Antequera lies right at the heart of the stunning region of Andalucia, yet this ancient city sits quietly off the tourist track. One of the advantages of holiday homes at the Saydo Manhattan Park resort is the ease with which you can explore everything this fascinating region has to offer.
Known as the Florence of Andalusia, there’s been a settlement here since the Bronze Age. Now the city is famed for the opulence of its Spanish Baroque style architecture and it’s an amazing place to explore from the comfort of the mobile homes and caravans located at Saydo Manhattan Park. Why not go exploring to discover the best Antequera has to offer?
The municipal museum in Antequera
It’s estimated that 65% of the artistic treasures of the region can be found in Antequera. The municipal museum is an incredible timeline of the city’s evolution from as far back as the first century AD. Everything about this exceptional museum is highly instagrammable, from the ornate building itself with its beautiful courtyard to its most famous exhibit.
The Efebo de Antequera – depicting a young Greek man – was discovered by a farmer in the 1950s. It’s the greatest example of Roman sculpture found in the whole of Spain and the museum is worth a visit just to see the Efebo alone.
Real Colegiata de Santa Maria
Antequera is home to an astonishing 30 churches, but if you can only visit one, make it the Real Colegiata de Santa Maria. The impressive facade is a Renaissance jewel and the interior has an almost Italianate feel, thanks to the beautifully beamed ceiling, elegant columns and huge windows. Nowadays, Santa Maria plays host to a wide range of cultural events, including classical music and exhibitions.
The Alcazaba
This Moorish palace overlooks the town and is approached through the hugely impressive archway known as the Arch of the Giants. Once the home of the Moorish Emirs, the fortress has a fascinating history and offers breathtaking views over the surrounding countryside towards Peñon de los Enamorados or Lovers’ Rock, that resembles a human face turned towards the sky.
The Dolmens of Antequera
Just a stone’s throw from the caravans at Saydo Park lie the famous Bronze Age megaliths. Considered to be the finest in Europe, they became a Unesco World Heritage site in 2016.
An astonishing feat of engineering, the Spanish Stonehenge consists of dozens of stone slabs that were transported from the nearby mountains. The oldest of the three burial chambers marked by the dolmen dates from 2500 BC and a visit to the site, especially at Midsummer, is unforgettable.
El Torcal National Park
Finally, for nature lovers, a trip to the El Torcal national park is an unmissable treat. Not only are the flora and fauna exceptional – there are 30 different species of orchid alone – but there are some extraordinary panoramic views of Malaga and the African coast.
But El Torcal is world famous for its limestone rock formations that resemble towers made from stacks of stones. Carved by the sea over 100 million years ago, the entire area was thrust skywards to a height of some 1,300 metres above sea level. It’s this unique geology that has created the fabulous landscape – we promise you’ll never have seen anything like it!
