MONUMENTS
THE CASTLE
From the ancient Arab "Alcazaba and Cerca" (fortress and fence), national
monument, still remains part of the walls, and the keep, crowned by a dome
"manierist style" built in 1582 and known as "Torre de Papabellota" or
"Keep", and where the bell of the town is located.
ARCH OF THE GIANTS
"Manierist style" construction built to replace the ancient Arab doorway,
it was dedicated to Philip II in 1585, and many carvings with inscriptions
and memorial stones, were attached to its walls. It is considered as an
open air museum.
SANTIAGO SMALL SQUARE
The typical ensemble of Santiago Small Square, is a splendid achievement
of the 18th. century Andalusian baroque architecture and town-planning.
The most interesting architectural means are the churches of Santiago
and Santa Eufemia respectively, which show a curious contrast on relation
to their volumetric concepts: Santiago built by Cristóbal García,
is slender and weaken in its porch-niche and bulrush, while Santa Eufemia,
in the other hand, shows a huge and compact bulk.
CONVENT AND CHURCH OF
THE DISCALCED
This church gives due prominence to its magnificent bricks and stones
façade, achieved during the firsts part of the 18th century and
attributed to Tomás de Melgarejo.
Inside the church there is a very important pictorial collection
with pictures by Mohedano, Bocanegra and the Mexican Antonio de Torres.
CHURCH OF BETHLEHEM
Splendid baroque church consecrated in 1709, the most outstanding motif
is its overflows ensemble of plasterwork, and as per sculpture, the "San
Bruno" and "Jesús Caído", both from the Granadian sculptor
José de Mora are really remarkable.
CHURCH OF "EL CARMEN"
National Monument. It belonged to the Order of the shod Carmelites and
it was built between the years 1583 and 1663.
The most interesting part of this church is its mudejar frame
covering its three naves, and the three altar-pieces in its high chapel,
from the first half of the 18th. century, which are considered basic in
the Andalusian baroque altar-pieces school.
The plasterworks of its dome and walls, " manierist style", are
also very interesting.
THE ARCH OF THE STAR
AND THE ASSAULT TOWER
This is a corner which keeps all the Arab-Andalusian character.
It is called "Torreón del Asalto", because it was here where
the Infante Don Fernando, conqueror of the town in 1410, posted his army
and from where they open a breach on the wall and brought in the soldiers
into the walled enclosure, where the definitive battle took place.
The Infante Don Fernando, is the one who said the famous phrase,
very popular in Andalucia, "SALGA EL SOL POR ANTEQUERA", "let the sun arise
in Antequera" used by the conqueror to let his men known his decision of
the definitive conquest of the town for the Kingdom of Castille, before
the arising of the next sun.
ROYAL COLLEGIATE CHURCH OF
SAINT MARY SENIOR
National
Monument. The ancient Royal Collegiate Church, it was built between 1514
and 1550.
It has the most beautiful and monumental façade of all the
town churches. It is consider the first Renaissance building to be ever
built in Andalucia.
Its plant is basilica style with three naves separated by Ionic
pillars, and with wooden mudejar frames. The high chapel is covered by
a graceful dome in Gothic style.