El Torcal de Antequera is a nature reserve in Sierra del Torcal mountain range located south of the city of Antequera in the province of Malaga, Andalucia Spain. It is known for its unusual landforms and one of the most impressive karst landscapes in Spain and Europe and was included as a landmark within the Antequera Dolmens Site, which was inscribes on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Like many massive limestone's, the Torcal includes caves and other underground forms, some of them of historical importance like the Cueva del Toro ( Cave of the Bull) with its Neolithic artefact's their origins are also related to the dissolution of underground limestone by rainwater-
El Torcal supports an impressive array of wildflower's including rock dwellers like Linaria anticaria, Saxifraga bitemata, Linaria oblongifolia, Viola Demetria, Saxifraga reuterana,Polypodium austrate and other plants like lilies, red peonies, wild roses, trees and varieties of orchids. there are many species of reptiles includes the Montpellier snake and Oscillated lizard both endemic to El Torca other life includes the Griffon vulture, the Spanish Ibex an Andalusian mountain goat and nocturnal mammals such as badgers, weasel and rodents.
STARTING POINT
The Centro de Recepción, the visitor's centre, will be the starting point. The visitor’s centre has a restaurant, an exhibition hall that displays a few fossils and has regular audio visual presentations explaining the local geology, flora and fauna.
There is also a small shop that sells maps, books and souvenirs. Maps are useful for planning to explore the area on your own, Although the routes has a signage and arrows.
routes
Three routes through the park for hikers have been marked out with different coloured arrows on wooden sticks. The green route is the shortest and easiest, 1,5 km. and takes about 30 minutes. The yellow route covers most of the green area, is 2,5 km. long and takes you to "Las Ventanillas" (The Windows), at 1.200 m. for panoramic views of the valley of Málaga. Finally the red route is the longest and most difficult, 4,5 km. taking about three hours, with a viewing point 1.339 m. up where you can see the whole of the El Torcal Park and the Africa Coastline. Hikers usually come during spring and fall, due of intolerable hot during summer.
HOW TO GET THERE
From Antequera, El Torcal is 15 km South on the A7075 on the right hand side on the decent into Villanueva de la Concepcion.
From Málaga head 20km North on the A45 to "km 148" and the village of Casabermeja, then head west on the A7075 to Villanueva de la Concepcion. and follow signs for Antequera. The road leading up to El Torcal is 3km after Villanueva de la Concepcion on the left hand side.
From Málaga head 20km North on the A45 to "km 148" and the village of Casabermeja, then head west on the A7075 to Villanueva de la Concepcion. and follow signs for Antequera. The road leading up to El Torcal is 3km after Villanueva de la Concepcion on the left hand side.
