Arcos de la Frontera

Hidden Gems

Arcos de la Frontera, Cadiz

1 day in Arcos de la Frontera

Estimated time to visit: 4 hours (lunch time not included)

Increasingly popular to tourists but still charming, Arcos de la frontera is one of the stars of the “Pueblos blancos” (white towns) Nearly all pueblos blancos are worth visiting. They are really great!… but time is limited. Arcos offers an easy access from both Cadiz and Seville and it possesses all that is to expected from an Andalusian white village, including its breath-taking location.

Arcos de la Frontera in a nutshell

Arcos de la frontera is one of the jewels in the province of cadiz. It is a picturesque town on a rock on the North bank of the Rio Guadalete. From there it rises like a spectacular amphitheatre. Arcos de la Frontera was known as Medina Arkosh in Arab times, the name was changed after its seizure by Alfonso X in 1250. The Arab alcázar was succeeded by the castle of the Dukes of Arcos.

The Visigoth church of Santa María de la Asunción offers an imposing Plateresque façade and dominates the broad Plaza de España.

Inside the late Gothic parish church of San Pedro two Moorish banners testify to the struggle over Granada. You will also find here a beautiful Gothic retable behind the high altar, as well as paintings by Zurbarán and Pacheco.

The town Hall is a beautiful example of Mudejar architecture, with two lovely artesonados and a portrait attributed to Goya.

Where can you enjoy the best views of Arcos? Without a doubt these are located next to la Plaza del Cabildo. from the terrace at the Parador