The region of Antequera is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway. With its incredible naturescapes, fascinating culture, legends and history, the destination offers a wide range of experiences for you to discover and enjoy. Keep reading for a complete itinerary of the best things to see and do in Antequera in two days.
Day one: explore Antequera’s historic centre
How to get to Antequera
Antequera is strategically located in the geographic heart of Andalusia, making it an easily accessible destination. You can get to the town by car, along the motorway, or by high-speed train (AVE), getting off at Antequera - Santa Ana station. The Costa del Sol airport is also just 50km away.
Tuck into a mollete antequerano for breakfast
There’s no better way to start the day than with a mollete antequerano, a local type of bread roll that is served at all the town’s cafés. We’d recommend drizzling extra-virgin olive oil over the top and adding grated tomato, serrano ham, cold cuts or one of the many other options on the menu.
Discover Antequera’s monuments
Antequera is renowned for its wealth of monuments which you will see as you wander around the historic centre. Make sure you don’t miss Arco de los Gigantes, Mirador de las Almenillas (a viewing point), the Alcazaba and Real Colegiata Santa María la Mayor. We would also recommend visiting Antequera bullring. The destination also has three monumental gates (Granada, Estepa and Malaga), a number of archaeological sites, ten or so museums and five galleries. Museo de la Ciudad de Antequera (Antequera Museum), which is housed in Palacio Nájera, Museo Conventual de las Descalzas (Museum of the Discalced Convent) and Museo de Arte Contemporáneo MAD (Contemporary Art Gallery) are some of the most interesting.
Visit Antequera Dolmens Site
Once you’ve had something to eat, we’d recommend visiting Antequera Dolmens Site, which is one of the most remarkable prehistoric architectural sites in Europe. Comprising the Menga, Viera and El Romeral dolmens, the site is one of the greatest megalithic sites in Europe. Over 6,500 years old, Antequera Dolmens Site will transport you back to the dawn of time, enabling you to delve into the area’s fascinating prehistoric culture.
Day 2: El Torcal de Antequera
Roam El Torcal de Antequera
An absolute must-visit during your time in Antequera is to El Torcal de Antequera. On the way, you could stop off to have lunch at one of the area’s ventas, traditional, family-run restaurants serving delicious food at a great price. El Torcal will take you aback with its unique limestone formations, which have been shaped over millions of years. The area is snaked with a number of trails that will take you on an exploration of this exceptional karst landscape.
The local gastronomy
After you’ve explored El Torcal, make your way back to Antequera for dinner at one of the destination’s traditional restaurants where you can savour excellent local dishes. We’d also recommend digging into some tapas in the historic centre and Plaza de Toros where you can try traditional dishes like porra antequerana (a tasty thick tomato soup) and porcón, a local sausage. To wash it all down, the best choice is a local wine, particularly one from Mollina. In terms of desserts, the best known is bienmesabe, which combines cinnamon, almonds and cider syrup in a tasty mouthful. Antequera is also known for the Christmas treats prepared in traditional bakeries and convents.
And that’s your weekend getaway to Antequera. We hope we’ve helped you plan your next trip and that you discover all the highlights of this picturesque destination in the Costa del Sol. Its history, nature and gastronomy will win your heart.
