Arcos

Arcos - Interesting Facts

Santa María and San Pedro became embroiled in a hostile dispute stretching over centuries about which church was the holier and more senior. A 15th century bishop even made a four-year sojourn to Rome to enlist the Pope's help and though he returned with a carved baby Christ (on show in Santa María) there was no decision. San Pedro's priests applied to the Vatican for their own 'treasures' and were rewarded with the bones of two alleged saints, also still on display. Rome finally decided in favour of Santa María in 1755 but for years afterwards its rival refused to utter the name 'María', conducting its masses with the words 'Holy Pedro, Mother of God'.

Every year, the old town of Arcos is transformed into an outsized Biblical tableau when the Belén Viviente (Living Bethlehem) is staged on a Saturday evening just before Christmas. Sand is laid on the streets, farm animals are brought in and townsfolk dress as Biblical characters in a spectacle which draws tens of thousands of visitors.

Nuns from the closed order at the Convento de Mercadias Descalzas are famed for their baking. If you stop at the convent door between the Plaza del Cabildo and market place, and ring a bell you can make an order then have your biscuits delivered via a revolving platform without seeing the nuns.

Arcos was allegedly founded by King Brigo, Noah's grandson.

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