The Ancient City of Antequera: Little known outside of Andalusia until recently, the ancient city of Antequera in Malaga province has gained a lot of international recognition of late. Much of this renewed attention comes thanks to the Antequera Dolmens Site being awarded a UNESCO World Heritage designation in July of 2016.
Today Antequera is known as “the heart of Andalusia” for its central location midway between Malaga to the south and Cordoba to the north, Sevilla to the west and Granada to the east. Its unique history and recent UNESCO designation likely explain why the New York Times identified Antequera as one of its “52 Places to Go in 2017.”
El Torcal and the Dolmens: Antequera has been referenced as the “Spanish Stonehenge” for the three dolmens located in the city. These 5,000 year old megalithic burial sites are the largest such structures in Europe, and unique in that virtually all other similar dolmens on the continent face the sunrise at equinox, while these face natural mountainscapes, including those of El Torcal.
The El Torcal mountain nature park is included in Antequera's UNESCO designation thanks to its connection to the dolmens as a focal point and its enigmatic limestone structures, which form one of the most bedazzling “karst” landscapes in Europe.
Lover's Rock: The largest of the dolmens opens directly facing a distinctive and enormous 880m high crag of limestone that overlooks the town and valley of Antequera. Its name, La Peña de los Enamorados (Lover's Rock), derives from a legend about a forbidden love between a Christian and a Moor who threw themselves from atop the rock instead of acquiescing to a life apart.
A Unique Tour of Antequera: Your tour begins with a visit to the impressive and beguiling landscapes of El Torcal, and continues with a visit to the three famous megalithic dolmens of Antequera. At lunchtime you'll find yourself in Antequera for a memorable tasting menu that recovers the historic Malagueña cuisine. After lunch, enjoy a pleasant stroll around Antequera for Renaissance memories before returning to El Carligto.
At a Glance: This unique tour of Antequera is a 10 hour trip from 8:30 am – 6:30 pm. Private vehicle and driver if desired. Private guide. Tasting menu for lunch (food and drinks). Entrance tickets and all taxes. To book, enquire further, or for any additional details please get in touch here.