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    Services - Arcosanti

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    Briaunna K.

    We went in 2020. Cool architecture. Wasn't busy whatsoever when we went. Little trails to walk. Cool little spot to check out if you're near it and into 'nature' photography opportunities / architecture appreciation.

    Christa M.

    Stopped by on Sunday on our way back to Phoenix from Flagg. The dirt road leading us up to the building was very rough and I totally do not recommend smaller cars. After what seemed like an eternity we finally arrived. There was only one other car there so there were plenty of parking spots. We arrived at 1:30pm and we decided to get a drink at the café first. The worker greeted us and quickly told us the café was closed, boo. We took a few pictures here and went down to the bathroom. The bathroom was clean. We took a few more pictures and left. Everything felt eerie and uncomfortable. Spent a total of 10 minutes. Should've booked a tour to learn about this place but from what we did see and experience, this is a pass for me. The views are nice though!

    Bells
    Stacie B.

    I've always wanted to check out this feat of architecture and ecology so we took a day to head out and tour. It is about an hour north of Phoenix and hidden off the main road on a dirt path (low cars be warned). It is a fascinating spot where since the 1970s a group of artists and others have gathered and lived in a type of working community. The dream was for over 5,000 but due to many favors they can only accommodate 50 living there at any one time. The artists create bells and pottery as well as much of their own food and supplies. The atmosphere is one of an artists haven with a lot of connection and community. The buildings are fascinating and the bells are amazing! We were able to take the tour and enjoy some individual time with a community member that our friend knows. They have walking trails as well that we didn't do but looked inviting. My only concern was in all the concrete and steps it made for a hard journey for our older group. Keep in mind it is not accessible for those who can't do stairs. It is worth visiting and checking out, and I'm glad we went!

    Tour Information. Tours required to visit the site. Reserve your spot online.
    Natasha A.

    The tour begins with a video about its history and then you are taken through to see everything. The tour is about an hour and there is a short hike to see Arcosanti from a vantage point. Overall it was a nice experience. Don't forget to check out a Culture Pass from a Phoenix valley library so you can bring 2 people in for free, but you will still need to reserve your tour spot on their website, just click Culture Pass. You'll want to spend your money on the Soleri bells, artisan pottery and bronze items in the shop, and tipping your tour guide. Parking on site, dirt road for a mile. About 1 hour north of Phoenix. If you enjoyed touring Taliesin West, read Fountainhead, or like architecture, then it's worth a visit.

    Amphitheater
    Stephanie V.

    My daughter, Hubs, and I, really enjoyed the tour of Arcosanti and being allowed and welcome to explore the grounds, café, and the facilities! Firstly, I'd like to emphasize the importance of doing a little research before arriving for a tour. I read previous Yelp reviews, and this helped tremendously to prepare for the day. This is a very unique site with working artists and live-in staff and community that have family and pets. Don't expect a full service café experience here. The busy artists are giving their time at the café. This being said, everybody we spoke to at the café was super friendly and helpful and ready to serve food or drinks as soon as we arrived. I've been looking forward to visiting Arcosanti since last year, but was waiting for the temperatures to drop. Today, temperatures were just right for me. It was a windy day in the 60s. We had hats, jackets and scarves which were needed because of the cool breeze and sunshine. I frequently warmed up and had to take my jacket off because this site has lots of climbing and walking if you decide to book the tour. There are lots of stairs. This may make it difficult if you have mobility issues. They do provide a wheelchair accessible hike and pathway. Tickets are available online or at the gallery. After purchasing tickets, you will be asked to sign a waiver either through email or in the gallery at the iPad station. As shown on the entrance window, the TOUR SCHEDULE is Thursday-Monday, 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM & 2:00 PM Tuesday-Wednesday, 11:00 AM & 2:00 PM. Prices listed as $22 per Adult, $17 per Student (with ID), $13 per Youth (12-17), Free for children under 12 Also listed - Before your tour: Check in at the front desk Pay for your tour Complete the waiver at the iPad station Meet your tour at the television! Self-guided tours through the site are NOT permitted. The Visitor's Center and Visitor's Trail are available to explore everyday from 9 AM-5 PM. Tours last about an hour. The tour is the only time you are able to freely and independently explore the grounds, so make sure to get all of your pictures and ask all of your questions at that time. After the tour is done, you have access to the Café, gallery, and hike, as well as the exterior grounds, for as long as you'd like. If you have a Phoenix Public library card or Glendale Public library card, you can check out a culture pass good for two weeks through the library. This culture pass is good for two tickets so you can bring a friend or family member. With this culture pass, the tour is free. If you paid for your ticket or got a free tour, tipping the tour guide is highly recommended. If you don't book a tour and just visit, the gallery, café and site, the stairwell has a complete history of the site framed as you walk up and down the stairwell. Our tour guide, Manny, did an excellent job explaining the history of the grounds and each designated facility. We stopped off at the bronze foundry just before bronze bells were being poured. Manny explained that complete silence is necessary during the pouring of the bronze and it's seen as a ceremonial ritual. I found this to be a beautiful experience, with the tinkling sound of the bronze bells blowing in the breeze while the entire foundry fell into silence. There were probably 20 to 30 people in the foundry, and we all watched silently as the bronze was poured. it's pretty cool that there is even a community thrift store here and it's more of a barter exchange type of a facility. I find it really important to mention that there are 13 cats that live at Arcosanti. They help around the grounds, but 13 is the limit because otherwise they start to reduce the native rodent population. Everything at the site I found to be beautiful and artistically pleasing, from the concrete, circular architectural details to the domed asps and opened amphitheater, to the all of Cypress, olive, and pomegranate trees brought over by the Italian architect, and the expanse of high desert views surrounding the property 360°, not to mention the bronze bells hanging from trees and roofs everywhere. Arcosanti began in 1970, when theoretical architect, Paolo Soleri, decided to design and build a prototype micro-city intended to blend architecture and ecology. Since then, over 8,000 volunteers. have worked tirelessly to bring nature and people closer together. Currently, there is a community of people living and working at the site, ranging in age from babies to the mid-70s. Some community members have been here since 1980! If you arrive while the café is closed, there is a Loves gas station, some fast food spots and some local eateries near the I17 freeway entrance. The road from the freeway to the Arcosanti is a rough, curving dirt road currently.

    Cafe area
    Nami N.

    This is where my son brought me while I was staying in Arizona. I think I should have looked into Arcosanti before coming. But I came here without knowing anything, and the unique architecture of Arcosanti was impressive. We came in four, but there was no one else. We walked around the building from where we could enter and arrived at the gift shop. What caught my eye was Bell, all of which had good tones. I regret that I should have bought one. Handmade items are displayed and available for purchase. I also found a cafe, but there was no one there, so I just peeked inside. After that, there was a trail outside the building, and the four of us walked. The view of Arocosanti from there was indescribable. If I have a chance to come back again, I want to buy that handmade bell and relax at the cafe.

    Hours/Pricing
    Kara W.

    Was it neat? Yes. But we couldn't bring ourselves to pay $22 a person to get a guided tour. It didn't seam THAT neat. You can walk in a few places without paying, but not on the grounds. The driveway up there is very long and is a muddy/bumpy road. It was basically a micro hippy vibes "village".

    Gina L.

    Truly a cool and educational spot. I got tickets through the Gilbert Public Library culture pass (more at the end of this review if you are interested), but otherwise tickets are free-$22 depending on age/student/youth. You cannot tour the grounds yourself, although you can view the bell shop. It's located a mile off I-17 via a dirt road. Tours are Thursdays - Monday @ 9:30am, 11am, 2pm. I'd recommend making a reservation online so they know to expect you (especially if you are running late, oops!). It starts with a ~15 min video, followed by a ~1 hr long tour by an Arcosanti resident. Our guide, Ashleigh, was extremely friendly and informative, answering the multiple questions our group had. The tour was a mix of exemplifying the vision of the architect (Paolo Soleri) through touring varying on-site structures and multi-use spaces, learning about bell-making, as well as sustainable practices. There were residents going about their daily life around Arcosanti, so be mindful this is their home. The tour does include walking from x to y to z, with stairs throughout, so keep that in mind. We opted for a 9:30am tour during the summer to avoid the heat. Overall, very interesting, learned a lot, and it made me think about the efficiency of how our homes, workplaces, cities, etc. are laid out from micro to macro levels. More about the Culture Pass: one pass grants free admission for 2 (valid one week after check-out) for participating museums/attractions around Phoenix/Tucson/Sedona/Flagstaff through any local library card (Phoenix, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, etc.). Google "Maricopa County culture pass" for more info and a list of participating museums. I like to call the library ahead to make sure the pass is available, since there is a limited amount of culture pass admissions per week. And I will end my probably LONGEST review here. Check this place out!

    Stained glass sidelight
    David C.

    I am filled with awe and admiration for Paolo Soleri and Frank Lloyd Wright, two of the most forward- thinking, contemporary organic architects of this era. Both were known for their ideals of architecture inspired by and in harmony with nature and of building upwards to preserve space, and reduce the commercial-driven footprints of urban sprawl. I graduated from high school in Phoenix in 1970. In that year, Paolo Soleri began the physical construction of that which had been a vision, years in the making, now upon the dawn of reality: and he called it Arcosanti. I moved from Phoenix before there were any on site structures. But it has been one of my desires to visit and experience Paolo's dream up close and personal. Today was that day. Leaving the pavement, the last 2 miles in my architectural pilgrimage was a primitive dirt road with washboard ruts as deep as the Grand Canyon (not really but they were deep) and dusty. I slowed to a snail's pace which took nearly 10 minutes on this road, for fear that my car would shake apart or that I would lose 5 pounds. Now this, I thought, was about as organic as it gets. All cheekiness aside, it was totally worth the trek. As Mecca came into view, it was surreal like a scene from a sci-fi Babylonian gardens movie, replete with Italian cypress and olive trees. It was breathtaking. I had booked the 90 minute tour, which was led by a resident. Her name is Maria. She is the ultimate ambassador for Arcosanti. There is no question asked to which she did not know the answer to. The tour, from the introductory video to the amphitheater, metal forge where we were fortunate enough to witness the bronze castings of Arcosanti's signature bells (a main revenue product), ceramic studio, concert venue, resident cat "Whiskey, breathtaking canyon views, the vault ... it was too much to take in in one visit. If you dream of indulging in an architectural and sustainable living project that minimizes strains on nature, put this venue on your bucket list. Who knows, as others have before, you may visit and never leave again. But don't worry, it's not like the Hotel California. There are two suites available for stays on AirBnB if you would like to further experience this exceptional place. Arcosanti is a certified Dark Sky location where the Milky Way and infinitesimal luminous heavenly spheroids (stars) are visible year long. My trek to Mecca was a highlight I will never forget.

    Map
    Victoria E.

    This is a beautiful place to visit. Find an artist item, walk the trails, and hear the bells made on sight. A must stop in your travels. So peaceful and a wonderful project for humanity.

    Jacqueline H.

    Arcosanti is an 'Arcology' design by Italian American architect Paolo Soleri. These are urban communities that are integrated into their natural environments, and aim to reduce urban sprawl. Closely connected cities with no roads or necessity for cars are one of the guiding principles of this urban experiment which combines ecology with architecture. Arcosanti is also the Site for the bronze casting and the beautiful brass wind chimes that can be found all over Arizona. Artists can live and work here. There is a studio for clay works as well as the bronze casting apse. A cafe on site serves breakfast and lunch - and the best lemonade!

    Arches where they hold community meetings
    Lauren B.

    This place is cool. I would highly recommend not visiting in the summer (May to August at least). I learned a lot about arcology (architecture and ecology) and Soleri. They have around 80 people who live at Arcosanti at any given time. I can tell the residents aren't happy to see tourists. They only offer you to explore the place on a tour and not on your own/self-guided. There is a long (maybe half mile?) dirt road you have to take to get here, so account for that. There is also no air conditioning inside any of the buildings open to the public. It's gorgeous but go on a cool day!

    The views are amazing!!

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    Really enjoyed coming here. The bells are amazing. We didn't book a tour this time but will next time. Everyone is very nice and helpful

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    Ask the Community - Arcosanti

    How much is a wedding at the vaults?

    Hi Angela! Feel free to reach out to our wedding and events liaison at Jennifer@arcosani.org. She can provide any information you need. Thanks!

    Are dogs allowed?

    Hi Laura, Thanks so much for asking, we do have an on-leash policy, and you can't bring your… Read more

    View All 3 Questions

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    We booked the Antelope Canyon and Grand Canyon Horsebend tour from Sedona. We were ready for a…read morelong day since the drive to Page was about three hours. They picked us up from our hotel, made several stops including clean bathroom breaks and couple gift shops. Overall, the tour was amazing. Although we only spent 45 minutes at a horseshoe Bend, we were able to take some awesome pictures and walk around. But definitely the highlight was Antelope Canyon. You can only go on a tour here with the Navajo guide and our guide Ray was fantastic. We spent about 1.5 hours at lower Antelope Canyon. He really made the tour fun, informative, and he took the best pictures. The photos do not do it justice. The experience was just unreal. Each term that we took we were in awe. The downside was our tour guide Brandon. Although he was very friendly, he didn't seem that knowledgeable. Maybe he was having an off day but there were a couple times that he stopped mid sentence while telling a fact and even ended a fun fact with blah blah blah to finish up his sentence. At one point, he even started chewing on a candy or something while hooked up to the microphone. This was really annoying. We still had a very great day just a couple things that didn't make it a five star experience. Did you have a lot of options for tours and their office is located centrally in the uptown area.

    Arcosanti - tours - Updated May 2026

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