01 LOCATION 02 WORLD HERITAGE 03 EL CAMINITO DEL REY (THE KING’S PATHWAY)

04 MONUMENTAL TOWN 05 MODERN TOWN 06 CITY OF SPORT

07 WHAT TO DO 08 ROUTES 01. LOCATION

Another outstanding feature of the borough is the Vega de (lowland), which is run through by the Guadalhorce River, a fertile farm area which has been feeding its inhabitants since more than 6000 years ago.

If you wish to know why Antequera has played such an important role along history, please check its strategic position: right in the heart of Andalucía.

The name Antequera comes from the Iberian world “Antikaria” meaning something like “in front of the large limestone mass”, by alluding to the facing of the town to the Peña de los Enamorados (Lovers’ Rock) and to El Torcal. Afterwards, during the Arabian

Time, it was named Madina Antaqira. We keep a great and extensive As it is strategically located, our city has become a main communication link historical and artistic heritage from our long history. kilometres away from Málaga and the beaches of Costa del Sol and around one and, consequently, a significant logistics and tourist centre placed just a few hour from , Córdoba and . Certainly, Antequera is the Kilometre Zero of Andalucía.

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Organización Sitio de los de las Naciones Unidas dólmenes de Antequera para la Educación, inscrito en la Lista del la Ciencia y la Cultura Patrimonio Mundial en 2016

The extraordinary relevance of The Site of los Dólmenes of Antequera - which was awarded as UNESCO World Heritage in 2016- transcends borders and captivates all visitors. The Site is formed by three cultural assets ( de Menga, and ) and by two natural ones (La Peña de los Enamorados and El Torcal). It is considered as one of the megalithic architecture and monumental landscape in the European Prehistory by the Neolithic settlers first conscious integration carried out between whose origin goes back to the beginning of 6th millennium BC.

The three megalithic monuments were used at the time for ritual and funerary purposes and they are acknowledged examples of the Megalithic Period in West Europe.

INDEX 02 WORLD HERITAGE p4 DOLMEN DE MENGA The Dolmen de Menga was erected around 6000 years ago. It is a covered gallery tomb, in accordance with the Atlantic tradition, built with large vertical stones (orthostats) and horizontal ones (capstones) by forming an entry atrium, a corridor and a large funerary chamber.

funerary chamber at the end measures It is of colossal dimensions; just the 3.5 m in height and 6 m in width, what implies that the last capstone weights around one hundred and eighty tones. As a peculiarity, Menga has some in- between pillars, a construction resource very rarely used during the European Megalithic period.

Another of its singularities which turns this dolmen into something unique in Europe is the deep and narrow well placed inside the funerary chamber, plus a series of anthropomorphous engravings in the shape of crosses and stars on the corridor wall. The Dolmen structure is covered by a mound 50 m in diameter.

INDEX 02 WORLD HERITAGE p5 It is a corridor tomb built with orthostats and capstones which faces to the sunset during the equinoxes. At the end of the 21m DOLMEN DE VIERA long corridor, there is a squared chamber Approximately 4500 years old, (2.1m in height and 1.8m in width). the Dolmen de Viera is next to the Dolmen de Menga, in the closest archaeological site to the town.

Some of the orthostats of the corridor’s north section have a sort of decoration made of cavities or “small cups forms”, which are very typical in Schematic Art; inside, there are traces of reddish paint. The Dolmen structure is covered by a mound 50 m in diameter.

INDEX 02 WORLD HERITAGE p6 The plan is formed by a linteled corridor constructed with large slabs and small stones. At the end, there are two circular chambers where the offering room with the altar stone is placed. , the first one bigger than the second one

The chambers are built with small projecting stones in each row with respect of the on the keystone. It is all covered by a mound of 100 m., of diameter surrounded by lower row forming a domed section even though at the end it is finished with a capstone cypress trees.

THOLOS DE EL ROMERAL The also known as Dolmen de El Romeral (1800 BC or 3800 years old) is a peculiar tomb not just because it appears as a fake dome due to the rows approximation (following the Mediterranean connection) but also because it faces to both sides of the El Torcal Natural Landscape (geographical connection) and to the sunrises at midday in the winter equinox (astronomic connection).

INDEX 02 WORLD HERITAGE p7 EL TORCAL In El Torcal Natural karst Landscape, water and wind have moulded the rocks until forming large rock sculptures with amazing shapes. The whole complex is formed by limestone rocks which were originally placed on the seabed during the Jurassic Period, approximately 150 millions of years ago. The materials settled on the seabed surfaced due to the Alpine Folding.

Later, several breakings generated some cracks and faults which have caused what, nowadays, it is called alleyways or “corridors”. From then on, the complex has been creating a real “museum of natural sculptures” where you can trawl through the ancient subject to a characteristic erosion process - the karst model- forming many rock forms and cultures and enjoy very pleasant walks around the trails and routes. From the geo-morphological point of view, it consists of four well-differentiated areas:

Sierra Pelada, Torcal Alto (high Torcal), Torcal Bajo (low Torcal), Tajos and Vilaneras. declaration of Special Area for Bird Protection. El Torcal hosts a large variety of flora and fauna, up to the point of having earned the

INDEX 02 WORLD HERITAGE p8 There is Public Use Area in the part known as El Torcal Alto,

where visitors will enjoy the following: - Visitors Centre with a Nature Interpretation Area; a a shop with local and handcraft products; a restaurant; Multiple Uses Area where a documentary is projected; an Information Point and the toilets. The building is perfectly accessible for handicapped people.

- The Mirador de las Ventanillas (The little windows beautiful views of Villanueva de la Concepción town, Río viewpoint) where, by following a path, you will enjoy Campanilla district, Málaga and, on clear days, even the African Continent can be seen.

- “Ruta Verde” (Green Route); a pedestrian path starting from the parking area and which goes through the El

Torcal Alto; low difficulty, 45 minutes long. - “Ruta Amarilla” (Yellow Route): pedestrian route starting from the parking area and which goes through the El Torcal Alto; average difficulty, 2 hours long. - The parking area is limited but there is a bus shuttle service when it is full.

INDEX 02 WORLD HERITAGE p9 LA PEÑA DE LOS ENAMORADOS (THE LOVERS’ ROCK) Bronze Age. We keep some remains of several The first settlers of this Rock were from the It is a limestone rock with the peculiar continuous settlements took us to the Roman Times through several structural remains. profile of a lying man -it seems the head types of carinated bowls and pots, big pots and jars from that period. Successive and of a lying Indian looking at the sky. The name comes from a border legend where a couple of lovers, Tello and Tagnoza (he The Abrigo de Matacabras is in was a Christian and she was a Moorish the northern part of the Peña de princess) were running away from the los Enamorados. It is a dwelling Princess’s father who wanted to catch element from Neolithic where, them. They were trapped right here and thanks to the red, white and black to avoid to be separated, they climbed to paintings, we can better understand the activities of its dwellers. the top of the rock and threw themselves from there to be eternally together. This site is evidence and a fundamental landmark because the link with the Dólmenes de Antequera Archaeological Complex, in special with the Dolmen of Menga whose central axis points directly at it.

INDEX 02 WORLD HERITAGE p10 EL CAMINITO DEL REY 03. (THE KING’S PATHWAY)

The original pathway was constructed in 1905 by the El Chorro Hydroelectric Company as a way to gain access between the two reservoirs so the workers could pass by. The view was so impressive when going through the pathway that very soon visitors starting to use it while in construction.

In 1921, King Alfonso XIII had to cross the previously constructed pathway to inaugurate the Guadalhorce-Guadalteba Reservoirs. Since then, it started to be called “Caminito del Rey (The king’s pathway).

The El Caminito del Rey (King’s path) is a passage built on the nearly vertical walls of the beautiful gorge. It is a pedestrian pathway attached to the rock, inside a spectacular canyon, with Desfiladero de los Gaitanes

105 meters in height. sections of just 1 meter in width and which is hanging over the river up to

INDEX 03 EL CAMINITO DEL REY (THE KING’S PATHWAY) p11 Roma contributed to form Antequera as a 04. MONUMENTAL TOWN town, and the Arabian people soon started to conquest it. The Arabian legacy left us Madinat Antaqira, a border town besieged by constant battles between Muslims and Christians.

From this time, we keep the Alcazaba (citadel), a fortress enclosure dominated

by two towers: the Homenaje one, known because an old legend, and the Torre Blanca by the people as “Reloj de Papabellotas” (White Tower). At the time, this complex was totally walled and it had several gates. We still keep the Puerta de la Villa (Gate of the Ville) –today it is named Arco de los Gigantes (Arch of the Giants)-, the Postigo de la Estrella (Wicket of the Star) and the Puerta de Málaga (Málaga Gate) which is currently the Capilla de la Virgen de la Espera chapel.

Many civilizations have left their traces through the city of Antequera. From the Romans, we still keep remains of the old settlements - Singilia Barba, Aratispi, the Villa de la Estación or the Termas de Santa María-. In the Museum of the Town we can admire the El Efebo, the most beautiful piece in bronze from 1st century found in the Iberian Peninsula.

INDEX 04 MONUMENTAL TOWN p12 After the conquest of the town by the Christians, Antequera started a time of splendour, both from the economic and artistic point of view. During the 16th century, and afterwards centuries, the churches, convents and house-palaces which currently adorn the city were constructed; among them, the Royal Collegiate of Santa María la Mayor (16th century) which is considered

style of Andalucía. as the first church in Renaissance

No less interesting and surprising are the palaces- houses of the city. Half- hidden in the network of the

constructions with beautiful streets, we find impressive facades and large courtyards As the poet, Gerardo Diego, described it, “the town of the white and Gongoristic churches” surrounded by columns. An gathers 80% of the historical and artistic heritage of the Málaga province, with many evidence of the apogee of civil Baroque works, being the most outstanding ones the churches of San Juan de Dios, Los architecture in Antequera. Remedios and Belén, as well as the main Retable of the El Carmen church.

INDEX 04 MONUMENTAL TOWN p13 MUSEUM OF THE TOWN (MVCA) The great exhibition of work arts exhibited in the Museum of the Antequera Town (MVCA) turns it into a must visit. Visitors will travel through our history, from the origin of the town up to nowadays.

Probably, the most eye-catching room The Museum of the Town also holds of the Museum is the Roman Room paintings and sculptures, such as a significant selection of beautiful the Alicia Plecusa Columbarium and San Francisco de Asís by Pedro de where visitors will find pieces such as the Efebo, besides many other valuable Mena. archaeological remains.

The 20 exhibition rooms of the Museum are located from 18th century with a beautiful tower-pointview inside of the Palacio de Nájera, a magnificent building in Andalusian Baroque style.

INDEX 04 MONUMENTAL TOWN p14 MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (MAD) 05. MODERN TOWN This Museum of Modern Art (MAD) is placed inside an old palace from 18th century, the Casa de los Colarte. It holds many examples of the Spanish painting from 19th and 20th centuries. From time to time, the MAD brings travelling exhibitions from painters such as Picasso, Moreno Carbonero, Muñoz Degrain, Reyna Manescau, Pepe Bornay, Enrique Brinkmann and Carlos Aires.

temples of culture in Antequera. We have two Apart from the museums, you will find others libraries managed by the Town Hall: The San Zoilo Municipal Library and the Municipal Historic Record. The name of San Zoilo is after an old Franciscans Monastery’s cloister, where the library is placed.

The Antequera heritage has been enriched by peculiar civil buildings built since the 19th century: , the Casa de

building), the El Teatro-Cine Torcal or the Mercadolos Serrailler, de Abastos the Caja (Food de Ahorros Market). (Unicaja

INDEX 05 MODERN TOWN p15 Also, we have the Torcal Teatro HANDCRAFT Municipal, a scenic space where an extent and varied programme is played Some time ago, Antequera had a great along all the year. handcraft tradition. Currently, the most outstanding handcraft shops are aimed We cannot forget the Antequera liking to the making of wooden furniture, for music which is shown at the Music iron, stone and marble works and to the Conservatoire and at the Music School clothing industry of traditional regional of Antequera (EMMA) customs.

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INDEX 05 MODERN TOWN p16 Even more, Antequera is beginning to be an example for sport events management 06. CITY OF SPORT due to its capacity and to the perfect location right in the centre of Andalucía. The Universidad de Málaga has gone for Antequera to hold its main championships, whether between Spanish, European or Worldwide teams. Rare are the summers

environment and the facilities with high level sport. where there is not a competition filling the city with international university

ANTEQUERA, EUROPEAN CITY OF SPORT 2018

Antequera throws itself into sport.

It enjoys the best Athletics Indoor track where the most important Centre in Andalucía, with a fix championships of the region -and several national ones- are held. The town also is the venue for others handball (King’s cup), indoor football, under 21 football and table tennis championships plus golf tournaments. Also, it has been the starting and end of stage in the Cycling Vuelta a España.

INDEX 06 CITY OF SPORT p17 the city counts on an extent base of teams around it. Handball is the star sport in Antequera. The first team of Together with the San Silvestre run held on the 31st

event with more number of participants at amateur level. December, the challenge Desafío Sur del Torcal is the It is a mountain marathon 43 kilometres long which goes through the El Torcal Natural Landscape and where hundreds of runners take part.

Antequera Integrates is the sport programme adapted to those handicapped people. It is managed by the Municipal Sport Board. This initiative has already received several awards and it is an example of integrated sport.

SPORT FACILITIES

• Fernando Argüelles Sport Centre with a capacity for 2575 spectators.

• El Maulí Stadium with a capacity for 1300 spectators.

• El Maulí Sport Centre: A Sport Hall with tennis , handball and indoor football courts.

• Municipal Swimming-pool and Indoor Municipal Swimming-pool.

• Ciudad de Antequera” artificial turf football field.

• Athletics High Performance Centre.

INDEX 06 CITY OF SPORT p18 One of the most outstanding dates in the calendar of the town festivities are, 07. WHAT TO DO without doubt, the Holy Week. Several peculiarities make the Antequera Holy

because the beauty of its thrones and images, but also for the way to carry Week different from those others celebrated in Andalucía. It is not just only Antequera Holy Week PARTIES “hermanaco” -the church’s main brotherhood- and of that of the “bell child” them -on the shoulders and with the help of long “forks”, or by the figure of the wearing a luxury robe. Indeed, we cannot forget the tradition of running behind the thrones, what is known as “Correr la Vega”.

To those festivities honouring the Saint-Patrons -the Lord of Health and Waters; the Virgin of Remedies and that of Santa Eufemia- we must add the romerías (pilgrimages) such as the one of the Día de Jeva which takes places in the La Higuera hamlet, or the one in honour of the Cristo de la Verónica held in the Bull Ring.

Antequera Blues Festival, both held in July and in scenic monumental spaces of the town, such as the impressive Among the cultural offers, we have the Nájera Jazz and the square of the Royal Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor. Even older in time is the festival of the Santa María Flamenco Night which is also held in the Santa María square.

To better understand the Antequera idiosyncrasy, you cannot miss the Spring Fair and the August Royal Fair. Both of them have been awarded as Festivities of Tourist Interest in Andalucía.

INDEX 07 WHAT TO DO p19 Declared of tourist PARTIES AUGUST ROYAL FAIR interest in .

This Fair goes back to 18th century and it is one of the most important event

concerts, the traditional “casetas” where to eat and dance, shows for children, among the annual festivities. It is a Fair for everybody: traditional bullfights, pop competitions, funfair, etc. A time and a place where music, art and gastronomy

get together to enjoy the most diverse people.

INDEX 07 WHAT TO DO p20 Declared of tourist AGROGRANT (Farming & Livestock Fair) interest in Andalusia. PARTIES and the Spring Fair It is a fair of farm products and livestock that will surprise visitors. The events go beyond the possibility of tasting and buying the best products of the Málaga

farm-schools, workshops for children, competitions, etc. farms, but you will also enjoy bullfights, live pop concerts, flamenco shows,

This is a different way to discover the town and steep in its history, art and architecture; PARTIES MOON LIGHT also, to live nature through many night experiences under the moon light. An extent

kind of people. It takes place since middle of June until middle of September. programme of night activities held in different places and with themes adjusted to all

INDEX 07 WHAT TO DO p21 GASTRONOMY One of the treasures of Antequera is the delicious gastronomy the products grown in our lowland but also because the people idiosyncrasy. not just because The Antequera mollete porra (also named in other places) and the pio (a kind of salad with orange and , Arab-style bread, is a flag for the town; the cod) are dishes very present in our summer meals. salmorejo pimenton (a kind of gazpacho), gazpachuelo (a kind of mayonnaise hot soup) or the migas Others typical dishes are: ajoblanco (garlic and almonds soup), (fried bread). Others remarkable products are the olive oil with Antequera and the potted vegetable from the Antequera lowland. We also have game dishes and the chivo a la pastoril (baby goat). Certification of Origen For dessert, we have to mention the bienmesabe - a sweet made with grinned

visitor in the pastries shops and in the convent’s cloisters of the town. Before almonds, sponge fingers and pumpkin angel hair- which can be bought by Antequera gastronomy, the famous mantecado (lard bun). and during the Christmas time, you will find another of the typical sweets of the

ones, like eating inside the bullring or in the courtyard of an old palace-house. Among the varied offer of bars and restaurants, you will find some peculiars link

If you want to find out more about the most emblematic places to eat, see this

INDEX 07 WHAT TO DO p22 ECOTOURISM AND ACTIVE TOURISM

Thanks to such spectacular sites as the El Torcal Natural Landscape, the La Villa River source, the El Chorro reservoir (next to the Caminito del Rey) and the Laguna de Fuente de Piedra lake -with one of the biggest Pink Flamingo colony of the whole Iberian Peninsula), Ecotourism has become one of the main attraction of the Antequera region.

There are many alternatives o active and adventure tourism for all ages, from a unique and fascinating visit to the theme wolf park -Lobo Park- up to 4x4 and

to promote natural resources by playing sport. cycle routes, horse riding, hiking or canoeing. All of that with just one purpose:

INDEX 07 WHAT TO DO p23 INDEX 07 WHAT TO DO p24 08. ROUTES link http://turismo.antequera.es/itineraries/ Please, find here some ideas to help you to plan and enjoy your visit:

or the following services companies (list of address/telephone numbers) For any kind of specific question, please, contact the Oficina Municipal de Turismo

The Antequera city and district invite offer of archaeological sites, museums, you to enjoy the wide and interesting natural spaces and routes through the historical and artistic heritage. You decide if you wish to discover them by yourself or with a guide tour.

INDEX 08 ROUTES p25 SPONSORS Antequera Photograph Association Mr. Antonio Cabello Sáncez Mr. Manuel Martínez Salazar Alfredo Sotelo Matos

turismo.antequera.es