The Junta de Andalucía allocates nearly €600,000 for preliminary work to enhance the Roman site of Singilia Barba, in Antequera. The project includes consolidation, cleaning, and fencing.
The Junta de Andalucía has announced an investment of almost €600,000 to act on the archaeological remains of the Roman city of Singilia Barba, located within the municipality of Antequera. The Minister of Culture, Historical Heritage and Sport, Patricia del Pozo, confirmed the imminent awarding during a visit to the Archaeological Ensemble of the Dolmens of Antequera.
The project, which represents the first significant funding for this site, includes structural consolidation work, cleaning of the site, perimeter fencing, and the creation of itineraries to facilitate visits. This action is part of the Junta's commitment to enhancing the historical heritage of the province of Málaga.
A key site for the history of the province
Singilia Barba, located about six kilometres west of the urban centre of Antequera, was an important Roman city that reached its peak between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD. Its remains, which include a theatre, baths, and mosaics, are considered of great archaeological value but have remained in a relatively abandoned state for decades.
The mayor of Antequera, Manolo Barón, has expressed gratitude for the investment and emphasised that this is “the first significant amount” allocated to protect this site. “It is a fundamental step for the people of Antequera and visitors to enjoy this heritage,” he stated.
The planned works also include the installation of information panels and the adaptation of paths, which will allow the site to be opened to the public in a controlled manner. The idea is that, once this phase is completed, a comprehensive enhancement project can be drafted to turn Singilia Barba into a tourist and cultural reference for the region.
Two exhibitions to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Dolmens
During her visit, the minister inaugurated two temporary exhibitions at the Archaeological Ensemble of the Dolmens of Antequera, to mark the 10th anniversary of its declaration as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The first, ‘Megalithism in the lands of Almería. Resistances and Resiliencies’, curated by Margarita Sánchez Romero, brings together 75 pieces from national and Andalusian museums.
The second exhibition, ‘The Permanent Trace’, establishes a dialogue between megalithism and contemporary art, featuring works by artists such as Soledad Sevilla and José Manuel Broto. Both exhibitions will be open to the public for the coming months and reinforce the cultural programming of the ensemble, which hopes to attract visitors from across the province.
New storage system for the museum
Additionally, Patricia del Pozo announced an investment of nearly €175,000, co-financed with European funds, for the installation of a new storage system in the museum of the Archaeological Ensemble. The project includes electronic mobile shelving, compact furniture, and accessibility improvements, which will allow for better preservation of the site's collections.
The director of the ensemble, Carmen Mora, highlighted that this investment “ensures the preservation of movable assets for future generations.” She also reminded that the site is a pioneer in activating a safeguarding plan for emergencies, a model that other Andalusian institutions are beginning to follow.
For the residents of Antequera and the province of Málaga, these actions represent an opportunity to better understand their Roman and prehistoric past. Singilia Barba, with its theatre and baths, aims to become a tourist attraction comparable to other sites in the region, such as Acinipo in Ronda or the Roman city of Cartima in Cártama.
Visits to the exhibitions of the Dolmens are free and can be made during the usual hours of the ensemble. For more information, it is recommended to consult the official website of the Archaeological Ensemble of the Dolmens of Antequera.
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