Magazinee: Antequera between karst, legends and olive groves

Mythical. Steeped in history. Alive. Antequera is more than the gateway to Torcal: it’s a town where 6,000 years of history stand within touching distance — from Neolithic dolmens to Moorish castles and olive groves that have grown the same variety since Roman times. Here, UNESCO has recognised an entire cultural landscape since 2016: the dolmen sites of Antequera, whose megalithic architecture uses Torcal and Peña de los Enamorados as reference points. And among the stones, the legends live on — from Tello and Tagzona, the lovers of the Peña, to the leprous Menga in the dolmen’s shaft.

Stories you won’t find in every guidebook

Treat Antequera as a mere stopover and you’ll miss the region’s second layer of meaning. The DOP Antequera olive oil, made from over 90% Hojiblanca olives, has been produced here for 2,000 years — Roman villae olearias have been archaeologically confirmed. The legends of Peña de los Enamorados and the Menga dolmen tell how Spanish settlers explained these enigmatic landmarks after 1410. Specialities such as Porra antequerana, Bienmesabe and Mollete carry the region’s culinary identity. Discover in-depth articles here on UNESCO history, notable figures from Antequera, olive oil culture, regional specialities and the great myths surrounding the karst and the table mountain.