Giants’Arch

Before you is the Giants Arch, the grand entrance to the old citadel. In 1585, the town commissioned this impressive classical-style gateway as an elegant entrance to the former Muslim fortress. It’s seven metres tall and cuts through a two metre thick wall. Take a look at the keystone above you—you’ll see a lion on the left, a jar overflowing with fleur-de-lis in the centre, and a castle gate on the right. Together, they form Antequera’s coat of arms. The arch is Renaissance in style, but the town council decided to embellish it with statues and Latin inscriptions found in nearby Roman ruins, along with ancient tombstones, including one dedicated to King Philip II. It gets its name from a massive statue of Hercules that once stood atop it. This beautiful blend of Roman, Arab, and Spanish history is a perfect snapshot of Spain’s rich and layered past.