Arcos de la Frontera in Spain is an authentic white village in the province of Cadiz in Andulasia. Find out what to see, where to stay and more. This little village has an attitude – a must stay.
It is close to Ronda, and although Ronda is beautiful and famous for its bridge, the Puente Nuevo, we preferred the character of quirky Arcos de la Frontera, Spain. If I had to choose, I would rather stay in Arcos de la Frontera.
Sitting halfway between Seville and Malaga. The Guadalete river flows around 3 sides of the village under the towering cliffs. The vista overlooks the Guadalete Valley.
Where to Stay in Arcos de la Frontera
We stayed at Casa Campana Refugio con Encanto – with hosts Jim & Isa there spot is the center of all in Arcos de la Frontera.
Upon our arrival we shared a beer while they answered all our questions, what a great couple! Everything was perfect, clean, and the best part was the breakfast on the roof terrace with a backdrop of the white village.
Where to Eat in Arcos de la Frontera
Taberna Jóvenes Flamencos is a great restaurant in Arcos de la Frontera, on the narrow road almost a welcoming party to the guests of the village entering the old town. The staff were friendly and the service was great. The ambiance of this little spot is mesmerizing. Every now and then a car would pass by, really really close. You drive by this restaurant on your way up, if you have a ‘little’ car, hair raising trying to navigate up the extremely narrow roads but this is half of the experience of this little town in Spain ….
PUBS IN ARCOS DE LA FRONTERA
Opposite Taberna Jóvenes Flamencos you will find a very traditional Spanish pub, ‘Bar la Cárcel’. Pop in for a cold one as the heat inside the white village walls can get hot – no better place to take a break after walking the hilly “calle’s” of Arcos.
The Spanish are known for there hospitality and their great pubs – you will find one or two or three in almost every village in Spain no matter how small. No need to rush this village looking for landmarks, its small, its quaint and it beckons you to be a Spanish local or at least act like one, so best to sit and enjoy your beer.
Bar Carcel offers tapas, besides this there are other places in the historic center, bars ‘Mesón La Rebotica’, ‘Mesón Los Murales’, ‘Casa Rural la Campana’. Bar Alcaraván, and the Italian food restaurant the ‘Mamma Tina’.
Walking Tour IN ARCOS DE LA FRONTERA
This special place has so many nooks and crannies. These are pics of our walk about. A little bit of everything, walking these streets is half the fun. They are a maze with treasures around each corner and the views are super special.
Sites in ARCOS DE LA FRONTERA
“Eagles Nest”
At the opposite end of the San Pedro Church is a vista point giving you fantastic views of the valley below. “Eagles Nest” if you like, where you find eagles and owls perched, ready to fluff their feathers.
Iglesia de San Pedro
A 14th Century Andalusian watchtower built into this 15th-17th century church of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroqueso. Just follow the highest point in the village to get to this spot.
We parked our car on the square for the evening but you do need permission and other than Sunday you need to pay at the meter. The streets in the center of the old town are seriously narrow, no large cars and definitely no campers, there is parking down at the bottom of the town in a public underground parking. Once up in the old town you won’t need a car.
Castillo de los Duques di Arcos
This Medieval Castle dates to 11th-15th C, and is of Moorish origin. It is private property at the moment but the whole area is good for strolling around. It was a military alcazar in the muslim period of Arcos de la Frontera, and the shields of the Dukes of Arcos are on the outside.
Basilica Menor de Santa Maria de la Asuncion
A wonderful Artistic Historic Monument.
Its unfinished tower was repaired after the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. The tower is baroque, and the front facade is Gothic style.
Arcos Native cuisine is sausages, soups – dishes of game meat, pork and lamb. Of course tapas and cerveza can also be found on the menus.
Convento de las Mercedarias Descalzas
This cloistered convent still remains and dates back to 1642. The nuns living there make sweets to sell at the convent and in the candy shops of Arcos.
They use to mend all kinds of clothes, except men’s pants!
Hospital de San Juan de Dios
Hospital de San Juan de Dios, is a 16th-century hospital, and is attached to a hermitage. This was one of the 14 charitable hospitals at the time in Arcos de la Frontera.
Getting to Arcos de la Frontera
Arcos de la Frontera is another little Spanish “white town” a little off the beaten track but well worth the journey. We rented a car for our trip through Spain. We used Rental cars to book and we were very happy with the service we got.
WOULD WE DROP A PIN TO THIS LOCATION AGAIN – YES! TIME AND TIME AGAIN…
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