History of Antequera
The first human settlements in Antequera date back to the Palaeolithic period, as evidenced by the recent findings in the Cueva de las Suertes, which include rock art and bone remains between 60,000 and 35,000 years old.
During the Bronze Age, megalithic monuments were built, such as the dolmens of Menga, Viera, and El Romeral, which form part of the Antequera dolmens Site, declared a World Heritage Site in 2016.
From the Roman Period, numerous archaeological remains have been found, including villas, mosaics, and the Efebo de Antequera, a bronze sculpture from the 1st century. Later, with the arrival of the Muslims in the 8th century, Antequera became part of the territory of Al-Andalus. During this time, important defensive structures were built, such as the Alcazaba.
In 1410, Antequera was conquered by the Christian troops, and the city experienced an economic and cultural boom, being known as the ‘Athens of Andalusia’ for its intellectual and artistic life.