Visit to the Antequera Dolmens: a World Heritage Site

Antequera is one of those towns in Málaga that surprise visitors with a rich historical and cultural heritage. The municipality is home to two of the Costa del Sol's most popular attractions: the famous El Torcal Natural Area and the Antequera Dolmens Archaeological Site, which we will discuss in detail below. Located in the heart of Andalusia and just 35 minutes from the city of Málaga, this town is well worth a visit Costa del Sol Paraje Natural del Torcal Conjunto Arqueológico Dólmenes de Antequera

Its rich artistic heritage received more than due recognition when, in July 2016, the Antequera Dolmens Site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This complex consists of the Antequera Dolmens Archaeological Site and two natural landmarks, the Peña de los Enamorados and the Torcal de Antequera Natural Area. The Menga Dolmen is the largest megalithic complex in Europe, reason enough to visit the Antequera dolmens, don't you think? Stones weighing up to 180 tonnes cover a passage that ends in a burial chamber, as it is a huge funerary monument. The dolmen was covered with earth, forming an artificial mound 50 metres in diameter, surpassing the famous Stonehenge.

The Archaeological Site consists of two areas. The first is the Reception Centre and the Menga and Viera Dolmens, while the second contains the Tholos of El Romeral. It is one of the greatest examples of the Megalithic period in Europe. According to the available data, these structures date back to the Neolithic period and are more than 6,500 years old.

The Legend of the Peña de los Enamorados

Without a doubt, what makes the Antequera Dolmens truly special and magical is their orientation, which differs from that of other Megalithic sites. Instead of being oriented towards the sun, they face the nature that surrounds them. The Viera Dolmen is the only one that retains the traditional orientation of these monuments towards the sun. The Tholos of El Romeral, meanwhile, is oriented towards the Torcal de Antequera. This karst landscape of unique beauty, with its enchanted-city appearance, is one of the most remarkable places to visit in the province of Málaga. Finally, the Menga Dolmen is oriented towards the Peña de los Enamorados Peña de los Enamorados

This rock has a distinctive shape that resembles the profile of a human figure, hence this orientation. The place takes its name from a legend that tells how a young Christian man, captured in Granada during the medieval period, was sent to serve in the house of a wealthy Moorish family and fell in love with the daughter, who returned his love. Tired of keeping their affair secret, the lovers decided to flee together. But the young woman's father and his entourage pursued the couple until they cornered them at the Peña de los Enamorados. When they were discovered and, in order to avoid surrendering, the young lovers chose to end their lives by throwing themselves, embracing each other, into the void from the top of the rock.

Visit the Antequera dolmens at any time of year

The Antequera Dolmens site can be visited at any time of year. It has an interpretation centre where the construction of the dolmens is explained in great detail. It also offers free guided tours, which must be arranged in advance.

Visiting the Torcal de Antequera is free of charge. It also has another interpretation centre, as well as two circular hiking routes through this spectacular landscape. Guided tours are available if booked in advance Torcal de Antequera

Antequera: a city full of history

In addition to the Torcal Natural Area and the Antequera Dolmens Archaeological Site, this town offers countless attractions for lovers of culture and history, not to mention its long-standing gastronomic tradition. Few places can boast a historical and cultural heritage like Antequera's. The city brings together more than fifty monuments and archaeological sites of extraordinary importance. Walking through Antequera means immersing yourself in its past. A glorious history that left it a legacy of palaces, churches and convents in a wide variety of styles, along with an 11th-century Muslim fortress. For all these reasons, Antequera is a must-see stop for anyone wishing to immerse themselves in the culture and history of the province of Málaga. What are you waiting for to let yourself be captivated by the heart of the Costa del Sol?