Antequera maintains valuable remains that show the importance it has had throughout the centuries as a privileged settlement in Andalucía. The three combined Dolmens, which still exist next to the city: “El Romeral”, “Viera” and, above all, “Menga”, are evidence that, in prehistoric times, this was a monumental and mythical place.
But, progressing through history, we can appreciate that the Roman Antikaria is not left behind in importance and, at present, it is possible and mythical place. Progressing through history, we can appreciate that the Roman Antikaria is not left behind in importance and, at present, it is possible to admire at the Municipal Museum (installed at the elegant “Palacio de Nájera) the “Efebo”, one of the best finished examples of Roman sculpture in the whole of Spain. Its prestige does not diminish during the Arabic epoch and from those times remain The Alcazaba, with its powerful walls, and the splendid “Torre del Homenaje o de Papabellotas”, which from its privileged vantage point, presides over the urban landscape of the city.
At the top of the city, “La Real Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor”, a Renaissance building with harmonious façade, which conjures up Roman architecture, and great interior aisles separated by austere, ionic columns. Nearby, we find “El Arco de los Gigantes”, with a marked mannerist style and the enclosure of “La Alcazaba”, with outstanding towers like “La Estrella” and “El Agua”.
Entering the lower part of the city, we find the great baroque churches and the palaces. There, we find “La del Carmen”, with its wide, singular aisle, mudejar, coffered ceiling and beautiful, baroque alterpieces, “San Sebastián”, situated next to “El Arco del Nazareno” in one of its most pleasant corners and the Renaissance fountain in the square which bears the same name as the church.
There are other countless places of genuine, Andalucian flavour, which can only be possibly appreciated by losing oneself through the beautiful side- streets. “La Plaza de Santiago” or “La Plaza del Portichuelo”, the church of “Santa María de Jesús”, spacious palaces like the one that presently houses the town hall, beautiful temples like the Renaissance of “San Pedro”, the baroque of “La Trinidad”,”San Agustín” or the attractive façade of the church of “San Juan de Dios”.