A peaceful house in a beautiful area.
Just 25 minutes from Jerez Airport you can walk the cobbled streets of another century.Renting here is ideal for a week or a weekend. Situated in the historic old quarter of this hilltop town, the house faces the lake and has a wonderful view of the valley floor. A traditional village house it is comfortably furnished with an open plan layout of living room, dining room new kitchen and terrace on the main floor, and newly furnished double bedroom with shower and a twin bedroom and bathroom downstairs off a central terrace. You can enjoy your meals on the kitchen terrace, and you are guaranteed a table with a view as you are 200 meters above the valley floor with the fields and olive groves spread out below. Straight in front of you is the Lago de Arcos with the Guadelete river running down from between the distant sierras.
The TOWN
The old town sits at the highest point of the cliff, with streets of white-washed homes cascading down the ridge line. What attracted us to Arcos is that it is a thriving Andalusian community, the people are friendly, the siesta still exists and the pace of life is as slow and relaxing as you want it to be. As you stroll along, enjoy the breeze that is naturally filtered through the narrow streets some of which are only two meters wide. Visit the three ancient churches and explore the architecture that harks back to the Arab occupation in the Middle Ages. There is a fully equipped kitchen at the house but of course the town is bursting with restaurants and friendly bars so if you desire, rather than make a meal yourself you can choose from a number of different types of restaurants, and different price ranges, many Spanish have breakfast in the bars on the way to work so any meal can be bought out if you wish. Try and sample the local wine it is very good.
The AREA
I'm sure there will be a long list of cities in Andalusia that you will want to see and all can be easily reached, Jerez, Cadiz, Ronda, Seville and Gibralter, Arcos is ideally located to be your base for exploring all that Cadiz province has to offer. The other Pueblos Blancos (White Villages) are within easy reach as are the spectacular National Parks at Sierra Grazalema, Coto Donaña and Alcornocales.
The POOL is five minutes from the house.
By the lake there is a hotel with a great pool which can be accessed by the public for about four euros per person you can spend the entire day here have lunch and even wait for the BBQ to begin in the evening]
GOLF
There are two International Golf Courses within 15 minutes drive of our house Montecastillo Resort Arcos, an 18 hole par 72 Parkland course designed by Jack Nicklaus. It was host to the Volvo Masters for five consecutive years from 1997 to 2001.
There is also the newer Arcos Gardens designed by Landmark, creators of PGA West, Palm Beach Polo and the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, Arcos Gardens Golf Course has been developed as a challenge to professionals, whilst providing an enjoyable experience for amateurs. They are the chosen golf course and golf resort in Andalucia for both the Swedish Golf Federation and the English Golf Union for their winter training facility
Arcos Gardens Championship golf course. http://www.arcosgardens.com/site/golf.html
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MOTO GP
The Spanish Moto GP is held just ten minutes away at the Circuito de Jerez
JEREZ 15 minutes drive
Horses, Sherry and Flamenco are at the heart of the culture of this area and so a short drive brings you to Jerez de la Frontera, the centre of the Sherry producing region, daily tours can be had of the many bodegas. Where you can follow the process of how sherry is made and of course sample the result.
Also very well worth a visit is the "How the Andalusian Horses Dance" at the world renowned Royal Andalusian School Of Equestrian Art. We recently went with my sisters family to see this show and it is a wonderful day out. You get a tour of the stables and facilities a chance to meet the horses and then there is a attractive display of diffferent riding styles and horse abilities, I wont spoil the finale but it is wonderful and very moving.
CADIZ 30 minutes drive
Only thirty minutes away the beaches of Cadiz and the whole area of the Costa de la Luz are noted for their undeveloped and natural beauty, as well as their fine, yellow sands and spectacular sunsets.The wave of tourism that seems to have washed over southern Spain has somehow missed the port city Cadiz. Thought to be one of the oldest towns in Europe, Cadiz is threaded with narrow, winding streets filled with Moorish art and architecture. Parking is less than a euro per hour in large underground carparks well signposted just beside the beaches.
La Playa de la Caleta is the best-loved beach of Cádiz. It has always been in Carnival songs, due to its unequalled beauty and its proximity to the Barrio de la Viña. It is the beach of the Old City, located between two castles, San Sebastian and Santa Catalina. It is around four hundred meters long and thirty meters wide at low tide.
La Playa de la Victoria is the most visited beach by tourists and the native people of Cádiz. It is about three kilometers long, and it has an average width of fifty meters of sand. The moderate swell and the absence of rocks allow the entire family to enjoy bathing at this beach. It is separated from the city by an avenue; on the other side of the avenue are many shops and restaurants that form the newer part of Cádiz. The beach provides many activities, including sport areas, as well as places where you can rent beach umbrellas, sun loungers, and jetskis.
La Playa de Santa María del Mar is a small beach in Cádiz. Situated between La Playa de Victoria and La Playa de la Caleta, it features excellent views of the old district of Cádiz.
As mentioned Cadiz has several beaches, and if you want to split your day between beach and sightseeing, this is a good way to do it. Playa Caleta and Playa Victoria are city beaches, Caleta is quite near the cathedral so after a few hours on the beach put the stuff back in the car and head off to the main square in front of the Cathedral and have lunch.
For all day beach fun go to Puerto Santa Maria, these beaches are clean have facilities and beach restaurants serving salads, fish and ice cream.
SEVILLE one hours drive
Stylish, confident, ancient, proud, yet also convivial, intimate and fun-loving this is the description of Seville , Andalucia's largest city Seville has Europe's largest historic quarter, it is crammed with magnificent churches, convents, monuments and Moorish buildings. It's also renowned for its multitude of tapas bars and a buzzing nightlife.
In the centrally located cathedral is the TOMB OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.
A little taste of britain can be had in GIBRALTER only an hour and a half away and even a day trip to MORROCCO is easily possible.
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WE HAVE FAMOUS NEIGHBOURS!
This is what Matt Dawson thinks of Arcos
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/celebritytravel/7166668/Matt-Dawsons-heaven-on-earth-Arcos-de-la-Frontera-Spain.html
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