Antequera

Antequera is a Spanish city and municipality in the province of Málaga, in Andalusia. Located in the north of the province, it is the center of the region that bears his name and the head of the homonymous judicial district.

In 2015, it had 41,141 inhabitants. no. m. Due to its population, Antequera is the first municipality in the interior of the province and the thirty-fourth in Andalusia and the largest in terms of surface area, being also the twenty-fourth largest in Spain. Antequera is located in a strategic geographical enclave, for being Located in the center of Andalusia, where the main roads connecting Malaga with Córdoba and Granada with Seville, the four largest cities in the autonomous community, converge. The city is located 45 km from Malaga and 115 from Córdoba, cities with which it is connected by high-speed train and the A-45 motorway, and 160 from Seville and 102 from Granada, with which it is connected by the A motorway. -92 and also due to high speed, once the Transversal Railway Axis was finished.

Due to its strategic communications situation, with four airports located approximately one hour away and on the Port of Algeciras railway line, Antequera is emerging as an important logistics infrastructure center, with several business parks and the new Logistics Center of Andalusia. In addition, the Vega de Antequera, irrigated by the Guadalhorce River, is a fertile agricultural area that provides abundant cereals, olive oil and vegetables.

Its name originates from Anticaria, the old Roman denomination, then Antaquira in Arabic, although several sites scattered throughout the municipal area attest that the area was inhabited for more than 6000 years. From its past it preserves an extensive archaeological and architectural heritage, highlighting the set of dolmens of Menga, Viera and El Romeral, as well as numerous churches, convents and palaces from different periods and styles. Of its physical environment, the natural area of El Torcal stands out, famous for the whimsical shapes of its limestone rocks, which make up one of the most important karstic landscapes in Europe.

This natural space, together with the Menga, Viera, El Romeral and Peña de los Enamorados dolmens, make up the so-called Antequera Dolmens Site, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2016.

Antequera was one of the centers linked to the beginnings of Andalusian nationalism, where the Federal Constitution of Antequera was drawn up in 1883 and the so-called Antequera Autonomous Pact was agreed upon in 1978, which led to the achievement of autonomy for Andalusia. It is an old ambition of this city to be the seat of the Andalusian government, a vote that it lost in favor of Seville in its day.

Geography

City view. At the bottom right, the Peña de los Enamorados.

The Antequera Torcal.

Antequera is located between two of the great units of the Andalusian relief: the Subbéticas Cordilleras and the Intrabético Furrow. The Cordilleras Subbéticas are present discontinuously in the mountains that dot the Vega de Antequera, a depression in the chain of valleys that make up the Intrabético Furrow.

Due to the large extension of the municipal territory, it presents a heterogeneous physical character, in which three main territorial units can be distinguished: the plain of the Antequera Depression, the mountains and the mountains, and the countryside areas, generally located between the two above. Most of the territory extends over the plain of the depression, a fertile area where irrigated crops are concentrated and most of the municipal urban centers are located, including the central nucleus.

The set of mountain ranges that make up the Cordillera Antequerana, of limestone lithology, constitutes a great barrier between the depression and the coast of the province. This mountain range is characterized by the absence of forest masses and agricultural uses, due to its rocky nature and abrupt topography. They are occupied by scrub and scrubland and a small number of farmhouses and small rural areas.

The countryside areas are located between the edges of the fertile plain and the mountains, as well as on the southern slope of the Antequerana Mountain Range. They are spaces of smooth topography, with small hills and occupied by dry crops, especially olive groves and cereals, and some urban settlements.

Relief

Almost the entire celestial municipality is located between 400 and 600 m above sea level, the highest altitude being Cerro de la Cruz in the Sierra de Camarolos, at 1443 m. The relief of the depression is flat, with the exception of some undulating forms and the Peña de los Enamorados, a solitary rock 880 m high.

The mountain range is made up of a chain of Jurassic limestone mountain ranges grouped into three sectors separated by the Valle de Abdalajís and the Puerto de las Pedrizas. To the west are the mountain ranges of Huma, Llana and Valle de Abdalajís, the latter being the one that reaches the highest altitude with 1195 m. In the center rise the Chimenea, El Torcal and Las Cabras mountain ranges, reaching 1369 m in the Camorro Alto de la Sierra de Chimenea. In the eastern sector, the Co and Camarolos sierras are located.

To the south of the mountain range, the Colmenar Corridor presents a succession of gentle hills and ridged countryside. The highest altitudes correspond to Cerro del Águila, at 1,171 m, Pico de Jaralón, at 947 m, and Cerro Caballo Blanco, at 922 m. Finally, it is worth noting the presence of the so-called Antequera Transversal, an allochthonous unit of the Triassic, which is located between the depression and the mountain range. It is made up of small hilly-looking reliefs and altitudes between 600 and 800 m. The city of Antequera is located at about 575 m a.s.l. no. m..

Situation

View of the Vega de Antequera. The city, downtown and Peña de los Enamorados on the right.

Antequera constitutes the head of the homonymous region, functioning as an administrative, commercial and services and equipment center. This region is the main natural route of communication between Upper and Lower Andalusia and at the same time between the Costa del Sol and inland Andalusia. The municipal area borders sixteen municipalities in the province of Malaga and one in the province of Córdoba; to the north it limits with Humilladero, Mollina, Alameda and Benamejí; to the northeast, with Cuevas Bajas; to the northwest, with Sierra de Yeguas and Fuente de Piedra; to the west, with Campillos; to the east, with Villanueva de Algaidas, Archidona and Villanueva del Rosario; to the southwest, with Ardales; to the southeast, with Colmenar; and to the south it limits with Casabermeja, Villanueva de la Concepción, Almogía, Valle de Abdalajís and Álora.

Northwest: Sierra de Yeguas and Fuente de Piedra	North: Humilladero, Mollina, Alameda and Benamejí	Northeast: Low caves
West: Campillos		This: Villanueva de Algaidas, Archidona and Villanueva del Rosario
Southwest Ardales	South: Casabermeja, Villanueva de la Concepción, Almogía, Valle de Abdalajís and Álora	Sureste: Colmenar

Climate

The climate in Antequera is Mediterranean, although the barrier effect of the Antequera Mountains causes a tendency towards continentalization, reducing the influence of the sea, while the presence of large open spaces to the north increases the flows of wind from this direction. Thus, the summers are long and hot and during the winters the frosts are frequent. The average annual temperature is around 15 °C. In winter it drops to -3 °C and occasionally to -10 °C, although snowfall is rare. Summer, meanwhile, is torrid. There are 2700 hours of sunshine.

Precipitations are moderate, around 551 mm per year, and usually occur in autumn and spring, with the summer period being almost completely dry. The prevailing winds are those from the east, called solano or granadino, depending on their origin, and those from the west, known as sevillanos, which bring the greatest rainfall. The north wind is the coldest and most infrequent.

Hydrography

The only important river in Antequera is the Guadalhorce river. The hydrographic network of the plain has been greatly altered by canalization works for agriculture and the desiccation of endorheic areas. In mountain areas the riverbeds are poor and of little significance. Almost the entire municipality belongs to the Guadalhorce basin, except for some small areas in the north that discharge into the Genil basin, and in the south, which discharge into the basins of the Campanillas and Guadalmedina rivers.

The Guadalhorce rises near the border of the province of Granada and enters Antequera forming a "V" in the area of the Transversal. It crosses the plain before deviating towards the El Chorro gorge, remaining dammed in the Guadalhorce-Guadalteba reservoir, and leaves the municipality through the Gaitanes gorge. Of the other watercourses, it is worth mentioning the Río de la Villa, a tributary of the Guadalhorce, since it supplies the city and numerous nearby orchards with drinking water.

Flora and fauna

Monte goat print in the mountain range of El Torcal.

Antequera's climate is favorable to the development of temperate Mesomediterranean-type vegetation. However, due to the summer drought, the vegetation is quite xerophytic. In addition, due to the rocky and abrupt nature of the mountains and the dedication of the plain to agriculture, the forest masses are concentrated only in some areas, especially in the northern part of the mountain range, where the soils are suitable for forest vegetation.

There are holm oak groves and meadows in the Altiplano de las Lagunillas, Dehesa de Yeguas and the Saucedilla area, where they are mixed with hawthorns, brooms and genistas, as well as gorse and broom and repopulated Aleppo pine. This is the dominant species in Pinar del Romeral, while the stone pine prevails in Pinar del Hacho. Another area of pine forests is found in the Sierra de Huma, where the pines alternate with wild olive trees, junipers, junipers and mastic trees. In the Sierra de las Cabras and Camarolos the vegetation is generally sparse and is represented by hawthorns, gorse, lastonares, holm oaks and gall oaks.

The riverside vegetation has almost completely disappeared and only remains in some sections of the Guadalhorce River and the Parroso, Cerezo, Cauche, Valdivia and La Yedra streams, where there are elms, poplars, willows, eucalyptus and poplars. On the contrary, there are large areas of degraded vegetation made up of scrubland and scrub, chaparral and some holm oaks.

The Camarolos, Co and Las Cabras mountain ranges are home to a fauna that includes more than 90 protected species. In these and other areas the presence of the eagle owl and the golden eagle has been detected, as well as the partridge and the rabbit and several species of amphibians and reptiles. It should be noted that the Cordillera Antequerana serves as an ecological corridor for species such as the ibex, since it establishes the natural connection between the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama Natural Park and the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park. Among the protected natural spaces, El Torcal stands out, which has been classified as a natural site since 1989. It contains important natural values: geomorphology, flora, fauna and landscape, and contains one of the most impressive samples of karstic landscape in Europe.

Demographics

The population is 41,104 inhabitants, according to the INE census of January 2017, being the thirteenth municipality in the province of Malaga by population and the inside first. The population density is 54.85 inhabitants/km². The most populated area of the town is the old town; the city center. The rest of the population is concentrated in the districts and, to a lesser extent, in farmhouses and other rural dwellings. Until March 2009, Villanueva de la Concepción was also part of Antequera as an autonomous local entity.

The demographic evolution of the municipality has been reflected in the following graph:

Graphic of demographic evolution of Antequera between 1991 and 2017

Source National Statistical Institute of Spain

* It must be taken into account that the lower data for 2011 compared to 2010 does not correspond to a loss of population, but rather is due to the segregation of the new municipality of Villanueva de la Concepción, an old district from Antequera.

The number of foreigners residing in the municipality, according to data from the Statistics Institute of Andalusia in 2011, was 2,111, with the largest community being made up of Brazilian citizens, who represent almost 22% of all foreigners.

Old Town Street. On the left, the Bouderé House.

Urban cores

The main nucleus of the municipality is the city of Antequera, which has a well-preserved historic center and numerous monuments. Its location is due to its Roman and Muslim origin, probably chosen because it is a high place from where the plain is dominated.

The remaining nuclei are small in size and present common characteristics, such as their rural character and building typologies that correspond to the group of low-rise single-family homes, in addition to being all of recent creation, arisen with a view to the agricultural exploitation of the area or around the railway infrastructures. Most are located in the plain to take advantage of its agricultural fertility: Cartaojal, Los Llanos de Antequera, Bobadilla, Bobadilla-Estación, Colonia de Santa Ana and Cañadas de Pareja. The others are located on the southern slopes of the mountain range: Villanueva de Cauche, La Joya, Los Nogales and La Higuera.

History

Dolmen de Menga.

The Conquest of Antequera.

Prehistory

The founding of Antequera is linked to the appearance of the Roman municipality of Anticaria. The remains of previous civilizations are found in prehistoric archeology and appear in settlements whose dating ranges between 2,000 and 2,500 years BC. C., although other opinions date them to around 4000 years. The main witnesses of this period are the dolmens of Menga, Viera, El Romeral and the Alcaide necropolis, the first three near the city and the last one near Villanueva de Algaidas, considered the best dolmen complex in Spain and whose main exponent is the Menga dolmen, a true landmark of megalithism in the Iberian Peninsula.

The Antequera Ephebo.

Ancient Age

The data gap between the great complexes of prehistory and the Roman legacy, is not indicative to ignore possible settlements of Iberians, Tartessians, Phoenicians and Carthaginians, the first of hypothetical presence, but not negligible, however, that of the Carthaginians is evident in mud and tombs found in Cerro León, the scene of a battle between Hasdrubal and the Roman legions. In Roman times, the people quickly assimilated Roman culture and the Latin language. Under the Romans, the The city continued to be an important commercial center, especially known for its production of olive oil. From the Roman legacy remain the excavated Roman baths, located in the southwestern part of the city, and the sculpture of the Efebo de Antequera, dating from the 1st century d. C.

Middle Ages

The Germans destroyed along with Anticaria, Singilia, Nescania, Osqua and Aratispi i>, leaving them devastated, although in the case of Singilia all the finds testify that it continued to be occupied in Muslim times until the XII, as well as its importance in high-imperial times. The same thing happened with Anticaria, into which the Arab troops commanded by Abd al-Aziz ibn Musa entered, after the treaty that he celebrated in Orihuela with the Gothic monarch Todmir or Teodomiro. During the Arab domination it was known as Medina Antakira and was fortified with a citadel and a defensive wall.

Fernando I de Aragón, conqueror of Antequera.

Since the middle of the XIII century, after the fall of Seville and Jaén, is when Antakira begins to acquire importance as a center of military operations, due to its proximity to the border between Christians and Muslims. The importance that in Castile was attributed to the conquest of the city is evidenced by the fact that the regent Fernando himself, who ruled in the name of his nephew Juan II and who has gone down in history with the nickname of & #34;the one from Antequera".

After several unsuccessful attempts, the final assault by the Castilians began on April 20, 1410 and did not end until September 22, when the Andalusians negotiated the surrender of the city in exchange for cavalries for their withdrawal to Archidona. After the conquest, it was declared a city by a royal decree of November 9, 1441. Throughout the Castilian conquest it was a nerve center and frontier of shock, starting point for later conquests, such as the campaigns of Álora and Casarabonela, and above all expedition platform against the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada. In 1466, King Henry IV granted the title of "very noble" to the city of Antequera for the heroic services rendered by its inhabitants.

Modern Age

After the conquest of Granada in 1492, the city began to transform and spread outside the walls, increasing its population thanks to the warmth of its fertile lands and the absence of enemies. Under Castilian rule, the city continued to be an important commercial center due to its location, its flourishing agriculture and the work of its artisans, who contributed to the cultural growth of the city. But it was during the 16th and 17th centuries when the city experienced the greatest demographic growth, becoming one of the most important commercial cities in Andalusia, mainly due to its location as a crossroads for some of the main commercial routes. In these centuries Pedro Espinosa, Cristobalina Fernández de Alarcón and Luis Martín de Plaza, prominent poets of the so-called Antequeran school, died.

Palace of Villadarias.

In the year 1500, the Catholic Monarchs granted a license to the city so that it ceded 700 yards of land in which to build a monastery dedicated to San Zoilo, by the Friars of the Observance of San Francisco. In addition, the same kings founded the Royal Collegiate Church of Santa María La Mayor, which from that moment became the Antequeran cultural reference. In 1573 the first printing press appeared, Antequera being the seventh Andalusian city to have it after Seville (1472). Granada (1496), Osuna (1549), Baeza (1550), Córdoba (1556) and Jerez (1564), despite the fact that it did not have a university, although it did have a grammar chair attached to the Collegiate Church.

The 18th century is when the city reaches its peak. The city is transformed and numerous religious congregations settle in the city and build numerous houses, chapels and churches, until Antequera becomes an authentic convent city. The nobility also carried out commissions for new palaces and an important artistic activity arose, destined to nurture not only the numerous convents and palaces in Antequera, but also those of neighboring towns and other provinces. At this time, Antequera was one of the cities Andalusian with greater manufacturing activity, especially in relation to the textile industry, based mainly on wool, and to a lesser extent on silk and linen. Around 1755 the city had 87 textile manufacturers who had 147 looms. Due to its importance, in 1765 the title of “Royal” was granted to the Wool, Cloth and Cloth Factory. Most of the factories were concentrated on the banks of the Río de la Villa, which provided energy to the facilities.

Contemporary Age

Antequera around 1906 by Manuel García and Rodríguez.

The 19th century will be characterized by the loss of population due to epidemics, and the arrival on the scene of an incipient bourgeoisie that will look for alternatives to agriculture and declining trades in the textile and wool sector. In 1810 the The city was taken again, this time by French troops, who were expelled two years later. The landing of the industrial era in the city means that its products can be marketed throughout Spain, with Antequera blankets being very famous and valued. But soon after, after the inauguration of the first Barcelona-Mataró railway, Antequera began to lose sales in favor of Catalan textiles, until it disappeared completely. In 1883, the Andalusian constitution was approved in Antequera and from that moment it took the name of Constitución de Antequera. The San José Sugar Factory dates from 1892, the most important industry in Antequera of its time.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the newspaper El Sol de Antequera was created, dean of the Malaga press. The subsequent wars and other factors of this century did not favor the development of the city at all, and caused the city to resort to an increasingly less competitive agriculture. After the Spanish civil war, the town suffered a great economic and social decline, causing intense emigration.

With the arrival of democracy and the decentralization of the State, the social consensus in favor of autonomy for Andalusia materialized in the so-called Pact of Antequera on December 4, 1978. The city was proposed to head the capital of the autonomous community, but it did not prosper and Seville was finally chosen.

Monuments and places of interest

Real Colegiata de San Sebastian.

Antequera is home to an architectural heritage made up of more than fifty religious and civil buildings, as well as numerous archaeological sites.

Religious architecture

Declared a National Monument, the Royal Collegiate Church of Santa María La Mayor is a transitional work between late Gothic and Renaissance. It was built between 1514 and 1550 and has the honor of being the first temple that was conceived within the Renaissance style in Andalusia. Its Ionic columns and its Mudejar coffered ceiling stand out, as well as the Gothic-Mudejar vault of the High Altar. The ashlar façade was built with stones from the remains of Singilia Barba. The other royal collegiate church in Antequera, the Royal Collegiate Church of San Sebastián, was built from 1548 by the architect Diego de Vergara, although it subsequently underwent several alterations, which is why it currently presents a mixture of styles; Renaissance and Plateresque on the façade, Baroque on the bell tower and Neoclassical parts of the interior.

Church of the Convent of Saint Augustine.

Convents

Convents of interest are numerous. The current convent of Madre de Dios de Monteagudo was built between 1747 and 1761 on an old convent that had been destroyed by fire. The project corresponds to the master builder Cristóbal García, who managed to give the interior a sensation of movement by combining concave surfaces with cap vaults and other elements. Its tower is considered one of the most beautiful examples of Andalusian Baroque. The Belén convent dates from the early 17th century century and features a Latin cross plan, an austere stone and brick façade and a dome decorated with colorful baroque plasterwork. The Victoria convent, on the other hand, has an octagonal floor plan and is inspired by Italian Baroque models. The ashlar façade presents a central balcony that gives the building a civil appearance. The convent of La Encarnación, dating from 1580, is in the Mannerist-Mudejar style and repeats the model of a Moorish church in Granada, with a single nave covered with coffered ceilings.

The convent of San Agustín is one of the oldest, built between 1550 and 1566, according to the project of Diego de Vergara. The church tower presents a peculiar aspect as it is located between buttresses. The predominant style is Mannerism, to which the chapel, the façade and the vault correspond. The convent of La Trinidad dates from 1672-1683 and presents a very classic baroque style. The project is due to a friar of the order of the Discalced Trinitarians, Fray Pedro del Espíritu Santo. Also from the 17th century date the Convento de los Remedios, the convent of Santo Domingo, of which the Mudejar armor of the nave stands out center and the convent of La Magdalena dating from 1691, of the order of the barefoot Franciscans.

Details of the cover of the Convent of Mother of God of Monteagudo.

Three other convents belong to the 18th century. The convent of San José was built between 1707 and 1734 and is considered one of the most genuine representations of the Antequera baroque. It has a two-part façade, made of carved brick and baked clay, attributed to Tomás de Melgarejo. The master builder Andrés Burgueño is the author of the church of the convent of Las Catalinas. It has a single nave covered with a barrel vault, very repeated both in Spain and in America, with a chancel and choir at the foot. The interior, very ornate in decoration, contrasts with the simplicity of the exterior. For its part, the Convent of Santa Eufemia has a mixtilinear plan. Its church was built between the years 1739 and 1763 according to the plans of the master Cristóbal García. It presents reminiscences of Nasrid architecture and a neoclassical air on the façade.

Lastly, it is worth noting the Royal Monastery of San Zoilo, founded by the Catholic Monarchs in 1500. It is a Gothic-style convent and has also been declared a National Monument. Of the original work some vaults and the front of the church are preserved. Inside, the Mudejar armor of the central nave and the Mannerist plasterwork of the ribbed vault stand out.

Interior of the Church of Carmen.

Churches

From the 16th century, the group of Renaissance columnar churches made up of the churches of San Pedro, Santa María de Jesús and San Juan Bautista stands out. The first presents Gothic ribbed vaults, possible remains of the original temple begun in 1522. The following century underwent some remodeling works, directed by the architect of the Cathedral of Málaga Pedro Díaz de Palacios. The one in Santa María de Jesús is a reconstruction, since the original church was destroyed during the French invasion. It has a hexagonal floor plan and profuse decoration. The church of San Juan Bautista was completed in 1584. The façade is austere, but its interior is considered one of the jewels of the Andalusian Baroque.

The church of Santiago and the church of El Carmen were also built in the 16th century. The one in Santiago was originally a hermitage, begun in 1519. It has a single nave covered with a vault. The one of the Carmen is located in an escarpment, next to the river of the Villa. It was part of an old convent that has now disappeared and has been declared a National Monument. It was built between 1583 and 1633 in the Mannerist-Baroque style. The three large altarpieces in the main chapel, dating from the 18th century, are notable.

From the 17th century, two churches stand out: the church of Nuestra Señora de Loreto and the church of Los Capuchinos. The first began to be built in 1693 and stands out for its monumental Baroque façade. That of the Capuchins was consecrated in 1658 and has a Latin cross plan. The church of San Miguel dates from the 18th century, built according to the designs of the master builder Nicolás Mejías, of whose work only the main chapel, its dressing room and the belfry remain. The rest of the church is a 20th-century reconstruction, although an attempt was made to reproduce the original design.

Hermitages and chapels

The Virgen del Socorro Tribune Chapel is also called the Portichuelo Chapel, because it is located in the square of the same name. This square is considered one of the most interesting sets of traditional Andalusian urbanism. The chapel was built in 1715 and is made up of two floors of open galleries with semicircular arches and three façades. For its part, the Capilla Tribuna de la Cruz Blanca dates from 1774 and is attributed to the master builder Martín de Bogas. Its style is late baroque. On the other hand, the Ermita de la Veracruz crowns one of the highest parts of the city. It is in the Renaissance style with some Mannerist elements and Baroque plasterwork.

Civil architecture

It was Antequera's.

The citadel of Antequera is the most outstanding ensemble of the old Islamic medina. It occupies the hill and has a rectangular floor plan and two towers, the largest of which is the Tribute Tower. Other notable civil buildings are: the Granary, a former wheat warehouse from the 17th century; the Hospital de San Juan de Dios, built in the second half of the 18th century; and the Palacio Consistorial, an old convent converted into the seat of the town hall.

From the 20th century, two buildings built during the Second Republic stand out: the Torcal Theater-Cinema (1933-34), an example of rationalist architecture and Art Deco aesthetics, by the architect Antonio Sánchez Esteve; and the eclectic Antequera Savings Bank (1932), a project by the architect Daniel Rubio.

The numerous examples of palatial residential architecture that are preserved in the city deserve special mention, of which we can mention: the Palace of the Marquises of Peña de los Enamorados, from the 16th century; the Palace of the Marqués de las Escalonias and the Casa de los Pardo, from the 17th century; the Palace of the Marqués de Villadarias, the Palace of Nájera, the House of the Colarte family, the House of the Count of Pinofiel and the House of the Barón de Sabasona, all from the XVIII; the House of the Count of Colchado; the House of the Ramírez; the Bouderé House, by the architect Daniel Rubio; and the House of the Serrailler, by Aníbal González.

Monumental gates

Estepa Gate.

• Arc de los Gigantes: it is a construction carried out by municipal initiative in 1585 within the approaches of humanism, to the object of replacing an access in bend of the Muslim fence wanting to evoke with its large half-point arch the triumphal arches of the classic world. On the wall there are Latin inscriptions concerning both Anticaria and other Roman cities that existed in its vicinity (Singilia Barba, Nescania, Osqua, etc.) and four large tombstones in which a dedication to King Philip II takes place.
• Puerta de Malaga: located on the wall of the alcazaba, it is a passageway in a lap. It features a horseshoe arch made of Nazareth brick.
• Estepa Gate: destroyed in 1931 and rebuilt in 1998, is a brick construction and red limestone of El Torcal. It presents three half-point arches and an image in terracotta of the Virgin of the Rosary of the former sculptor Eloy García, who replaces the one that in his day realized the imager Andrés de Carvajal and Campos.
• Puerta de Granada: it is a work of the master alarife Martín de Bogas, built in 1748, although it has undergone several subsequent modifications. It consists of a half-point arch and a top bakery that houses an image of the virgin.

Fountain-Sculpture of the Enamories.

Fountains and sculptures

• Sculpture of the Infante Don Fernando: located in the Plaza del Coso Viejo, is dedicated to the conqueror of Antequera.
• Source of the Four Elements: also located in the Old Coso Square, represents the Four Elements: water, fire, air and land.
• San Sebastian Fountain: located in San Sebastian Square, it is due to Baltasar de Grodos, who designed it in 1545 initially for Plaza Alta.
• Sculpture by Pedro Espinosa: raised in honor of the poet beforequerano, is the work of José Manuel Patricio Toro, dated in 1998. It is located in Piazza Santa Maria.
• Triomph of the Immaculate: Baroque column dated in 1697, from the sculptor Antonio del Castillo.
• Fountain-Sculpture of the Enamorados: built by José Manuel Patricio Toro in 2004, in tribute to the two lovers who according to the legend were thrown from the Peña de los Enamorados.

Archaeology

The Arc de los Gigantes contains Latin inscriptions from the deposits of Singilia Barba and other Roman settlements.

The most important archaeological remains in the municipality are those that make up the so-called archaeological zone of the Antequera dolmens, made up of the dolmens that give it its name and a series of sites directly related to the megalithic necropolis. The three tombs that make it up preserve the original burial mound and each of them presents clear technical and formal differences. The Menga dolmen is one of the pinnacles of flat architecture in European Prehistory. Its grandeur lies precisely in its architectural character and the magnitude of the slabs used in its construction. It occupies a slight promontory in which a wide and elongated grave was made, on the virgin rock, which would already have the dimensions of what would later be the tomb itself. The total length of the set reaches 27.5 meters.

The Viera dolmen is also partially built on an elevation. In this elevation, a trench was made longitudinally, inside which the orthostats were placed vertically. The entire complex is covered with a burial mound that reaches fifty meters in diameter. The definitive shape of the plant allows it to be classified within the type "megalithic corridor tomb". The tholos of El Romeral has two examples of chambers made with the dome resource by approximation of courses. Outwardly the mound does not seem to differ from the other two. However, in its construction masonry was used as the main element of walls and vaults. Its plant and interior layout also offer peculiarities. Thus, a 26-meter long corridor configured by two long walls with a clear overhang or inclination, gives access, through a very elaborate door, to a large burial chamber.

In the vicinity of the dolmens is the settlement of Cerro de Antequera, studied for the first time in 1977. It is a Chalcolithic settlement already entered the Beaker stage, identifying some fountains with slightly exvasive lips as the most significant elements and flat apex decorated with incised bell-shaped motifs, similar to types traditionally related to Palmela types.

Other important sites are: the Carnicería de los Moros, remains of some hot springs next to the river de la Villa; the Roman baths located at the foot of the Royal Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor; the Roman villa of the Station, dated from the 1st to the 4th century B.C. c.; the archaeological zone of Aratispi, corresponding to the Copper, Bronze, Ibero-Punic and Roman Ages; El Gallumbar, a rural settlement dedicated to the production of oil in Roman times; the Alcaide necropolis, belonging to full copper and full bronze; the late Roman settlement and necropolis of La Angostura; and the archaeological zone of the Roman city of Singilia Barba, among many others.

Politics and Administration

The political administration of the city is carried out through a democratically managed City Council whose members are elected every four years by universal suffrage. The electoral census is made up of all residents registered in Antequera over the age of 18 and nationals of Spain and the other member states of the European Union. According to the provisions of the General Electoral Regime Law, which establishes the number of eligible councilors based on the population of the municipality, the Municipal Corporation of Antequera is made up of 21 councilors.

Since the restoration of democracy in Spain, except for the first legislature, in which an independent mayor governed, Antequera has been governed by the Spanish Socialist Workers Party of Andalusia until 2011. In the 2007 municipal elections the PSOE- A won again, getting 10 councilors and 39.66% of the vote. The Andalusian Popular Party (PP) obtained 7 councilors and 29.18%; Izquierda Unida Los Verdes-Call for Andalusia (IULV-CA) obtained 3 councilors and 15.01%; and, finally, the Partido de los Anejos y Barriadas de Antequera (PABA) won 1 councilor and 6.29%.

In the 2011 municipal elections, the Andalusian Popular Party obtained an absolute majority, with 11 councilors and 44.56%, the Andalusian Socialist Party (PSOE) obtained 7 councilors and 31.47%, IULV-CA obtained 3 councilors and 15.46%. Both the PABA and the Andalusian Party were left without representation. Thus, Manuel Barón became the first mayor of the Popular Party in Antequera since the restoration of democracy. In the 2015 municipal elections, Manuel Barón would revalidate his position as head of the Antequera mayor's office by once again obtaining an absolute majority, with 11 councilors; while PSOE-A and IU would obtain 8 and 2 council seats respectively. After these, without actually obtaining representation, the political parties 'Antequera Sí Se Puede', PABA or UPyD also presented themselves.

Antequera Town Hall.

Mayors since the 1979 elections

Period	Name	Party
1979-1983	José Ma González Bermúdez	G. IND.
1983-1987	Pedro de Rojas Tapia	PSOE
1987-1991	Paulino Plata Cánovas	PSOE
1991-1995	Paulino Plata Cánovas (until 1994) Jesus Romero Benítez	PSOE PSOE
1995-1999	Jesus Romero Benítez	PSOE
1999-2003	Jesus Romero Benítez	PSOE
2003-2007	Ricardo Millán Gómez	PSOE
2007-2011	Ricardo Millán Gómez	PSOE
2011-2015	Manuel Jesús Barón Ríos	P
2015-2019	Manuel Jesús Barón Ríos	P
2019-	Manuel Jesús Barón Ríos	P

Judicial Administration

Antequera is the head of judicial district number 1 in the province of Málaga, whose demarcation includes its municipality and ten other neighboring municipalities, serving the population in three investigative and first instance courts.

Symbols

The official symbols of Antequera are its flag, its shield and its motto. These were officially approved by the Junta de Andalucía on April 1, 2008. The motto of the city is “For your love” and also, it has the titles of “De Ciudad” and “Very Noble and Loyal”. The coat of arms and flag are defined as follows:

Flag Antequera.

Shield color H.E. Antequera Town Hall.

Brand Antequera.

Match shield. In the first, of gules, a castle of gold, mazonado de sable and cleared of azur. In the second, silver a rampant lion of gules, flax and nail of the same. Above all, a jug of sulcenes in its natural colors and the letter "T" of sable in its throat; in chief the letters "A" and "Q" in its right and sinister cantons; and in tip the letters "P S A" in its right, central and sinister cantons, all of sable. To the bell, crown of Infante, which is a circle of gold, encased of precious stones, composed of eight vases of acant leaves, visible five, interpolated of pearls.

White cloth, at the ratio of 3:4, on one of the faces of it, a Castle of three towers almond of gold, mazonado of sable and cleared of azur and a rampant Lion without crown of gules, linguado and nail of the same and between one and another embroidered in silver a jug of spheroidal body, facet and large, to form a proportion, of turning neck Seven rows of sulcenes, ordained and apiramidated, arise in group of the mouth of this jug, and the motto FOR HIS LOVE in tiny German gold-profiled, in the body or belly of the jug.

Economy

Herbal crops in the Antequera countryside.

Agriculture and livestock

La Vega de Antequera has been described as the “pantry” of the province of Malaga. In fact, 90% of the province's tuber production is collected in this area, mainly potatoes and onions, which together added a harvest in 2007 of 33 million kilos. That same year, 250,000 kilos of asparagus were harvested, a particularly profitable product of which 90% is sold in European markets. These three crops are the most important, highlighting the production of early potatoes, of which Antequera is the leading producer in Spain, with 8 million kilos per year.

Agriculture is central to the city's economy. The municipality has a total of 50,605 cultivated ha, distributed between 24,713 ha for arable cultivation and 25,892 ha dedicated to woody crops. Most of the agricultural area is dedicated to dry land, the main crops being olive groves., cereals and industrial crops. Fruit crops represent a small percentage of the cultivated area compared to rainfed crops. The number of cooperatives dedicated to the production of olive oil stands out, among which Dcoop stands out, one of the largest cooperatives in Spain.

The irrigated area is also devoted to arable crops, especially wheat, barley, oats, legumes, tubers, and industrial and fodder crops. The irrigated area is concentrated in the plain, where the colonization town of Los Llanos de Antequera was even built, with the aim of promoting irrigation in the area.

The interest of livestock in the municipality is focused on the dairy industry, which brings together a large number of partners. In the municipality there are livestock units that are shown in the attached table. In the last twenty years, several Purebred Spanish horse farms (Andalusian Horse) have been consolidated in its term, which stand out for their purity and quality.

Commerce, industry and tourism

Due to the development of communications and its central position in Andalusia, the logistics industry has experienced a boom in the area with the installation of numerous companies such as Verdifresh, Alcati, Mercadona distribution centers and Dia or the Bimbo production plant, among many other facilities. One of the largest areas of concentration of companies is the so-called Logistics Center of Andalusia, where companies such as Puertas THT, Baeza SA or the distributor of maritime products Cadelmar reside.

The Open Shopping Center is a set of shopping streets located in the center of the town. It extends between Alameda street and Carrera street, where most of the shops in the city are. Said open shopping center covers different trades such as textiles, food, hardware and footwear. On the other hand, the tourism that the city welcomes is usually cultural and monumental.

Evolution of outstanding municipal debt

The concept of outstanding debt includes only debts with savings banks and banks related to financial credits, fixed-income securities and loans or credits transferred to third parties, excluding, therefore, commercial debt.

Graphic of evolution of the living debt of the City of Antequera between 2008 and 2021

Living debt of Antequera City Council in thousands of euros according to data from the Ministry of Finance and Public Service.

Transport and communications

Antequera-Santa Ana High Speed Train Station.

Rail transport

In the municipality of Antequera there are three train stations. The Antequera station, which is located in the same city, the Bobadilla station, located 16 km away in the homonymous annex, and the Antequera-Santa Ana station, located 20 km away in Colonia Santa Ana, through which it circulates the AVE.

High-speed services connect Antequera with the Málaga-María Zambrano station in Málaga to the south, and with the Puente Genil-Herrera, Córdoba-Central, Puertollano, Ciudad Real and Madrid-Puerta de Atocha stations in northbound. There is also a high-speed and train-hotel service to Barcelona that stops at the stations of Zaragoza-Delicias, Lérida Pirineos, Campo de Tarragona and Barcelona-Sants.

The Antequera-Santa Ana station is also served by the Altaria Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Algeciras train, which stops in Ronda, and the Altaria Madrid-Puerta de Atocha-Granada, which also stops at the Antequera station. Bobadilla station is used by other long-distance lines: the Arco Barcelona-Málaga train and the Estrella Estación de Abando Indalecio Prieto-Málaga train.

Regarding the medium distance lines, Antequera is served by the A3, A4 and A5 lines of Media Distancia, which have Seville-Santa Justa, Granada, Almería, Málaga-María Zambrano, Córdoba-Central and Algeciras. These lines also connect the municipality with other neighboring towns such as Teba, Campillos, Loja, Álora, Osuna and Montilla.

Road network

Antequera occupies a central position in the high-capacity road system of Andalusia, since the main roads that connect Malaga with Córdoba and Granada with Seville, the four largest cities in the autonomous community, converge in its municipal area. The city is located 45 km from Malaga and 115 from Córdoba, cities with which it is connected by the A-45 motorway, and 160 from Seville and 102 from Granada, with which it is connected by the A-92, which replaces the old N-342 and N-334 as they pass through Antequera.

Through these highways, the city also communicates with the neighboring municipalities of Mollina, Humilladero and Fuente de Piedra, in a northwesterly direction; with Benamejí, heading north; with Archidona, towards the east; and with Casabermeja, heading south. Another important road is the A-384, the so-called highway from Jerez to Cartagena, the main access from Antequera to the west, which connects the city with the province of Cádiz and with the Ronda highway through Campillos.

The remaining road traffic routes have less capacity and form an irregular mesh in the municipality that connects the different population centers. Among them, the A-343 stands out, which flows southeast towards the Guadalhorce Valley and the Sierra de las Nieves through Valle de Abdalajís and Álora.

City buses

The Transporte Urbano de Antequera bus network is made up of three lines, which make the following routes:

• L1: The Veronica – Cadi Pol Building. Industrial – Farmacia Barrio de los Remedios - Hospital Comarcal.
• L2: La Verónica – Barriada de San Juan – Barriada La Quinta.
• L3: Bus Station - Plaza Castilla- Estación de Antequera-Santa Ana.

Intercity buses

Antequera is not formally integrated into the Malaga Area Metropolitan Transport Consortium, although the following intercity bus lines operate in its territory:

Media

In addition to various radio stations, the municipal one is called Radio Torcal (107.7 FM), the municipality has a television station: Teleantequera, which currently broadcasts under the name of Antaquira TV (Channel 31 DTT). The written press is represented by La Crónica; Viva Centro de Andalucía, the only free regional weekly published on Mondays; Las 4 Esquinas, monthly magazine; and El Sol de Antequera, a weekly generalist newspaper founded in 1918.

Culture

Teatro-cine Torcal.

2007 edition Antequera Blues Festival.

Antequera is the birthplace of the poets Pedro Espinosa and José Antonio Muñoz Rojas. Pedro Espinosa mentioned his hometown in a prose book, called Panegyric of the city of Antequera, in 1626 and he is above all known as the main representative of the Antequera-Granada school and one of the best anthologists of the lyric of the Golden Age. José Antonio Muñoz Rojas was awarded in 1998 with the National Prize for Literature for his work Objetos Perdidos, and with the Reina Sofía Prize for Ibero-American Poetry in 2002. He was named Andalusia's favorite son in 1992. From its extensive bibliography, Antequera, north of my pen stands out, in which it collects artistic and literary manifestations of interest about the city.

The literary tradition of Antequera also comes from the importance of its printing presses from the origins of this sector in Spain. Between 1573 and 1603 there were four active printers, which meant that important works were published in Antequera. Currently, the IC group is located in the Antequera industrial estate, one of the most important publishing groups in Spain with its Exlibric label.

The typical dance is the fandango from Antequera. It was banned in 1556, but even with this ban it was danced in the family. The pestle that marks the beat of the fandango is used and was created for flirting between men and women. This is a calm and ceremonious dance that, despite its popular character, is more like a ballroom dance. It is usually danced in two parts, of three stanzas each, which in turn are made up of a dance step and a paseíllo that is repeated in all of them. Both the music and the lyrics and the instruments that accompany this dance are also popular.

Dances are also danced such as that of the shoe, which is sung in parades and at Christmas and the feliciano, a typical song for excursions and country walks, which is accompanied by a dance similar to the parades.

There are plenty of popular songs and children's games, compiled by local specialists in the field.

Flamenco and copla in its brilliant history has a list of men and women from Antequera who broaden the already large Andalusian presence.

Cultural events

One of the biggest musical events is the Antequera Blues Festival, held annually since 1988. The festival takes place during the weekends of July with performances in various courtyards of the city such as the from the library, the Museum of the City of Antequera and the Casa Museo de los Colarte, although the main concerts take place in the surroundings of the Royal Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor. Even older is the Noche Flamenca festival in Antequera, celebrated annually on August 11 since 1985. It is dedicated to flamenco and also takes place in the surroundings of the Collegiate Church of Santa María.

Another important event is the Baroque Music and Comedy Festival. It has been held since 2004 in the streets, squares and monuments of Antequera and is mainly focused on the creations of the Golden Age. The program includes concerts and classical theater performances. Theatrical performances that have been staged include El perro del hortelano, by Lope de Vega or King Baltasar's dinner, by Calderón de la Barca.

Cultural equipment

The city has five libraries, including two managed by the City Council, called the San Zoilo Supramunicipal Library and the Municipal Historical Archive. The first is named San Zoilo because it is located in the cloister of an old Franciscan monastery dedicated to said saint. In addition, the city has the Torcal Municipal Theater, whose design was carried out by the Cádiz architect Antonio Sánchez Esteve between 1933-34. Another relevant stage space is the Santa Clara Cultural Center. There is also a conservatory in the city located in the Building of the House of Culture.

In addition, the so-called "Gallery of Mayors" in the Palacio Consistorial. Where we can find the portraits of all the democratic mayors of the city, that is, of José María González Bermúdez, of Pedro de Rojas Tapia, of Paulino Plata Cánovas and Jesús Romero Benítez.

The Palace of Nájera, headquarters of the municipal museum.

• Museum of the City of Antequera: located in the Palace of Nájera, in the Plaza del Coso Viejo contains an extensive collection of sacred art and works by the local painter Cristóbal Toral, as well as the statue of the Ephebo de Antequera, consider the most important work of the museum.
• Conventual Museum of the Descalzas: shows the artistic heritage of the Convent of the Discalced Carmelites. The collection is distributed in four rooms in addition to the church itself and includes sculptural pieces such as a bust of Dolorosa de Pedro de Mena and the Virgin of Bethlehem, attributed to La Roldana, as well as canvases by Antonio Mohedano de la Gutierra, Luca Giordano or Antonio de Torres in addition to other pieces by Francisco Salzillo.
• Oil Museum: managed by the Hojiblanca cooperative, is dedicated to the olive tradition of the Antequera region. It shows a collection of artifacts related to the production of olive oil and information panels on its history.
• Museo de la Beata Madre Carmen del Niño Jesús: monographic museum dedicated to the Blessed Mother Carmen del Niño Jesus.
• Museo de Usos y Costumbres de San Benito: This is a private collection of a coastal character, composed of objects of different origin.
• Casa Museo de los Colarte: This is a century manor residenceVIII of neo-Arab style, decorated with furniture and clothes of the time.
• Taurino Museum: Located on the upper floor of the bullring. It has an extensive photographic and journalistic archive on taurin themes, posters, documents, bullfights and light suits belonging to one of the most significant diestros in the country.
• Municipal Historical Archive: located in the old municipal deposit, the file contains 16 193 manuscript volumes (3472 books and 12 721 lgajos) and 2731 printed books from 1411 to 1998. Highlights the collection of 64 cantoral books from the 16th to the 19th centuries, decorated with miniatures.

Popular festivals

Christ of Health and Waters.

Among the secular festivities we can mention the Period Market First weekend of October, located in the Plaza de los Escribanos and the surroundings of the Arco de los Gigantes and set in the Middle Ages; the carnival, and the craft fair. But the biggest festivities are: the Royal August Fair, which is divided into the "day fair" and the "night fair" and has booths, fairground attractions and street vendor stalls; and the May Fair, also called the Antequera Agricultural and Livestock Fair, dedicated mainly to the sale of livestock and agricultural machinery.

There are a large number of religious celebrations. The Procession of the Santísimo Cristo de la Salud y de las Aguas, held on the Saturday following May 18, is dedicated to the patron saint of the city, after celebrating two novenas. On September 8, the Procession of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios takes place, also a patronal festival. And on the Saturday before September 16, the Procession of Santa Eufemia, also called the candlelight procession.

For its part, Holy Week in Antequera has been declared of national tourist interest in Andalusia and the following processions take place:

• Palm Sunday: Costume of the Pollinica. The children dressed in Hebrews and with branches of palm trees accompany the passage of "La Pollinica".
• Holy Monday: Cost of Students. It has the oldest image of Jesus: the Holy Green Christ of the centuryXVI. They also walk the streets Our Father Jesus, the Nazarene of the Blood, the only one under the pallium, and the Virgin of Vera Cruz
• Holy Tuesday: Costume of the Rescue. It comes out in procession Our Father Jesus of the Rescue and the Virgin of Piedad.

Procession of the Christ of Major Pain.

• Holy Wednesday: Costume of Major Pain. Walk the streets of the city the Lord and the Virgin of Major Pain. He is accompanied by the Legion.
• Holy Thursday: Costumes of the Consuelo and the Dolores. The journey begins with the brotherhood of the Most Holy Christ of Mercy and Our Lady of Consuelo. In the square of Santiago you will find the Brotherhood of Mary Most Holy of the Dolores.

• Good Friday: Costumes of BelowOf Up and The Soledad. A certain rivalry prevails in the past between the two confraternities that carry out their parade in the afternoon: that of Abajo and that of Arriba. From the church of the Carmen the confraternity of the Soledad, with the image of the most ancient painful and urn, he labeled the Lord Christ in his Holy Burial.

Antequera's Royal August Fair is declared a Fiesta of National Tourist Interest, this fair is divided into the "Day Fair" and the "Night Fair". The Day Fair consists of visiting the booths in the urban area, and in the afternoon there are bullfights and heifers. The Night Fair moves to the booths, attractions and performances located in the Fairgrounds. There are the Andalusian Booths, the Youth Booth and the Municipal Booth along with the attractions and street vendors.

Jeva Day 2017 takes place on December 25 in the morning, which consists of the residents of the districts of Antequera and the city itself meeting at the Hermitage of Jeva, south of the El Torcal Natural Area, to adore the Virgin of Purification. The day begins with a ringing of bells giving way to the traditional "clash of pandas" of verdiales and the entrance to the hermitage. There is a tasting of shortbread, coffee, shots of brandy and fritters, and they also have a series of musical performances, until the Virgin is taken in procession to the threshing floor, where a mass is celebrated. Jeva owes its name to the old hermitage, in which a painting of the Virgin of Purification is preserved. The Catholic Monarchs gave permission to build the hermitage with the stones of a watchtower tower near the place in 1496. The hermitage was dedicated to San Miguel. In 1820 it was restored by an individual. The party was recovered in 1987.

Crafts

The region of Antequera enjoyed in its time a great craft tradition that has been lost. At present, the most important artisan workshops are those dedicated to making wooden furniture, forging, working in stone and marble, and making regional costumes. New workshops have also appeared focused on textile crafts (tapestry, sash, blankets), ceramics and leather.

It is also worth noting the school-workshops located in the region, for the work they are developing in the recovery of artisan trades and for their contribution to the rehabilitation of buildings in the city.

Gastronomy

Toasted Antequera Mollet with olive oil.

Antequera gastronomy is extensive and varied, both in first courses and desserts. The Antequera muffin, a type of piece of bread, is the standard of the city as it is known beyond its borders, which in 2019 is processing its Protected Geographical Indication. The muffin is linked to the city of Antequera, Málaga, due to the work of the Paradas family, who for generations have expanded and made it known mainly in Andalusia and the rest of the peninsula. The porra (called salmorejo in other places) and the pío from Antequera are dishes that are very present in summer meals. At Christmas several local companies specialize in making shortbreads and other sweets. The production of these sweets generates about 150 temporary jobs, which produce about 3,000 tons each year that are exported throughout the Spanish territory. As for desserts, the bienmesabe from Antequera is one of the most famous in the municipality, as is the angelorum.

Other typical first courses are: ajoblanco, paprika, gazpachuelo, migas and some salads, such as cardoons. Some products marketed by other companies in the area are olive oil with the Antequera denomination of origin and canned products from the Antequera plain. Game dishes and pickled fish recipes are also common, a way of preserving food that dates back to Roman times.

Sports

Sports clubs

The Handball Club Los Dólmenes and the UMA Antequera futsal club are the most important sports clubs in the city. However, the current handball club has not been the only club in the history of local handball. His career has been turbulent. On two occasions, his team has disappeared, drowning in financial problems. First, in the 93/94 season, BM Torcal disappeared, haunted by debts. A group of former directors founded the Antequera Handball. His great season was 2005/2006, when he was promoted to the Asobal League. He only lost five games, in the entire league. In the 2007/2008 Asobal League, he achieved his greatest sporting milestone, qualifying for the Copa del Rey. It would not be the first time that he has achieved it, since in 2010 he would face off again in this competition. It falls in front of Reyno Navarra S. Antonio. Even the city and the region turned to this championship, after being held in Antequera, this sporting event, the XXXV Edition of the Copa de S.M El Rey.

But, in June 2012, history repeated itself, and after relegation and bankruptcy, BM Antequera disappeared. It will be replaced by Torcal Antequera Handball. In the 2013/2014 league, he played in the Silver Honor Division. In the 2016/17 season, it resigned from the category for economic reasons and a new club called Club Balonmano Los Dólmenes emerged, which was proclaimed champion of the 1st National Division and promoted again to the Silver Honor Division.

The Antequera Club de Fútbol currently participates in Group IX of the Third Division of Spain. The club's trophy is called the Ciudad del Torcal Trophy and it has already reached its fiftieth edition. The Antequera La Boutique del Neumático Swimming Club competes at various levels in swimming competitions, and the UMA Antequera, the city's futsal team, currently in the Second Futsal Division. In the 2015/2016 season, the team played in the First Division of futsal. The Antequera sports club that has won the most titles is the Aquaslava Triathlon Sports Club, four times runner-up in the Copa del Rey triathlon and ten times champion of Spain in different modalities by teams. International triathletes such as Iván Tejero, María Pujol, Rubén Bravo, Patricia Bueno or Sammer Alí have passed through its ranks. The Torcal Antequera Basketball Club was refounded in December 2008, this club originally dated from 1991. Thus, the witness left by great personalities who contributed their grain of sand to Antequera basketball is taken up. This club is reborn with a training vocation, through both local and federated competition.

Sporting events

The so-called Municipal Sports Games are held annually. In 2010 it will be its twenty-sixth edition and all young people registered in educational centers, sports associations, sports schools of Antequera can participate in them. The Antequera Más que Tenis Tournament has been held in the city for ten years. Antequera has hosted the Copa del Rey and the Table Tennis Queen in 2010.

In addition, in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 and 2010 the Andalusian Cycling Tour ended in Antequera.

In 2010, the Copa del Rey de Balonmano was held in Antequera, with the facilities of the Fernando Argüelles Municipal Pavilion and the Pavilion of the "El Maulí" which hosted the Minicopa matches.

In 2013, the European University Futsal Championship was held in both the men's and women's categories, with the Universidad de Valladolid being the champion in the men's category and the University of Rouen (France) in the women's category, at the headquarters of Fernando Arguelles, Mauli Sports Center and Athletics Technification Center (with a track set up for the competition) in 2014 the celebration of the World Championship will take place.

Sports facilities

• Municipal Sports Police Fernando Argüelles: Pavilion of the Club Balonmano Antequera. It has a capacity of 2575 spectators.
• El Mauli Stadium: Antequera stadium Football Club, with a capacity for 1300 spectators.
• Mauli municipal complex: pavilion where there are tennis courts, basketball and football room.
• Municipal pool and communal pool.
• Artificial football field "City of Antequera".
• Athletic Technology Center.

Twinned cities

Antequera is twinned with the Mexican city of Oaxaca de Juárez, which was also called Antequera until 1821, and with the French city of Agda, located in the department of Hérault.

Illustrious people

Mr. Canete

Padilla