Antequera Dolmens Site

Antequera, Spain

The Antequera Dolmens Site is a cultural heritage ensemble comprising three prehistorical monuments: the Dolmen of Menga, Dolmen of Viera and Tholos of El Romeral.  It was declared a World Heritage Site in 2016 together with two natural mountain features (the Peña de los Enamorados and El Torcal).

Built during the Neolithic and the Bronze Age out of large stone blocks that form chambers and spaces with lintelled roofs (Menga and Viera) or false cupolas (El Romeral), and used for rituals and funerary purposes, the Antequera megaliths are widely recognised examples of European Megalithism. The megalithic structures are presented in the guise of the natural landscape (buried beneath earth tumuli) and their orientation is based on two natural monuments: La Peña de los Enamorados and El Torcal. These are two indisputable visual landmarks within the property.

The Neolithic Dolmen of Menga represents one of the most important masterpiece of megalithic architecture (Atlantic tradition) based on post-and-lintel construction with an earthen covering, notable for its enormous dimensions that push the size possible in a corridor sepulcher by incorporating the unprecedented solution of intermediate pillars; likewise, the later, Chalcolithic tholos (beehive tomb) of El Romeral complements the two dolmens with its corridor and false dome of drystone masonry (Mediterranean tradition).

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Founded: 3000 BCE
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Spain

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Per Jessen (20 months ago)
I sort of feel I ought to give four stars ? , it is a UNESCO World Heritage, but it is frankly not particularly impressive. We stopped by on our way to Rute, it was a nice break, but otherwise nothing much to write home about. Perhaps a keen student of neolithic / prehistoric Spain ?? will see it differently, but as a plain tourist .... Entrance is free of charge, but don't forget to go to the museum first to pick up your free tickets.
Daniela Willbold (23 months ago)
If you like Dolmens, you have to go there. Since I was on Malta several times for the there even under-earth-megalithic-temple which is called Hypogaeum in Valletta, Menga Dolmen was a must. Awesome how a 180 ton Megalith could be brought there with only men force. Watch it and feel the magic, also from the magic mountain that can be seen from the temple's entrance.
Serita Braxton (2 years ago)
This is a beautiful historic site with amazing views and worth the visit. I'm sad to give it such low stars but only because one of the female staffers made my boyfriend and I very uncomfortable. She watched us the entire time we were in the second cave, always near us. After 2 minutes of this she told us "I know you like to touch things but you can't touch anything in here," in Spanish which was incredibly strange. We told her we would just leave and she followed us out, staring as we walked away. The space in these caves is very small and because of her behavior I wasn't able to enjoy the site or have room to take pictures.
donald gillespie (2 years ago)
A hidden gem on the outskirts of antequerra that is definitely worth the visit. Staff gave a warm welcome and were genuinely pleased to give advice. The history of the discovery in the museum was outstanding. You have to visit and best of all it is free.
Josu Camacho (2 years ago)
Although not strictly speaking a museum, a visit to the Dolmen fe la Menga will be remembered by any visitor to this megalithic monument. This giant funeral hall of over 4000 years is one of the best examples of prehistoric art
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