Casa Avelina

Casa Avelina is at number 8, Calle Mayor, Arcos de las Salinas, in the centre of the village, at 1,081 metres above sea level. Its reason for being, for those who come to look at the sky, is the distance: Galáctica is 1.2 km away by road, about 3 minutes by car. You leave the night observation after half past nine and don't have to drive at night through the mountains to Manzanera or Aras de los Olmos. Galáctica includes it in its list of recommended accommodation in the village.

Four rooms named after mountain plants

The house is rented by the room, for up to eight people in all, with four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Each room is named after an aromatic plant of the range:

• Ajedrea (savory): a double with a double bed and private bathroom, the only one with its own bathroom.
• Romero (rosemary): a triple with shared bathroom, for a small family or three friends.
• Poleo (pennyroyal): a double with shared bathroom.
• Espliego (lavender): a single with shared bathroom.

The decoration is rustic, with wood and natural fabrics. If there are six or eight of you, ask whether you can have the whole house; the website does not offer it as such.

Price, meals and parking

The house's website does not publish prices. Its listing on TusCasasRurales gives a reference of €35 per person per night, which varies with the season and number of nights, and says the house offers, if you ask, lunch and dinner, and free parking. It is not stated whether there is a kitchen for guests or whether dogs are admitted: ask when you book. According to the listing, they speak Spanish and English.

A mountain village

The house describes Arcos de las Salinas as having a mountain climate: mild summers and cool nights, cold winters with frosts. For the night, that means a winter coat even in August, as Galáctica itself asks. Among the things the house suggests in the area are stargazing tourism, bike and walking routes through the range, the mushroom season and the truffle season.

From here, what you have at hand is everything at Galáctica: the museum in the afternoon, the Saturday night observation and, from April to October, the visit to the Javalambre Observatory. For eating in the village, Galáctica cites Restaurante Arcos, at Calle Gamellón 15; book first on 962 108 072.

How to book

From the booking link on its website, which leads to a booking engine with availability by dates; by phone on 627 850 843, or by direct message on Instagram (@casaavelinaarcos).