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Cantabria
| The gateway to Cantabria is the capital city of Santander situated on the north coast of Spain between Asturias (to the west) and the Basque Country (to the east). Population is around 200,000 representing about a third of all Cantabrians. Santander is a busy fishing and ferry port, with a bustling town and commercial centre but also has a wonderfully picturesque Magdalena peninsular and the impressive El Sardinero beaches. Most holidaymakers are drawn to the latter two areas of the town. |
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The Magdalena peninsular is a particularly beautiful and fascinating area for strolling on a fine day. There is an impressive variety of shrubs and plants, particularly encircling the Palacio de la Magdalena. This stunning palace in white stone has a somewhat familiar English look about it, but it has actually been the home of former Spanish royalty. However, it`s now the HQ of the Universidad Internacional Menendez-Pelayo offering a variety of courses to international students. | |
| Take a drive down the Avenida Reina Victoria bordered with elegant properties towards one of the best beaches in northern spain - El Sardinero. This is the ideal spot for families with over 300m of blue flag category clean sand and fantastic facilities including easy parking, sun beds and umbrellas, life guards and showers. The event which made the beach famous years ago, the Banos de Ola, is still celebrated here every summer. |  |
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When it is time to eat, head for the Rhin restaurant which is near the casino and directly adjacent to the Primera Beach. It has an excellent menu of fish and meat with super wines and is well known for all round quality service. Enjoy a typical Spanish lunch in this large bustling restaurant with lovely views over the sea and coastline. | |
| In an evening, stroll to the lively Plaza de Italia where you can enjoy the views and atmosphere. Take a drink in one of the numerous bars before deciding on which restaurant to try. Not far away are the beautiful Jardines de Piquio a fantastic setting just to enjoy the evening or watch the locals playing palas a typical Santander outdoor game. |  |
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Leaving Santander westwards you soon arrive at two renown cultural treasures, Santillana del Mar and the Altamira Caves. Santillana is a very pretty, living museum of a medieval village centred around the imposing 12th century St Juliana church. Most of the remaining buildings were built between the 15th and 18th centuries, and there are some impressive examples of houses from that period. | |
| It`s even more fascinating that this village is still inhabited and there are modern shops, restaurants and cafes housed within medieval properties. It`s also a good place to wander around traditional shops and buy some authentic gifts. The villagers obviously take great pride in their heritage and adorn their homes with colourful flowers all year long. Cars are not allowed in the cobbled paved village, but there is a large car park down in the modern village just across the main road which bi-sects the old and the new. |
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Not far from Santillana are the incredible Altamira Caves dating back 14,000 years. The main cave is 300m. long and is full of stunning colour paintings of bison, deer, horses, wild boars. Techniques used include engraving, print and scraping typical of Palaeolithic art. |
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| The discovery of such ancient quality work has generated heated debate among archaeologists some of whom do not think that prehistoric man was capable of creating such beautiful work. In recent years, visitor numbers to the caves have been severely restricted to reduce the effect of body heat and breath on the fragile art. However, recently a copy of the caves has been built which gives a faithful and realistic representation of their main features |  |
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About 15km. further along the coast you reach the well regarded and pretty town of Comillas. As you approach you can see the imposing building of La Universidad Pontificia sitting proudly on top of the hill. The ornate architecture and grand style is a taster of what else there is to see here. | |
| It`s best to leave the car nearby at the generous parking area on the outskirts of the village and walk the rest of the way. There are one or two good restaurants before you even reach the centre, but don`t be too impatient to eat until you see what else is on offer later on. The architecture is incredible and you really get a feel for times gone by from some of the old town houses and premises as you make your way down towards the centre. |
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A little further down the hill you see the 17th century church of St Christopher next to the town hall on the edge of the main square the plaza del Corro de Campios. During summer this plaza is buzzing with life and there is a great choice of popular cafes and restaurants. Nearby and a little less hectic is the plaza de los Tres Canos with its pretty fountain and open air market. | |
| You must also ensure you see the cemetery and the grand Palacio de Sobrellano with its stunning chapel. The style is neo-gothic and you won`t be surprised to learn that the architect was a Catalan, Juan Martorell. Take note of the opening times and it`s closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. |  |
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Another Catalan, Gaudi was responsible for the other not-to-be-missed El Capricho.If you have seen Gaudi`s work in Barcelona you will recognise his unusual style in this former palace turned restaurant. | |
| When you are ready for some relaxation, Comillas has a nice beach just a short walk from the centre next to its interesting little port. |  |
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Castro Urdiales Castro is a popular bustling little resort less than an hour east of Santander. We visited some Spanish friends who had an apartment there in summer 1999 and had a most enjoyable day. Following a typically ample Spanish lunch in a back street restaurant, we strolled around the harbour, castle and church in the Cantabrian sunshine. It`s worth a diversion on any trip to Cantabria. |
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