Antequera Dolmens

The Antequera site was inscribed by UNESCO in 2016 and covers three monuments and two natural landmarks treated as part of the same design. The Menga dolmen, built around 3600 BC, is a corridor tomb roofed with capstones weighing up to 180 tonnes, among the largest single stones moved anywhere in prehistoric Europe, and it is oriented not toward a solstice but toward the Pena de los Enamorados, a mountain whose profile resembles a human face. The Viera dolmen stands beside it. El Romeral, three kilometres away, is a later tholos with a corbelled dome. The fifth element is El Torcal, the karst plateau south of the town. A visitor centre serves Menga and Viera.

Highlights

• The Menga dolmen - a corridor tomb roofed with stones up to 180 tonnes.
• The Pena alignment - Menga oriented on a mountain resembling a face.
• El Romeral - a later tholos with a corbelled stone dome.
• The Viera dolmen - a narrow corridor tomb beside Menga.

When to go

Spring and autumn; the site is exposed and Antequera is hot in summer. El Romeral keeps shorter hours than the main site and closes on some days, so checking before driving out is worthwhile.

Good to know

The three monuments are in two separate locations, requiring a short drive. Entry is free but hours are limited and both sites close on Mondays. The interiors are dark and cannot be photographed with flash.

Nearby

El Torcal's karst plateau is south; the Fuente de Piedra flamingo lagoon lies northwest.

Key facts