. This was to change in the twentieth century with a growth in the textile industry which lead to a further growth in the industrial sector, this has since expanded because of the improvement in transportation and a strong communications network, onwards and upwards as the city expands.
How to get there:
Take the N-331 (A-45) from Malaga heading north on the Autovia towards Sevilla / Granada. The exit is clearly marked as the A-345, this will lead you through the lowlands towards the urban area of Antequera.