Arcosanti

About

Arcosanti is a living design experiment founded in 1970 by the Cosanti Foundation. Its dramatic concrete vaults, apses, studios, residences, and gathering spaces explore “arcology,” the idea of bringing architecture and ecology together in a more compact way of living. A guided tour adds the context that makes the unusual site click, and the gallery sells the ceramic and bronze bells made there.

Why stop: There is nowhere else in Arizona quite like it: part architecture tour, part working community, and part big, unfinished idea in the desert.

Good to know: Reserve a tour if you are making a special trip, since specialty tours and group visits need advance coordination. The site is remote and includes outdoor walking, slopes, steps, and uneven surfaces, so bring water and practical shoes.

Hours: Gallery: Thursday–Sunday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM. Tours: Thursday–Sunday at 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM, and 2:00 PM.