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Where is San Pedro de Alcantara and how do I get there?

San Pedro de Alcantara (St. Peter of Alcantara) is situated 10 km west of Marbella in a fertile plain of coastal lowland, Vega de San Pedro Alcantara and is surrounded by a semicircle of rugged hills.

• On the East the Sierra Blanca of Marbella, dominated by its highest peak Pico del Astonar (1.270 m.) better known locally as “La Concha” (The Shell) because of its resemblance to a fluted sea shell when viewed from the west.
• To the North, there is the Sierra del Real or El Real del Duque, the Sierra de las Nieves and those of Tolox.
• To the West of the town the Monte Mayor and the mountain line the Sierra Bermeja.
• To the south lies the Mediterranean Sea and on a clear day spectacular views of the Rock of Gibraltar and the Northern coast of Africa.

With a population of approximately 26,500 San Pedro de Alcantara is the most typical Spanish town left on the Costa del Sol. It is easily accessed from the main Costa del Sol coastal road N340/A7 as well as the new toll motorway the AP7 also from either Malaga or Cadiz and via the C339 from Sevilla and Ronda. The nearest airports of Málaga and Gibraltar are both within an hours drive.

The Church

San Pedro de Alcantara’s colonial style church was constructed in 1866 by Manuel Gutierrez de la Concha, the first Marquis del Duero. The church is located on the central Plaza de la Ingles and since 1940 it has served as the local parish church.

The Villa de San Luis

Next to the church, also in colonial style, sits the Villa de San Luis which originally served as the colony’s administrative headquarters and residence to the Marquis .The Villa de San Luis still maintains an official roll and today serves as the town hall and office of the Deputy Mayor.

Las Bovedas Roman Baths

Las Bovedas (the domes) were constructed in the 3rd century A.D. and, situated at the end of an aqueduct, are thought to be used for water storage or Roman baths. Originally built using a concrete like material composed of mortar and pebbles they were destroyed by an earthquake in 365 A.D. Although historians are still unsure of the baths true origins, it is widely accepted that they represent the remains of an early Roman settlement known as Cilniana, pronounced Silniana.

The central building and part of the seven adjoining rooms have been conserved; much of the rest has fallen into ruins. The central room is octagonal in shape, has a pool at its center and four entrances. Surrounding this room are seven adjoining rooms of similar shape. There is also a gallery which gives access to a terrace above.
Guided tours are available by prior arrangement through the San Pedro de Alcantara tourist office which is located on Calle Marquis del Duero (next to the police office). Although these tours are free you will require transport to get from the meeting point (the tourist office) to Las Bovedas.

Vega del Mar Basilica

The Vega de Mar basilica is located on the Roman road that went from Cartagena to Cadiz near Las Bovedas Roman baths. Excavated of this site began early in the 20th century and represents a prime example of the Visigoth churches built in the south of Spain during the 6th century. Common with churches of this period the building materials were poor, rough stones and mortar, as such walls up to one meter in height are all that survived making it difficult to imagine what the complete structure would have looked like.

During excavation, tombs and coins of a previous period were discovered suggesting that the 6th, basilica was built upon the remains of a former one, possibly a Paleo-Christian basilica that may have been destroyed by the earthquake of 365.
The basilica houses a magnificent baptismal font sculpted from one stone block embellished with Christian symbolism. New catechumen (those receiving instruction from a catechist in the principles of the Christian religion with a view to baptism) could not enter the church proper before being baptised.

Further information about these and other attractions can be obtained from the San Pedro de Alcantara Tourist Information Office.

Tourist Information Office

Avenida del Marques del Duero 69,
29670 San Pedro de Alcántara
Phone: +34 952.78.52.52
Fax : +34 952.78.90.90