Sands of San Pedro

The town of Arenas de San Pedro is located in the south of the province of Ávila, riding a Castilla y Leon. It belongs to the natural region of tietar valley that is articulated around this river and that is close to the Sierra de Gredos. Therefore, Arenas de San Pedro is surrounded by a exuberant nature, which, added to its good weather, has made this small Castilian town a place highly appreciated by visitors from all over the world.

In it you can see a monumental heritage of great value, enjoy the Sierra de Gredos Natural Park and try a strong and delicious gastronomy. If you want to know Arenas de San Pedro, we invite you to follow us.

What to see and what to do in Arenas de San Pedro

The small Castilian town has traditionally been visited by important personalities such as the Infante Don Luis de Borbón who built houses and other monuments there. Let's get to know them.

Palace of the Infante Don Luis de Borbón

We began precisely our tour of Arenas visiting the Mosquera palace or the infant Don Luis. Was built by Ventura Rodríguez in the eighteenth century and responds to the neoclassicism of the time. Its imposing façade and gardens stand out. In it they stayed, invited by the aristocrat, figures such as the musician Luigi boccherini and the painter Francisco de Goya.

Castle of Constable Dávalos, a symbol of Arenas de San Pedro

However, the most relevant symbol of Arenas de San Pedro is probably the castle of the Constable Dávalos, also known for that of the sad countess because it belonged to Doña Juana de Pimentel, who received this name and was the wife of Don Álvaro de Luna.

It is a fortress of style Gothic built in the 1931th century. Its plan is square, with four circular crenellated towers at its corners. You will be impressed by its keep, twenty-six meters high, and its defensive machicolations. Since XNUMX it is Historic Artistic Monument.

Church of Our Lady of the Assumption

You will find this temple built in the XNUMXth century in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Respond to style Gothic although the most prominent element is the renaissance tower square in plan. Next to the church of San Juan Bautista, where there is a beautiful Christ of Medinaceli, is the main religious monument in the urban area of ​​Arenas de San Pedro.

Sanctuary of San Pedro de Alcántara

Precisely on the outskirts, about three kilometers from Arenas, you will find this sanctuary built in the XNUMXth century. It stands out in him Royal chapel, with its marble pilasters and its imposing lantern dome. Since 1972 this temple is A Cultural. And in the monastery you can currently visit a museum with different pictorial and sculptural works related to the saint that gives it its name.

Other religious monuments

Also outside of Arenas, specifically in the district of La Parra, you can see the church of San Pedro Ad Víncula, Neo-Romanesque style. In Ramacastañas is the church of the rosary, built in the XNUMXth century, and in Hontanares you will find that of the Christ of Light, which is the object of pilgrimage by the inhabitants of the area.

Other civil monuments of Arenas de San Pedro

You should also visit in Arenas de San Pedro the medieval bridge of Aquelcabos; The Mentidero's cross, dated in the XNUMXth century; the roll of justice and San Bartolomé hospital. But, as we told you, another of the strong points of the town of Avila is the impressive nature that surrounds it.

Sierra de Gredos Natural Park

Arenas de San Pedro is located on the southern slope of the Sierra de Gredos. Therefore, from the villa you can do many excursions of Hiking and also enjoy natural pools like those of the Pelayo and Arenal rivers. But we advise you not to stop visiting the Eagle caves, which are about nine kilometers from Arenas.

Discovered in 1963, its unique appearance has been shaped over twelve million years. You will be impressed by its peculiar stalagmites and stalagtites, especially those of its imposing central hall, of about ten thousand square meters. The route through the caves is one kilometer long and they are open to the public all year round.

What to eat in Arenas de San Pedro

If you are going to enjoy nature and the monumental heritage of Arenas de San Pedro, you will no less do it with its gastronomy, as strong as it is tasty. One of its typical dishes is tarallos omelette, some green asparagus grown in Lanzahita, which also has bacon, breadcrumbs and fried onion.

Very popular are also the revolconas potatoes, which are made with bay leaf, garlic and paprika and cooked until almost undone; the rin-ran, a gazpacho of onion, peppers, paprika, garlic and stale bread previously softened in vinegar and water, or the hat, which is grilled pork.

And likewise the donkey, a fried black pudding; the offal, which is prepared with goat or pork meat sautéed with peppers, onion, oregano and other spices; the chowder soup, made with roast, garlic, spices, onion, wine and water, or the veneers, which are beans with chorizo, bacon, bay leaf, tomato and paprika.

As for sweets, you can finish your meal with a few cutters, which are made with flour, sugar, eggs and anise, or with flowers, which have similar ingredients. But also with a clothed, which is a pumpkin and black fig honey dessert; nails on Popcorn, honey and corn cakes that are toasted in a pan, or with the bump, fried bread with oil and sugar.

How to get to Arenas de San Pedro

The town of Avila is not well served by public transport. However, there is a Bus from Madrid and also from Ávila. But the best way to get there is in your own car.

To do this, whether you are traveling from the north or the south, you must take the A-6. Then, in the first case, you have to take the AP 51 to Ávila and then the N-502, which goes to Arenas. Instead, from the south you can take the M-501 in Boadilla del Monte and then continue along the CL-501 that will take you to the town of Avila.

In conclusion, Arenas de San Pedro is a beautiful town that has a lot of history and monumental heritage, a privileged nature and a delicious gastronomy. In addition, being in the center of the Iberian Peninsula, it is close to everywhere. Do you dare to visit it?