Cordoba + Antequera - Spain

It is an ancient Spanish city on the Guadalquivir River. The Phoenicians founded it and called it Kartuba. The Romans captured the settlement in 206 BC. For them, Cordoba became an important river port. Córdoba or Córdoba is an ancient Spanish city on the Guadalquivir River. In the Guadalquivir River, Spanish goods were shipped to ancient Rome. In 711, Cordoba was captured by the Moors. By the X century, the population of the city reached 400,000 inhabitants. There were built 60 thousand houses of noble people, many hotels and baths, trade shops, craft workshops. Cordoba craftsmen made exquisite products from bone, ceramics, gold. The city became the largest and most developed in the world. It was called the “abode of science” – almost the entire population (even women!) was literate. 800 schools and 70 libraries were opened. The largest library, Hakem II, contained 600,000 volumes. In 1236, Cordoba was captured by Ferdinand III. Muslims were expelled from Cordoba en masse. Scientists, craftsmen and merchants were leaving. The economy of the city began to decline. During these years, Christian churches and cathedrals were built in Cordoba.

A Catholic church was built into the Mosque of Cordoba, and some of the marble Roman columns were lost. The population has declined sharply. Natural disasters, famine and epidemics led the city to decline - by the XVIII century it had only 20 thousand inhabitants. The rise of the economy and population growth began only in the early years of the XX century. There are a huge number of monuments of Arab, Christian and Jewish cultures. Most of the monuments of Cordoba are in the old town. In the eighth century, the Arabs built a huge and beautiful mosque - Mesquita. It was so amazing that when the Spaniards captured the city, they did not destroy it, but built a Catholic church – the Cathedral of St. Mary. Here you can see the synagogue, built in the XIV century. The two pearls in the crown of Cordoba are the palaces of the Alcázar and Van. The Alcazar was a royal palace and here Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand hosted Christopher Columbus in 1489. Outside the old town is modern Cordoba, where you can taste fine Spanish cuisine in cozy restaurants and watch flamenco artists perform.

Anketera is the heart of Andalusia. Anketera is one of the most ancient and interesting cities of Andalusia. Antequera has a rich history, which begins about two thousand years BC and is associated with three amazing caves, which are located a kilometer from the city, Cueva de Romeral, Cueva de Viera, Cueva de Menga. There is still no exact information about those mysterious tribes who were able to build these magnificent underground temples. Scientists cannot find an explanation for the fact that the people of the Neolithic era were able to erect majestic funerary grottoes on this place and pay tribute to their leaders who had gone to the other world in such a peculiar way. Nowadays, Antequera is an amazing city, which harmoniously combines lively shopping streets and gloomy ruins of Moorish castles.

25 active monasteries and churches create a unique atmosphere of peace and tranquility. Antequera is located 47 km from the provincial capital, the city of Malaga, at the foot of the mountains El Torcal and Sierra de la Chimenea at an altitude of 575 meters above sea level. Occupying the dominant height, the city rises above the fertile plain, surrounded from the south by the Sierra de los Torcales mountains and from the north by the Guadalhorse river. The territory occupied by the municipality is 749.34 km2, which is the largest in the province of Malaga and one of the largest in Spain as a whole. The population of Anketera according to 2012 is 41,827 people. Great importance and fame to the city bring 2 large dolmens located on its territory, belonging to the Bronze Age.

• Included in the price: Russian-speaking guide, transfer from the Costa del Sol. parking
• Not included in the price: lunch and other entrance tickets to museums and monumental buildings
• What to take with you: comfortable shoes, hats, sunglasses and of course a good mood
• Start point: Costa del Sol - entrance to your hotel