On the Cadiz Sierra perched on a cliff above the Guadalete river with a castle and Santa Maria Church at the top,
Arcos de la Frontera spreads over a rocky ridge with the Guadalete River at its foot.
One of the most beautiful white village of Andalusia, occupying a strategic hilltop position Arcos has been an important place for centuries. The Roman called it Arx-Arcis (high fortress) because of its strategic importance. But is its Moorish past, when Arcos was an impregnable fortress only taken by Alfonso the Wise in 1264, that left the main features of this White Village, the Moorish layout of the streets enriched with magnificent Christian buildings turn Arcos into a good example of a Muslim town resettled after the conquest by the vassals of the Castilian kings.
Andalucia, Arcos de la Frontera
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Upon arrival we climbed on the serpentine road the steep rock where lies this wonderful historic town, we made our way to the main square where, despite the traffic, we managed to
park. From an old archway we entered in a Moorish maze of narrow streets opening into small squares, discovering ancient buildings around every corner in a true Andalucian atmosphere where the popular architecture is in perfect harmony with the aristocratic portals of the convents and palatial houses.
Plaza de Cabildo where a stone stairway takes you to the Santa Maria
Church (13th and 14th centuries) with a beautiful façade where the Gothic style converge in plateresque and the neo-classical tower
Torre Nueva. From the place there is a mirador overlooking an exceptional panorama across the Guadalete gorge. Other important buildings are the Palaces and noble houses all located close to the castle. The fortified Gothic church of San Pedro (Saint Peter's) (14th century ) built on the remains of an Arab fortress with a neoclassic bell tower and a Baroque facade.
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Andalusia, Arcos de la Fontera
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The village is surrounded by large reservoirs, where you can go for birdwatching.
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