Interesting facts
Population: Approx 8,500
What the natives are called: Archidoneses
Monuments: Ochavada plaza ( The Octagonal Square ), Las Minimas convent, La Victoria Church, Santo Domingo convent, Santa Ana Church, La Cilla Building, Virgen de Gracia Sanctuary ( built on the ruins of the old medieval castle ), The Nazarene Chapel,
History:
Archidona stands at the foot of the El Conjuro mountains amongst the olive groves and meadows, on the road that links Antequera with Granada.
Archidona's past goes back to the prehistoric times and important archaeological findings have been found in several caves in the El Conjuro mountains.
It was the Phoenicians who settled in the area and started construction of the walls of the city and these were further reinforced by the Carthaginians in their war against the Romans. During the Roman era it was known as Arx Domina, the Arabs modified this to Arxiduna, which is the origin of its present name.
From the time of the expulsion of the Carthaginians, Archidona belonged to Andalusia and went through a great expansion programme which came to an end by the Germanic invasion. The area started to recover with the arrival of the Arabs who ranked it as one of the most important cities in Andalusia, it has lived through many turbulent years under various conquerers.
It was in 1238 that it became a dependancy of the Nazarite kingdom of Granada, and Archidona experienced its second boom, this time largely due to the silk trade. After a period of calm up till the 14th century events were shattered by the start of the Christian campaigns, its territory suffering frequent pillaging. It would be another half a century after the fall of Antequera in 1410 before Archidona passed into Christian hands in 1462. In the alte fifteenth and early sixteenth century the village began to form the urban layout, known as Villa Baja, that we know today.
Archidona has been declared a Village of Historical and Artistic Importance.
How to get there:
The N-331 (A45) leads out of Malaga north to the A-92, which is the route to Granada, follow this road along until you come to the A-6200 turning that leads into Archidona.