Arcos de la Frontera

Arcos de la Frontera is a town in the province of Cádiz (Andalusia, Spain), about 68 km from the provincial capital Cádiz. . Arcos is the main town of the white villages, and especially the old town, which is situated on a hill overlooking the river Guadalete, is a tourist attraction.

In the old town are the narrow streets with whitewashed houses, which are characteristic of the white villages; fall in Arcos to the many supporting arch which connect the houses on the streets. Heart of the old town is the Plaza del Cabildo. It is bounded by City Hall, Parador and the Church of Santa Maria de la Asuncion, on the open side, it offers a beautiful view of the river Guadalete. Behind the town hall lies the castle ( castillo ), built by the Arabs (see History of Spain ) in the 11th century. Along the main road takes you to a second large church, San Pedro, which was built in the Gothic style. It was built on the site of a Moorish castle in the 16th century. Additional points of interest include some grand town houses, including the Palacio del Conde del Águila from the 15th century, the Palacio del Marqués de Torresoto, a baroque building from the 18th century, the Palacio del Mayorazgo, a Renaissance building from the 17th century.

History

Arcos was founded by the Iberians, and was known in Roman times as Arco Briga. Close to the Battle of Rio Guadalete took place in July 711, in which the Visigoth King Roderick died in battle against the Muslim invasion force. Subsequently, the area was a part of the Muslim territory Al Andalus, later the Emirate of Córdoba and then the Caliphate of Córdoba. After the end of Arcos was an independent taifa until the city was annexed to the mid-11th century by the Abbadids from Seville. In 1263 it was conquered by the Christians. Until the fall of Granada in 1492, the city remained in the border area between Christians and Moors, what part of the name " de la Frontera " (Spanish for: at the border) remembers to this day. After the Reconquista, the wealth of living here landowners of the city benefited from what can be seen today at the town houses.

Street Scene

Santa María de la Asunción Basilica

Choir and organ in the Basilica