Parador of Antequera – In The Ancient Andalucian City Of Antequera

Spain’s iconic Parador Hotels showcase compelling destinations, bring tourists closer to local communities, whilst offering genuine, comforting, old-school hospitality. The Parador of Antequera is the stylist base from which to explore the World Heritage attractions of this magical, Andalucian city

The skyline of Antequera is extraordinary, a myriad of towers, spires, and domes, making it renowned for its magnificent medieval, renaissance, and baroque churches. Nearby are the World Heritage sites of the remarkable El Torcal natural park, as well as the ancient Dolmens, writes Andrew Forbes (The Luxury Editor).

Antequera Parador

The Antequera Parador is the place from which one can discover this fascinating and beautiful part of southern Spain. The hotel’s contemporary style fuses with classic Parador hospitality in a modern property with simple yet elegant design. Guest rooms benefit from huge windows that flood the spaces with light, as well as offering views of the gardens and many towards the iconic Lovers’ Rock, (‘Peña de los Enamorados’). This limestone mountain is emblematic of the geographical centre of Andalucia. Also known as the ‘Montaña del Indio’ (as it also looks like the head of a sleeping Native American), it is one of the reasons why the nearby Neolithic Dolmens secured UNESCO World Heritage status. Typically, ancient burial sites would be aligned to celestial points; yet in Antequera the Menga Dolmen is aligned terrestrially, to this mountain – a fact considered extraordinary and unique in the world.  

Dining

Parador Hotels are well known for their restaurants that focus on local, regional, and national cuisine. Here at Antequera there’s a summer BBQ terrace for family fun meals, a tapas bar and the main Marmitia Restaurant – the place for generous breakfasts, Andalucian lunches, as well as romantic dinners.

Antequera has many unique dishes, from hearty countryside stews, porra antequerana (a delicious, thick tomato and garlic soup served cold), molletes (soft, creamy breakfast rolls that are so good toasted and served with extra virgin olive oil and tomato), as well as superb cookies that are made in the local convents.

There is a choice of elegant tapas too, served with Spanish wines.

Guest Rooms & Suites

The design of the guest rooms is fairly minimalist, with warmth and texture coming from the hardwood floors, and accent pieces in stone and wood. Large windows allow light to fill the spaces.

The four junior suites are corner rooms, allowing for different views and private terraces. The bedroom area is apart from the large sitting area. Bathrooms have huge spa baths, big enough for two adults to comfortably lie down.

Crossroads of Southern Spain

As the physical centre of Andalucia, Antequera is a logical place for meetings, product launches and events, easily reached from Malaga airport and served by the high-speed AVE rail network that connects the city with Granada, Seville, Madrid and beyond.

The Antequera Parador offers flexible, modular spaces for business meetings, designed to meet current health and safety guidelines in terms of social distancing and ventilation.

Cultural Treasures

The city has only recently become recognised internationally for its extraordinary rich historical and cultural treasures, a legacy from a history that has embraced the Romans, Moors, and the extravagance of the renaissance and baroque periods.

Walking distance from the Parador are over 40 fascinating churches: as well as the remarkable medieval Alcazaba fort.

Within the city limits are the remarkable UNESCO dolmens – ancient burial sites that that are unique in the world.

If you have a car, then take the opportunity to visit El Torcal, an otherworldly landscape of eroded limestone that make for the most spectacular setting for hiking.