There’s an unknown city in Spain that’s compared to an Italian holiday spot, and it’s ideal for Brits who need to escape the tourist crowds.
Travel experts have dubbed Antequera the “unsung gem” of Spain because it remains unknown to tourists.
Located in the middle of Seville, Cordoba, Granada and Malaga, Antequera was once called “the crossroads of Andalusia”.
Due to its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Renaissance churches, and Baroque architecture, the whitewashed Spanish city is also known as the “Florence of Spain. “
Travel blogger Tom and Coe wrote: “Antequera is also called the ‘Florence of Andalusia’ for its many Renaissance and Baroque churches, the most iconic of which is the 15th-century Church of San Sebastian.
While comparing buildings and architecture, Antequera promises to be a friendly getaway in Spain.
Within an hour, Malaga airport is the closest to Antequera.
For tourists who don’t like the idea of renting a rental car, there is also a bus from the airport that connects Malaga to Antequera.
Ryanair and easyJet will offer direct flights from several cities in the UK, adding London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bournemouth and Liverpool.
Prices start at just £14 for a one-way ticket and flights take just under 3 hours.
Hotels in Antequera are also affordable.
Sun Online Travel discovered at Hotel Infante Antequera, a three-star hotel with a rooftop pool, for £40 according to Array user
There are also less expensive options: a double room at Hotel Manzanito costs £45 for two people.
While hotels with amenities in Florence charge more than double the price.
According to Hikers Bay, food and drink in the city are also cheap.
A pint of beer costs €2. 50 (£2. 18), while a meal at an affordable restaurant can cost as little as €8 (£6. 96).
When booking a trip, summer is the ideal time to spend it, as temperatures can reach 27°C.
Although Antequera may not be as big as other Spanish cities, there is still a lot to do.
One of its main ones is the Alcazaba of Antequera, an Arab fortress.
The hilltop castle houses a bell tower that offers wonderful perspectives of the city.
Castle tickets €6 (£5. 21), with guided tours as well.
Tourists can also visit the Dolmens of Antequera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, made up of 3 giant ancient stones.
Ancient tombs are such as the Dolmen of Menga, Dolmen of Viera and Tholos of El Romeral. The monuments were built in the Neolithic and Bronze Ages.
While the monuments were built for rituals, they are now open to the public.
Admission to the Dolmens is free, although the Antequera Tourist Office also offers guided tours.
There are many other things to do in the city, besides the city museum.
Other activities include a visit to the bullring and one of the city’s Renaissance-style churches.
There are 33 churches in Antequera, some of which are the Church of San Sebastián, the Church of Carmen and the Church of San Juan.
Eating classic dishes is also a popular pastime among local delicacies, to which is added porra, a bloodless tomato soup.
There’s also Bienmesabe, which is a dessert with apples, cinnamon, and sugar.
As a popular holiday destination, Andalusia has no shortage of tourist attractions.
While most Brits flock to places like Seville, Malaga, and Granada, there are plenty of other lesser-known places they pay attention to.
Travel experts have described Almodóvar del Río in Andalusia as a “must-see”.
Not only is the Spanish city far from the tourist crowds, but it’s also where scenes from the hit TV series Game of Thrones were filmed.
Earlier this year, I visited the port city of Cadiz, home to sandy beaches, azure waters, and hearty delicious food.
Through Bounce, a luggage storage company, it ranked Cádiz as the cheapest city break in Spain.
According to the study, the average value of a hotel room in Cadiz is £103 per night, a figure that decreases further if two other people rent a room.
Food and drinks are cheap too: a bottle of wine costs just £3. 63, while a meal at a mid-range restaurant will cost around £9 per person.
The local language in Antequera is Spanish, although English is spoken in bars and restaurants.
Spain is one hour ahead of the United Kingdom.
The currency is the euro with 10 pounds sterling or about 11. 52 euros.
Lately there are no Covid restrictions and Brits can stay in Spain for up to 90 days on a visa.
However, you will need to stay in the passport for at least 3 months after the day of your departure.
But Antequera is not the only city that has become a European hotspot in recent months.
Earlier this year, tourists from a UK city visited Venice thanks to its picturesque canals and waterways and Italian delicatessens.
Cambridge, in the east of England, has been compared to Venice for many years because the two cities share a bridge.
Meanwhile, one European city has been dubbed the original “Spanish Venice”: it’s loved by locals and unknown to most Britons.
This lesser-known city has been nicknamed the “Venice of Portugal” thanks to its sandy beaches and picturesque canals.
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