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Guide
to Arcos de la
Frontera, Andalucia,
Spain
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Within
Andalucia,
located just 30km from
Jerez
lies the wonderful, historic town of Arcos de la Frontera. Occupying a strategic
hilltop position, Arcos has been an important place for centuries. The Romans
certainly made their mark here, as many remains still prove. The area has
benefited from its agricultural background, with rich, fertile soil.
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Over past
years it
has also
gained
from the
increase
in
tourism.
In 1962
the town
was
declared
to be of
special
national
importance.
Upon
arrival,
make your
way to the
main
square
where,
despite
the
traffic
problem,
you will
find
plenty of
bars to
sit and
watch life
go by.
There are
ample
shops to
keep you
content.
Within
Arcos you
will see
many
places of
interest,
not least
of all
St.Mary's
church
which was
declared
to be the
major
parish.
The bulk
of the
church is
built on
the site
of an old
Arab
castle and
dates back
to the
13th and
14th
centuries.
The
neo-classical
tower is
the newest
part of
the
building.
The church
can be
visited
for
150pts,
Mon-Fri
10am - 1pm
and 3.30pm
- 6.30pm.
Saturdays
10am -
2pm.
Saint
Peter's
Church
dates from
the 14th
century
and is
built on
the
remains of
an Arab
fortress.
The main
facade is
18th
century
and is of
Baroque
design.
The church
can be
visited
for
150pts,
Mon - Sat
10am - 1pm
and 4pm -
7pm and on
Sundays
10am -
1.30pm.
There are
three
other
churches
worthy of
a visit
including
the church
of San
Augustin,
a former
convent. |
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Festivals
include:
-
Easter
Sunday
'The
Aleluya'
bull
running
-
February
carnival
-
5th
August
'Velada'
our
Lady
of
the
Snow
-
End
of
September
Saint
Michael's
Fair
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May
The
Crosses
of
May
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If
time
in
Arcos
permits,
see
one of
the
five
convents.
The
Convent
of the
Mecedarian
Nuns
is the
only
closed
door
convent
left
in
Arcos
but
biscuits
made
by the
nuns
can be
bought
at the
main
entrance.
Other
important
buildings
include,
the
Palace
of the
Count
of
Aguilar
and
several
mansion
houses
that
can be
visited.
The
castle
is an
Arab
military
fortress
but
now a
private
residence
so
cannot
be
visited.
The
old
town
is a
maze
of
steep
streets
opening
into
small
open
squares
where
true
Andalucian
atmosphere
can be
sampled,
day or
night. |
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The
tourist
office
offer
a
guided
tour
of the
old
town,
starting
in the
Plaza
de
Cabildo
where
the
tourist
office
is
located.
From
this
same
square,
wonderful
views
can be
had
over
the
valley.
When
it
comes
to
shopping,
local
crafts
and
ceramics
are in
abundance
and
can be
bought
quite
cheaply.
The
town
of
Arcos
has so
much
to
offer
the
visitor,
it is
impossible
to
list
them
all
and
the
ambience
of
true
Andalucia
cannot
be put
into a
few
words.
This
place
just
has to
be
visited. |
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