Old color example of Braun & Hogenberg's view of Antiquera, from Braun & Hogenberg's Civitatus Orbis Terrarum, the most important book of town plans and views published in the 16th Century.

A fine view of Antequera, with the Sierra de los Torcales in the background. In the foreground the depiction of two peasants with a huge earthenware jug symbolizes the flourishing of agriculture, crafts and trade. In AD 711, Antequera was conquered by the Moors and renamed Medina Antaquira. In the 13th century they built an extensive defense system in the town, in order to be able to resist the attacks of the Christian kings during the Reconquista. Among other things, the castle of Alcazaba was built on a hill overlooking the city. Not until 1410 did an army, under the leadership of Ferdinand I of Aragon, succeed in capturing the town. After this, due to its central position in Andalusia, Antequera became an important commercial centre, in which agriculture and crafts flourished.

Translation of Title Cartouche:

Antequera, Spanish town in the Kingdom of Granada, once royal city of the Moors; noteworthy because of its very pleasant position, its abundance of salt, its stone quarries and potteries.

Translation of text on verso:

Antequera is a well-known and splendid city in the Kingdom of Granada. [...] On the mountain it has a magnificent and well-fortified castle, called the Alcazaba, in which the kings of Granada took up their quarters while the Moors were still in control of the country. [...] Many nobles have their comfortable apartments close to the castle, while the surrounding countryside is inhabited by peasants. These are very wealthy, partly due to the fertility of the soil, and partly because of the salt that they extract and collect. For there are many salt springs in the surrounding mountains.