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Route La Peña makes you fall in love

Legend has it that Ibrahim, the warden of the castle of Archidona, had a daughter of unusual beauty, called Tagzona, whom he betrothed in marriage to the old head of the fortress of Alhama. Tagzona was in love with Hamet, (known as Tello in other versions of this legend), a young descendant of a family of Abencerrajes from Antequera. The young lovers, faced with the impossibility of living their romance, decide to flee looking for Christian territory. The lovers, being pursued by Ibrahim’s soldiers, cross the Guadalhorce and take refuge in the Peña. Faced with his imminent capture, they decide to throw themselves into the abyss by sealing their love. Since then the place takes the name of the Peña de los Enamorados.

Antequera

  1. La Quinta: Located in one of the expansion areas of our town, it has wonderful views of the wide and fertile Vega antequerana, through which runs the upper course of the Guadalhorce River, which provides the municipality with one of its main sources of wealth, providing cereals and oil in great proportion. From this viewpoint, at the southeast end of the Vega, we find the magnificent silhouette of the Peña de los Enamorados.
  2. Hermitage of Veracruz: Located in the neighborhood that bears its name, this temple crowns one of the highest parts of the city, from where you can contemplate wonderful panoramic views of the whole city, our monumental Alcazaba, the Royal Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor, the unique Natural Park of El Torcal and, of course, on the other side of the hermitage, we find the spectacular silhouette of the Peña de los Enamorados, as well as the Vega antequerana.
  3. Gardens of the Heart of Jesus: Garden space, located next to the Bus Station, which has a monumental sculpture made by the Malaga Paco de Palma. In the vicinity of the park is our Plaza de Toros and, from it, we can contemplate stunning views of the rich Vega antequerana and, of course, the silhouette of the Peña de los Enamorados.
  4. King’s Gardens: Another important landscaped enclave is the one located at the foot of the Puerta de Granada, called the Jardines del Rey, for having been inaugurated by His Majesty Don Juan Carlos I in 1998. From it you can contemplate one of the most beautiful views of the upper city, with its monumental Alcazaba and Royal Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor. From this viewpoint we also see the Church of Carmen and an unparalleled perspective of the Natural Park of El Torcal.
  5. Atalaya-Gandía Park: Peri-urban park of recent construction, which has a children’s leisure area and a magnificent viewpoint that is located at its highest point, from which we have a wonderful perspective of our well-known Natural Park of El Torcal and stunning views of the Alcazaba, with the silhouette of the Peña de los Enamorados just behind.
  6. Mirador Almenillas: This space known as the Mirador de las Almenillas, which turns its back on the Arch of the Giants, the Alcazaba and the Royal Collegiate Church of Santa María, opens to the void to one of the most emblematic panoramic views of the city. In it you can appreciate the high number of churches, towers, belfry, bell towers and palaces that have been erected for four centuries. In addition, we can observe one of the most spectacular views of the Peña de los Enamorados.
  7. Patio de Armas of the Alcazaba: Large rectangular space originally destined to the barracks of the troops, located inside the Monumental Enclosure of the Alcazaba. Privileged place from which to obtain wonderful photographs of the White Tower and the Tower of Homage. From it you can also see the Royal Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor, offering a different perspective of the silhouette of the Peña de los Enamorados.
  8. Plaza de Santa María: It is known by this name to the square that is in front of the Royal Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor. We can access it either from the stairs that are in Calle Colegio, or through the Arco de los Gigantes and the so-called Plaza de los Escribanos. In this place, the sculpture of Pedro Espinosa stands out, which was made by José Manuel Patricio Toro from Antequera. It is also very interesting the view from this square of the Roman Baths of Santa María, the river of the Villa and the side of the Church of Carmen. Of course, from it we have an incomparable view of the silhouette of the Peña de los Enamorados.
  9. Jesus Street: Space conditioned for the enjoyment of antequeranos and visitors, from which you can contemplate stunning views of the Alcazaba in the foreground, crowned by the silhouette of the Peña de los Enamorados just behind. If you turn your back on this magnificent view you can see a new perspective of our karst landscape, El Torcal de Antequera.
  10. Niña de Antequera Street: The Mirador Niña de Antequera, built at the beginning of this century, is located in the vicinity of the Puerta de Málaga and very close also to the Church of San Juan, where the image of the Lord of Health and Water is located, one of the most venerated in Antequera, as it is also the Patron Saint of the city. From this wide viewpoint, conceived on two levels, the visitor will be able to see the river of the Villa, which supplies water to our town, as well as a perspective of the Church of Carmen, the Peña de los Enamorados and the aforementioned Puerta de Málaga.
  11. Iglesia del Carmen: National Monument located in the square of the same name, in the highest area of the city. Its main altarpiece is considered, for its beauty and significance, as one of the most interesting of the Andalusian baroque altarpiece of the eighteenth century. From this square we can enjoy wonderful views of the Rio de la Villa, the Alcazaba and the Royal Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor. And if you leave behind these magnificent views of the city, you will find again the unique silhouette of the Peña de los Enamorados, as well as a different perspective of the whole city.

Map of the route through Antequera

Archidona

  1. Interpretation Center of the Mozarabic Culture: Built in the upper suburb of the Villa, it reflects the coexistence between Christians and Arabs before the expansion of Christianity from the fifteenth century.
    Equipped with information panels on the Mozarabic era and its influence in the northern part of the province of Malaga, it shows us the moment of splendor of Archidona to become the capital of the Cora de Rayya until the tenth century that cedes its capital to the city of Malaga, which was in its Alcazaba where Abd Al Rahman I is proclaimed Ier emir independent of Al-Andalus in the year 756, or as Washington Irving in his book “Tales of the Alhambra” tells the story of the treasure buried under the castle by the Moorish king of Archidona.
  2. Virgin of Grace Sanctuary: It is located in a strategic place, sheltered by the Sierras de Gracia, Conjuro and Las Grajas, from where a large territory was dominated, up to 6 of the 8 provinces of Andalusia.
    Next to it, the mosque of the ninth century, the only one preserved in the province of Malaga. Converted into a Christian temple after the conquest in 1.462, it is part of the architecture of the current Sanctuary of the Virgen de Gracia.
  3. City Gate: The fortified enclosure of the Arab city of Archidona is one of the most interesting spaces in Muslim Spain, declared BIC (Asset of Cultural Interest).
    The Puerta de la Ciudad together with the Puerta del Sol, are access towers to the Arab fortress that together with the pit located to the north, make it an inaccessible place with strategic-defensive conditions unparalleled in its time.
    According to archaeologists, the situation of the houses and streets of this medina, would form a space of the most similar to a city of story or legend …
  4. Santo Cristo: Located in the Sierra de Gracia, it is a witness to the history and legend that is breathed in each of its corners. The traveler will enjoy an authentic viewpoint that takes him to the Arab era of Archidona between the VIII-XV centuries, where The Legend of the Lovers occurred.
    At the height of the Mirador de Santo Cristo was located the third belt of wall that defended the Arab town of Archidona, the Medina Arxiduna.
  5. Parish of Santa Ana: One of the main constructions of the monumental heritage of the Archidona declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1980, being the first religious building of Christian worship after the Arab occupation of Archidona.
  6. Pious Schools: High school of prestige in educational and religious training with unique cultural level, is one of the main educational references of Andalusia, reaching their studies the children of noble and wealthy families throughout Andalusia and part of Extremadura, including Blas Infante, the father of the Andalusian Homeland.
    From the attic of the school, the views of the meadow of Archidona and the Pea de los Enamorados and the religious song “Santo Dios” that he hears daily, serve as inspiration for the creation of the Anthem of Andalusia.
    Inside the school the high vaults and staircases still retain the charm and nostalgia of the glorious years he lived.
  7. Hotel Escuela Convento de Santo Domingo: During the Modern Age there are several religious orders that are installed in Archidona, highlighting the Preaching Fathers of the Dominican Order.
    Over the centuries the convent obtained different functions: Dominican convent, soap factory, new convent of Dominican nuns, and currently, hotel school and 4-star hotel.
  8. Mill Don Juan “La Era”: Located in the Molino Don Juan fairgrounds, where the Royal August Fair is held and the Dog Fair declared of National Tourist Interest and Tourist Singularity of the province of Malaga, a national event and one of the most important exhibitions of the Iberian Peninsula related to the world of dog and hunting.
    It also has a municipal auditorium where concerts and cultural shows are held with capacity for 1300 people.

Map of the Archidona route

Contact:

Address: Antequera