The group of typical buildings in the Plazuela de Santiago is a striking example of the achievement of 18th Century Andalusian baroque architecture and town planning. The most outstanding architectural elements are the churches of Santiago and Santa Eufemia that provide an interesting contrast of volumetric concepts. Santiago was the work of Cristóbal García and is graceful and fragile with its porch roof and belfry, while Santa Eufemia is quite the contrary, an enormous compact mass.

The church of this convent has an outstandingly magnificent brickwork and stone façade, carried out in the first third of the 18th Century and attributed to Tomás de Melgarejo. In its interior there is an important art collection with works by Mohedano, Bocanegra and the Mexican Antonio de Torres.

This magnificent baroque church was consecrated in 1709 and is famous for its outstanding plasterwork. In addition, there are the interesting sculptures of Saint Bruno and Jesús Caído, both by the artist from Granada, José de Mora.

The Iglesia del Carmen Church is a National Monument. It belonged to the Carmelite Calzados Order and was built between 1583 and 1663. Of note in its interior is the Mudéjar framework that covers the nave and the three mid-18th Century altarpieces of the main chapel, which are considered key works of Andalusian baroque altarpieces. The mannerist style plasterwork of the dome and walls of the nave are also noteworthy.

The Torreón del Asalto (Tower of the Attack) owes its name to the fact that Don Fernando, who conquered the City from the Moors in 1410, positioned his troops here in order to breach the walls and gain entry into the walled town where the final battle took place. Don Fernando coined the popular phrase “salga el sol por Antequera” (may the sun rise over Antequera and may God’s will be done) to express to his men his utter determination to attack and conquer the City of Antequera for the Kingdom of Castile.

This National Monument was the old Royal Collegiate Church and was built between 1514 and 1550. Its façade, a monument in its own right, is the most beautiful of all of the City’s churches. It is considered to be the first Renaissance building constructed in Andalusia. Its interior is noteworthy for its basilica ground plan of three naves separated by Ionic columns and its wooden Mudéjar framework. The main chapel is covered by an elegant Gothic style vault.

The city of Antequera is home to the most important group of megaliths in Europe and of these, the oldest is the Menga dolmen. The others that make up the group are called Viera and El Romeral. The latter has a primitive false dome. These impressive blocks of stone were transported from the Veracruz quarry to form what are some of man’s first architectural works.

The prime example of religious architecture in Antequera is the Real Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor, along with the church of San Sebastián, which both correspond to the Renaissance period, as do the churches of San Juan and San Pedro. Noteworthy examples of the baroque style are the churches of Del Carmen, los Remedios, Santiago, Madre de Dios, San José (Descalzas), Belén and San Juan de Dios.

The nobility that settled in Antequera during the Renaissance and Baroque periods had numerous palaces built and some magnificent examples are still standing. One of the most outstanding of these is the baroque style Palacio de Nájera (currently the Municipal Museum). Of considerable interest are the houses of the Marqués de la Peña, the Marquesa de las Escalonias, the Colarte family (now the Provincial council’s museum), the Barón de Sabasona, the Marqués de Villadarías and the Conde de Pinofiel. The Serrailler House, despite having been built in 1929 is an interesting example of the neo-baroque style.