Hotel Hacienda El Santiscal

Arcos de la Frontera

“Disfrute hoy de la Historia de ayer”, enjoy history today. This is Hacienda El Santiscal’s motto, and rightfully so. This hacienda has been a hotel since 1997 and is established in a 15th century villa that has been beautifully restored to its former glory.
This hacienda is just outside the historic village of Arcos de la Frontera, one of the famous pueblos blancos (white villages), and offers a great classic romantic setting where you can unwind and enjoy. The well-maintained garden has a comfortable large lawn, a round swimming pool, and offers great views of the lake (Lago de Arcos), which you can reach from the garden on foot.
But let’s start at the beginning, the hacienda’s driveway, which provides a very promising opener to your stay, with oleanders in full bloom, which slowly reveal the white hacienda and the clear blue sky above it as you head up the driveway. On the other side of the building’s heavy wooden front doors, you will enter the large patio, which is where the reception is. After checking in, you will be handed the key to one of the hotel’s seven rooms, three junior suites or two suites.
Rooms and suites differ greatly in size, so be sure to take a good look at the room description before you choose.
But they all have their own bathroom with separate bath and shower, air conditioning and heating, as well as a lovely view, either of the mountains or the lake.
Every guest can use the classically decorated lounge, which has a fireplace and comfy armchairs that you will completely disappear in. Here you can kick back with a good book or, if need be, watch TV. The latter is not an option in any of the rooms, as the hotel has a no-TV policy, which we found to be perfectly in keeping with the quiet atmosphere of the hotel.
You can also dine at the hacienda, because it has an exquisite restaurant that will open its kitchen at your request. So just let reception know whether you will be eating at the restaurant, you will be able to check what’s on the menu well in advance. This is also where the large breakfast buffet is served, with lots of choice and a great deal of fresh products.
Hacienda El Santiscal, in our view an extremely good option for anyone looking for peace and quiet in a warm classic hotel environment. The surrounding area also has a lot to offer, which you can all do by car, and the hotel also organises activities for people who want to do more than just relax.

Cons:
• The hotel is less suitable for families with very small children

Pros:
• Immaculate hotel
• Excellent breakfast buffet
• Luscious grass around the swimming pool, not a common sight in Andalucía!

Hotel Hacienda El Santiscal

facilities

Hotel

- There is a restaurant where you can have lunch and dinner. This is on request, so please make a reservation at the reception. The restaurant has a varied menu at about € 30 pp (dinner).
- Bar.
- Swimming pool.
- Garden and inner patio.
- Internet connection in hotel (for a fee).
- Children are welcome.
- No rooms with wheelchair access.
- No lift.
- Pets are not welcome.
- The hotel offers a range of different excursions/activities.
- Hotel has its own parking facilities (free of charge).
- Hotel is in the outskirts of Arcos, at 10 minutes by car.

Rooms

Every room has air conditioning, heating, telephone and a safe.
Fully-equipped bathrooms with bath, toilet, washbasin and hairdryer.
Hotel has a total of 12 rooms, including 7 double rooms, 3 junior suites and 2 suites.
Double rooms:
- Room numbers 1, 8 and 10 have 2 (twin) beds, and are decorated in different colours (1 in blue, 8 in shades of ochre, 10 in mustard colour). Country view.
- Room numbers 5, 6, 7 and 8 have a double bed of 1.35x1.90m, and are decorated in different colours (5 in blue, 6 in shades of lavender, 7 and 8 in shades of ochre). All rooms offer views of Arcos.
The Junior Suites:
- Junior Suite 3 is a large room (in pink) with a king size 2mx2m bed. Seating area with two chairs. A small balcony with a magnificent view of the garden, swimming pool and lake.
- Junior Suite 4 is a large room (in shades of peach) with 2 (twin) beds. Balcony with a magnificent view of the garden, swimming pool and lake.
- Junior Suite 9 is a large room with a king size 2mx2m bed. This room has a high ceiling. The room has a small balcony, from which you can see part of the lake.
The Suites:
- Suite 2 (Summer Suite) is a large room (in pink) with a king size 2mx2m bed, with a small balcony with a lovely view of the garden and the lake. The suite also has a private terrace with 2 sun loungers and a garden seating area.
- Suite 12 (Winter Suite) is made up of 2 rooms, namely the bedroom (in blue) with a king size 2mx2m bed, with a small balcony with a lovely country view. And a lounge with 4 armchairs and a fireplace. This room also has bookshelves and a small fridge. Large bathroom with a separate (massage) shower next to the bath.

Hotel Hacienda El Santiscal

rates, terms & conditions

Hotel Hacienda El Santiscal

surrounding area

Arcos de la Frontera
Arcos is one of Andalucía’s finest little towns; it often serves as a base from which to explore the pueblos blancos (white villages); its entire medieval centre has been declared a Historic Monument. In Arcos you should just stroll around its cobblestone streets, past small whitewashed houses, its many squares and its patios. Arcos’ oldest building is the Castillo, a dilapidated castle that is strategically situated on top of the hill. From the town walls you have a great view of the Guadalete valley. Other sights include the churches Iglesia de Santa María de la Asunción, Iglesia de los Jesuitas and the Iglesia de San Pedro.
The town hall, the ayuntamiento on the Plaza de Cabildo, is also worth a visit because of its fine mudejar-style ceilings.
And Arcos is also well-known for its hand-woven tapestry.

Culinary
Pay a visit to a sherry bodega in nearby Jerez de la Frontera, the global capital of sherry production.

Cultural
Plenty of options for a cultural day out in nearby cities, such as Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz and Ronda (see below). And a tour past the pueblos blancos (white villages) is also a great option.

Family
You can head for the zoo in Jerez de la Frontera. This zoo is one of the best ones in Andalucía. It has over 400 animal species on show. The Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre is also a real must.
You can also go down to Cádiz and do its centre in a horse-drawn carriage. These set off from the Plaza de San Juan de Dios.
The Cortijo is also a good base for walks and trips on horseback in the surrounding area.

Nature
The Parque Nacional de Coto Doñana on the other side of the water can be reached by boat from Sanlúcar. This park is one of Europe’s largest swamp lands. This area is especially important for birds. Over 250 bird species have been spotted here, half of which come here to over-winter, such as the spoonbill, stork and the particular favourite of most visitors, the flamingo.
The best time of year to visit this park is winter or spring. In the summer and autumn the swamps are dry, although that is when visitors get excited about spotting deer, boar, buffalos and otters. With a good guide and some luck, you might even spot a lynx.
Between Arcos de la Frontera and Tarifa you will find the nature reserve Los Alcornocales. This area is made up by cork tree forests, easily recognized by the painted trees.

The following villages/towns in the area are definitely worth a visit:
Jerez de la Frontera (33km; 40min):
Jerez is the sherry capital of the world. A tour of one of its bodegas (Sandeman, Pedro Domecq, Gonzalez Byass) is not only good fun, but you will also learn something. How to distinguish fino from amontillado or oloroso sherry, for example.
Jerez is also famous for its horse riding school, the Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Escuestre. Apart from visiting a show here, visitors can also attend lessons and tour the stables.
Other sights include the inviting cafes on the Plaza Asunción and the old town hall from 1575, Casa de Cabildo Viejo. The San Mateo quarter is famous for its flamenco bars, and is also where you will find the official flamenco centre: Centro Andaluz de Flamenco.

Cádiz (65km; 55min):
The modern part of Cádiz is a busy port. A visit to this city would not be complete without a walk along the quays. The old town is contained by fortifications that rise up from the sea. Within the ring of walls and fortresses there are houses and palaces from the 18th and 19th century, side by side with run-down quarters and squares with plenty of bar and cafes.
The city’s sights include the Castillo de Santa Catalina, a bulwark right on the tip of the small peninsula. In the centre you will find the cathedral, Catedral Nueva, and the Museo de Cádiz on one of the city’s nicest squares, the Plaza de Mina. And then there are a number of interesting churches, the baroque church Oratorio de San Felipe Neri and the Oratorio de la Santa Cueva.

Ronda (86km; 1h25min):
Ronda has one of the most spectacular settings in all of Southern Spain. Due to this town’s unassailable location, it was one of the last standing Moorish bastions, which only fell in 1485, when it was conquered by the Christians. The town is split in two by a spectacular gorge, with the southern part being the classic Moorish pueblo blanco with cobblestone streets, small fences in front of the windows and whitewashed walls all around. The new town on the other side of the gorge contains the Plaza de Toros (bull ring), the cradle of bullfighting; it was built in 1785 and is one of Spain’s oldest. The bridge that connects the two parts of Ronda, the Puente Nuevo, spans the 100-metre-deep gorge and has become Ronda’s most famous feature, drawing in millions of visitors every year.
Apart from the Plaza de Toros, the Palacio Mondragón is another important sight; this is a palace decorated with original Moorish mosaics and plastering.

And you can, of course, head for one of these world famous cities for a day trip:
Seville (87km; 1h15min):
The capital of Andalucía is a compact city with a rich past. Most of its major sights are in or near the city centre on the Guadalquivir river’s left bank. And they also know how to party and have a good time in this city of flamenco and tapas.
As you wander through the old Jewish quarter, the Barrio Santa Cruz, through a maze of white streets and patios, you should not forget to take in the imposing cathedral, the Moorish bell tower, La Giralda, and the royal palace Real Alcázar.
You can unwind in the María Luisa park, where you can spend the hottest part of the day under orange trees and palm trees.
The museum Museo de Bellas Artes, one of Spain’s best museums of art, is a real must. And then there are its magnificent palaces and other sights, such as the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza (bull ring); Casa de Pilatos and the Torre del Oro.

Córdoba (227km; 2h50min):
Visit the Mezquita, Córdoba's huge mosque, which has seen various different developments throughout the years to become a fascinating blend of styles and religions. And you can also go for a stroll through the districts of San Lorenzo, Judería and San Basilio, where you will encounter the most beautiful Moorish patios. Other sights include the palace/fortress Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos with magnificent gardens and fountains; various museums, such as the Museo Arqueológico, Museo Taurino, Museo de Bellas Artes; a string of great squares, such as the Plaza de la Corredera, Plaza del Potro.

Hotel Hacienda El Santiscal

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