Antequera

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View of Antequera from the fortress (alcazaba).
Roman Baths.
Saint Mary of Jesus Church. The niche in the main altarpiece is the most beautiful section of the church and an outstanding example of 18th-century Antequera niches.
Saint Augustine’s Church, 1550-1566. The external highlights are the mannerist doorway and the brick tower, second in importance in the town.
Estepa Gate.
View of the castle from the road to El Torcal.
View of the Antequera Plains from the Menga Dolmen.
View of Lover’s Rock from Niña de Antequera vantage point.
Malaga Gate (Puerta de Málaga). The most characteristic example of Islamic art to be found in the town. This gate in the old Arabic walls is of the twisting passage variety. Following the Christian conquest, the tower was converted into the Virgin of Espera Chapel (Ermita de la Virgen de Espera). There are two separate zones within the walled enclosure of the Islamic town: the area around the fortress (alcazaba) which stood on top of the hill, and the section running from the Giant’s Arch (Arco de los Gigantes), through the Star Gate (Postigo de la Estrella) and parallel to the river as far as the Malaga Gate.
El Romeral Dolmen, 1800 B.C. Consists of a long colonnade and two circular chambers of different sizes, covered with a false dome.
Menga Dolmen, 2500 B.C. The Menga, Viera and El Romeral dolmens in Antequera make up one of the most important groups of prehistoric monuments in the world. The Menga Dolmen, an imposing colonnade covered with mounds of stones and earth pertaining to the Mediterranean Bronze Age, dates back to approximately 2500 B.C. The Viera Dolmen, situated nearby, dates back to 2000 B.C.
El Tornillo. El Torcal de Antequera Beauty Spot.
Town Hall. A Tertiary Fathers monastery prior to the disentailment of property, the building was acquired as the headquarters of the town council in 1845. Worthy of note are the late 18th-century cloister, featuring 28 columns made of red marble from the Sierra del Torcal near Antequera and the main staircase, a work of art created in 1745.
Bullring. Home to the Bullfighting Museum.
San Zoilo Church, 1500. This royal monastery was founded by the Catholic Monarchs in 1500. A Gothic building partly renovated with mannerist plasterwork.
Mother of God Church, 1747-61. The highlights of the exterior, with its unusually-high walls, are the domed tower of the main chapel and the bell tower, an example of Antequera Mudejar-baroque considered to be one of the most elegant in design in Andalusia.
Portichuelo Square. One of the most interesting products of native Andalusian urban architecture, the highlight being the unusual Virgen del Socorro Gallery Chapel, built in the 18th century, and one of those which lined the Easter processional route of the “Arriba” brotherhood.
Giants’ Arch, 1585. Built in mannerist style to replace the old Arabic town gate. Various stones and Roman sculptures from the Antequera region were deposited here. It is considered the oldest public Roman relic museum in Spain.
Castle. Atop a hill overlooking the Antequera plains are the important remains of what were once the city’s fortress and defensive walls. Worthy of note are the keep, known as Papabellotas Tower, which is crowned with a pavilion built in 1582 which houses the city bell; the Malaga Gate, now Virgen de la Espera Chapel and the bulbous Star Tower and Water Tower.
Saint Mary’s Royal Collegiate Church, 1514 - 1550. Antequera’s Collegiate Church was founded as such by Pope Julius II in 1503, but the monumental building which we know today was not begun until some years later. Its Renaissance façade was constructed in the style of a Roman triumphal arch. Inside are three naves, separated by Ionic arches and covered with wooden Mudejar framework. It is considered "the first Renaissance church to be built in Andalusia". In this collegiate church, a chair of Grammar and Latin Studies was created, which gave rise to the “Golden Age of Spanish Arts” poetry group.
The Star Gate is a gap in the Moslem walls which was opened up after the Christian conquest in order to gain access to the town. It is part of the bulbous Star Tower, connected to the wall via a rounded arch. The Andalusian Arabic flavour of this corner of Antequera is evocative of days gone by.
El Carmen Church. 1583 - 1633. It originally belonged to the Carmelite Order. Highlights inside include the Mudejar framework which covers the nave and the three reredoses in the main chapel, from the 18th century, considered a fundamental feature of baroque reredos art in Andalusia. Also of interest are the plasterwork in the dome and the walls of the nave, which are mannerist in style.
Granada Gate, 1748 A large brick arch, complemented by a religious niche during a period when particular attention was given to the embellishment of the centre of the town. It was restored in 1942, with major alterations being made to the upper section.
Santa Eufemia Convent, 1739 The Convent was founded in 1601, though the present-day church was built between 1739 and 1763. The faithful flock here to worship the statue of Santa Eufemia, the town’s patron saint.
Bethelehem Church, 1628 - 1709. A sober façade conceals a fascinating interior, extensively decorated with baroque plasterwork on a blue background which is among the oldest to be found in all of Antequera.
Santiago Square, 18th century. Santiago Square, with the churches of Saint James and Santa Eufemia, a curious contrast of shapes and volumes, is a fine example of Andalusian urban baroque architecture in the 18th century.
La Victoria Church, 1712 - 1718. The most notable aspect of the façade is its markedly civil appearance, with three balconies on the upper floor. The building is crowned by a brick bell gable in the shape of a triptych with three gaps, added in the final third of the 16th century. The most significant aspect of this monument, however, is its interior, featuring an octagonal nave made up of sides of different lengths, creating an elongated area which leads to a main chapel of hexagonal design.
Saint Joseph’s Church, 18th century. The façade of this church is considered one of Antequera baroque’s most exquisite creations. Located in the attractive Plaza de las Descalzas square, also home to Las Descalzas Convent Museum, which is devoted to holy art.
Municipal Museum. Najera Palace, 18th century. The Municipal museum contains a number of pieces of archaeological, artistic and ethnological interest. The most outstanding is the 1st-century Youth of Antequera (Efebo de Antequera), a hollow bronze Roman sculpture 1.54 metres in height representing a young boy, considered "the most beautiful antique to be unearthed in the Iberian Peninsula ". Najera Palace was built by the Eslava y Trujillo family in the opening third of the 18th century. The façade reflects two clearly defined architectural styles, as an existing 15th-century façade corresponding to the ground and main floors was retained in the new building. The attic and the baroque watchtower, considered one of the finest to be found in an Andalusian palace, were added in the second half of the 18th century.
La Encarnacion Church. Joined to Saint Sebastian’s church in the street of the same name. The exterior is very sober while the interior is typical of the Mauresque churches of Granada: a single nave, steps leading up to a raised main chapel and Mudejar panelling.

Description

Sin duda, una de las ciudades más importantes de Andalucía, referencia constante en la historia, el arte, la política, la cultura o la economía de nuestra comunidad. Es el municipio más extenso de la provincia, ocupado en su mayor parte por una llanura de tierras muy fértiles, en las que predomina el olivar y los cereales, rodeada por las Sierras del Torcal y el Arco Calizo Central y en la que sobresale majestuosamente la Peña de los Enamorados, motivo de numerosos mitos y leyendas.

Su privilegiada situación geográfica, en el histórico centro de comunicaciones entre la Alta y la Baja Andalucía, le ha proporcionado desde antiguo una gran riqueza cultural y económica, como lo demuestran los numerosos restos arqueológicos de diversas épocas hallados en su territorio. Los Dólmenes del Romeral, Viera y Menga, el Efebo de Antequera y otras muchas piezas que se encuentran en el Museo Municipal son buena muestra de ello.

La ciudad se extiende por la ladera de una colina al pie de la Sierra del Torcal, en un entramado de calles de distinto carácter según las épocas, salpicadas de una innumerable relación de monumentos de interés: la Alcazaba, el Arco de los Gigantes, la Colegiata de Santa María, la Colegiata de San Sebastián, el Arco del Nazareno, el Palacio de Nájera, el Convento de San José, el Palacio de los Marqueses de la Peña, el Convento de Santa Eufemia, la Iglesia de Santiago, la Basílica de Santo Domingo...

Y por supuesto un auténtico monumento de la naturaleza, el Torcal, verdadera maravilla natural, declarado espacio protegido por la Junta de Andalucía y cuya visita parece obligada.

General information

Tourist Area: Antequera y Entorno Province: Málaga Distance from the capital (km): 45 Altitude above sea level (m): 575 Area (Km2): 814 RAINFALL: 551 Nº of inhabintants: 45168 name for people: Antequeranos Postal code: 29200 Web: www.antequera.es

Forecast

Tuesday 16/03/10

cloudy

16 ºC 4 ºC

Wednesday 17/03/10

cloudy

17 ºC 6 ºC

Thursday 18/03/10

all cloudy

18 ºC 8 ºC

Friday 19/03/10

all cloudy

20 ºC 10 ºC

Saturday 20/03/10

slightly rain

18 ºC 10 ºC

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Antequera

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