The Alcazaba of Antequera, a Moorish fortress in Antequera city in the province of Malaga.

© saiko3p/Getty Images/iStock

Alcazaba

Antequera


Favoured by the Granada emirs of Islamic times, Antequera’s hilltop Moorish fortress has a fascinating history and covers a massive 62,000 sq metres. The main approach to the hilltop is from Plaza de San Sebastián, up the stepped Cuesta de San Judas and then through an impressive archway, the Arco de los Gigantes, built in 1585 and formerly bearing huge sculptures of Hercules. All that's left today are the Roman inscriptions on the stones.

The admission price includes a multilingual audioguide, which sets the historical scene as you meander along tidy pathways, flanked by hedges and some archaeological remains of a Gothic church and Roman dwellings from the 6th century AD.

Climb the 50 steps of the Torre del Homenaje for great views, especially towards the northeast and of the Peña de los Enamorados (Rock of the Lovers) – a rock whose profile resembles a human face, long the subject of local legends.

Admission to the Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor is included in the price. Don’t miss the ruins of Roman baths dating from the 3rd century AD, which can be viewed from Plaza Santa María, outside the church entrance. Although the site is a tad overgrown, you can clearly see the layout, aided by an explanatory plaque.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Antequera attractions

1. Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor

0.05 MILES

Just below the Alcazaba is the large 16th-century Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor. This church-college played an important part in Andalucía’s 16th…

2. Museo de la Ciudad de Antequera

0.13 MILES

Antequera's town-centre municipal museum displays an impressive collection of Roman artifacts from the surrounding area, including glassware, jewelry,…

3. Museo Conventual de las Descalzas

0.2 MILES

This museum, in the 17th-century convent of the Carmelitas Descalzas (barefoot Carmelites), approximately 150m east of the town’s Museo de la Ciudad de…

4. Iglesia del Carmen

0.24 MILES

Only the most jaded would fail to be impressed by the Iglesia del Carmen and its marvellous 18th-century Churrigueresque retablo (altarpiece)…

5. Antequera Dolmens Site

0.88 MILES

Antequera's two earth-covered burial mounds – the Dolmen de Menga and the Dolmen de Viera – were built out of megalithic stones by Bronze Age people…

6. Dolmen del Romeral

1.83 MILES

This megalithic burial site was constructed around 1800 BC and features much use of small stones for its walls. To get here, continue 2.5km past the town…

8. Centro de Visitantes José A Valverde

13.08 MILES

You can watch an informative film about the Laguna de Fuente de Piedra flamingos and peruse some small exhibits at this helpful lakeside visitor centre…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "spain/andalucia/antequera/attractions/alcazaba/a/poi-sig/1188986/1313832",
      "destination": "Antequera",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "Spain",
      "region": "Andalucía",
      "city": "Antequera",
      "position": "superzone"
    }