Antequera is a busy market town and was strategically important to both the Romans (who called it Anticaria) and to the Moors, who used it as a border fortress to defend Granada.
Getting there
The easiest way to get to Antequera from Malaga Airport is to use a private transfer servce. You can find a comparison of transfer companies from Malaga Airport here. Leave Nerja on the main road. Continue on MA-105 for 462m. Take 2nd exit from roundabout. Continue a short way then take 2nd exit at roundabout. You are now on the N-340/E15. Continue for 52.7km then take exit 166B signposted Córdoba/Granada/Sevilla. Follow the A-45/N-331 for 40.2km then take exit 124 to Antequera. Continue on the A.354 for about 2.5km. There are 4 roundabouts, take the 2nd exit at each one and with a bit of luck you should be in Antequera! If not, then you probably shouldn’t be let out unsupervised….
Statistics
Area: 817 square kilometres
Altitude: 577 mtrs above sea level
Population: +/- 41,000
Distance from Nerja: 101 km
Driving Time: +/- 1 hour 25 mins
Location
Places of Interest
The 19th century Plaza de Toros also houses a museum. Tel: 95 284 58 85
The 18th century Palacio de Najera is home to the Municipal Museum with exhibits dating back to Roman times. Tel: 95 270 40 51
The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen is impressive with a huge Baroque altarpiece.
On the hilltop is a castle built in the 13th century on the site of an old Roman fort. Entering through the impressive 16th century Arco de los Gigantes you can walk round the castle walls and get a good view of the town below.
Just outside town are the Dolmens, believed to be the burial chambers of local tribal leaders and dating back to 2500 – 2000 BC. The most impressive and famous of these is the Cueva de Menga (Open Sun & Tues 9am – 3.30pm, Wed – Sat 9am to 6pm, free entry), its roof formed by an immense 180-tonne monolith.
Local Cuisine
One of the most common dishes in Antequerana gastronomy is la porra, fundamentally bread, oil, garlic, tomatoes and peppers. Others typical dishes are: ajoblanco, pimentón, gazpachuelo and migas. Game is also popular, conejo a la cortijera (rabbit) and chivo pastoril (young goat), as are fish dishes such as pescado en escabeche, a recipe which dates back to Roman times.
Desserts to look out for are bienmesabe, a sweet made with ground almonds, mantecados, pestiños, torrijas and roscos.
Mollete, soon to receive its ‘denominación de origen ‘ status, is a type of Arab bread, white and lightly cooked. It is sold in the local bakeries and supermarkets, as well as being available in most bars.
Local Festivals
Holy Week
Feria de Primavera (last week in May)
Real Feria de Agosto
Local Info
Ayuntamiento
C/ Infante D. Fernando
Tel: 952 70 81 00
Fax: 952 70 37 50
Tourist Office
Plaza de San Sebastián, 7
Tel: 952 70 25 05
Fax: 952 70 25 05
Casa de la Cultura
C/ Carreteros, 10
Tel: 952 70 40 52
Fax: 952 70 81 36
Taxi Ranks
C/ Alameda de Andalucía
Tel: 952 70 26 27
C/ Calzada Tel: 952 84 10 76
C/ Carreteros
Tel: 952 84 10 08
Guided Tours
Sondytour: C/ Merecillas, 31
Tel: 952 70 65 10
Fax: 952 70 30 90
Anprotur, C.B: C/ Najera, 18
Tel: 952 70 51 06 or 615 18 37 76
Viajes Toral: C/ Infante D. Fernando, 40
Tel: 952 84 01 12
Fax: 952 70 61 43
Car Hire
National ATESA: Pol Ind, C/ Papabellotas, 19 – 21
Tel: 952 84 30 04
Fax: 952 84 30 44
Top Cars: Pol Ind, C/ Hortelanos, 1
Tel: 669 37 09 29
National Police
C/ Carrera, 14
Tel: 952 70 63 50 or 091
Local Police
Avda. de la Legión, s/n
Tel: 952 70 81 04 or 092
Guardia Civil
Avda. de Andalucía, 23
Tel: 952 84 01 06
Tel: 952 84 03 57
Red Cross
Paseo María Cristina, s/n
Tel: 952 70 22 22
Tel: 952 70 22 83
Civil Protection
C/ Picadero
Tel: 952 70 81 01
Hospital Comarcal de Antequera
Centralita Polígono de la Azucarera, s/n
Tel: 952 84 62 63
Información General 951 06 10 12
Urgencias 951 06 11 50
Bus Companies
Automóviles Casado: Paseo García del Olmo, s/n
Tel: 952 84 19 57
Automóviles Mérida:
Tel: 952 70 15 24
Tel: 952 23 55 59
Automóviles Torres, S.L
Tel: 952 84 24 92
R. L. Doblado
Tel: 607 50 89 22
T. Alsina Graells SUR S.A.
Tel: 952 84 13 65
Where to Stay
Antequera Golf
Development Santa Catalina, s/n
Telephone: 952704531
Fax: 952845232
E-mail: [email protected]
/www.hotelantequera.com
Casa del Conde de Pinofiel****
calle Tercia, 10
Telephone: 952842464
Fax: 952705007
E-mail: [email protected]
/www.hotelcondepinofiel.com
Finca Eslava****
Ctra. Córdoba, km. 120
Telephone: 952844934
Fax: 952845382
E-mail: [email protected]
www.fincaeslava.com
La Sierra****
Ctra Nacional, km.331 , Las Pedrizas
Telephone: 952845410
Fax: 952845265
E-mail: [email protected]
/www.grupolasierra.com
Las Villas de Antikaria***
Ctra de Córdoba, 3
Telephone: 952844899
Fax: 952845621
E-mail: [email protected]
www.hotellasvillas.com
Lozano***
Avda. Principal, 2
Telephone: 952842712
Fax: 952842012
E-mail: [email protected]
www.hotel-lozano.com
Papabellotas***
calle Encarnación, 5
Telephone: 952705045
Fax: 952704842
E-mail: [email protected]
www.papabellotas.com
Parador de Antequera***
Paseo García del Olmo, 2
Telephone: 952840261
Fax: 952841312
E-mail: [email protected]
www.parador.es
Posada de Jose María El Tempranillo***
Ctra Alameda-Antequera, km. 1
Telephone: 952711009
Fax: 952710463
E-mail: [email protected]
www.posadaeltempranillo.com
Castilla**
calle Infante Don Fernando, 40
Telephone: 952843248
Fax: 952843090
E-mail: [email protected]
www.infohosteleria.com/tempranillo
Las Pedrizas**
Ctra. Madrid-Málaga, km526
Telephone: 952730850 952730856
Fax: 952730852
Plaza San Sebastián**
Plaza de San Sebastián, 4
Telephone: 952844239
Fax: 952844239
E-mail: [email protected]
www.hotelplazasansebastian.com/
Nuevo Infante*
calle. Infante Don Fernando, 15
Telephone: 952700293
Fax: 952700086
Hostal Residencia Colón**
calle Infante Don Fernando, 29
Telephone: 952840010
Fax: 952841164
E-mail: [email protected]
www.castelcolon.com
Hostal del Polígono**
calle Efeso, 8
La Yedra**
Ctra. de Sevilla
Telephone: 952842287
Fax: 952842287
Madrona**
calle Calzada, 31
Telephone: 952840014
Hostal Bella Vista
calle Archidona, 27
Telephone: 952841997
Hostal Manzanito
Plaza de San Sebastián, 4
Telephone: 952841023
Número Uno
calle. Lucena, 40
Telephone: 952843134
Fax: 952843134
Pepe
calle Nájera, 1
Telephone: 952603764
Reyes
calle. Tercia, 24
Telephone: 952841028