Cantabria travel guide
Beaches, mountain peaks, picturesque villages and one of the world's finest examples of Palaeolithic art are among the attractions in Cantabria, a region of Spain on the north coast.
There is plenty of variety in the autonomous region of Cantabria, where the sea and the snow-capped heights of the Picos de Europa, part of the Cordillera Cantábrica (Cantabrian Mountains), can both be accessed in a day. As well as fishing villages, ports and miles of undeveloped wilderness, the coast of Cantabria also offers several popular summer resorts, such as Castro Urdiales, Laredo and Comillas. Cantabria’s main city is Santander, a sea port with several fine museums including the Museo de Bellas Artes. West of here is Altamira, where some of the finest examples of Paleolithic cave art have been found. Then there are the Picos de Europa, which offer excellent climbing and hiking opportunities.
Places to visit in Cantabria
The elegant resort of Santander
Santander, the capital of the region, successfully combines the roles of major port and tasteful resort, and its beach suburb of El Sardinero, which is dotted with flower gardens and seafood bars, contributes to the city’s holiday atmosphere. Overlooking the sea from the rugged peninsula is the city's surprisingly Victorian-style Palacio de la Magdalena. Extraordinary for its Victorian Gothic-style architecture, this palace was built for Alfonso XIII as a summer escape. Building began in 1908 and finished in 1912 and thereafter the royal family spent the summer holiday in Santander for the following 17 years. The building is now mostly used for conferences, but it's worth a visit to admire the exterior. Santander's Museo Marítimo del Cantábrico, near the port, is worth a visit.
Santillana del Mar, a medieval village
Located some 26km (16 miles) west of Santander, this is a perfectly preserved medieval village of gold-coloured stone houses, cobbled streets, farmyards and patrician mansions. The French philosophical writer Jean-Paul Sartre described it as ‘the prettiest village in Spain’. At the north end of the village is the Colegiata (Collegiate Church), dedicated to St Juliana (Santillana is a contraction of her name) whose tomb is inside. Its Romanesque cloister is a gem. In the convent at the other end of the village, the Museo Diocesano specialises in carvings of saints and angels from nearby churches.
Picos de Europa for fine walking country
The impressive limestone peaks of the Picos de Europa (meaning 'Peaks of Europe'), a national park just 25km (16 miles) from the coast, form part of the wall of the Cantabrian Mountains (Cordillera Cantábrica). The N621 cuts through the dramatic Desfiladero de la Hermida gorge along the River Deva to Potes, the main gateway to the eastern Picos. Here you will find fine hiking country, fantastic scenery and good bird-watching. Don’t forget to taste some queso de cabrales – the pungent local blue cheese traditionally matured in caves.
Cave art at Altamira
Located around 1.5km (less than 1 mile) south of the village of Santillana del Mar is what has been dubbed the Sistine Chapel of cave art, the first, and arguably still the finest, example of Palaeolithic decorated caves. The bison, hinds, wild boar, horses and other animals were painted c.12,000 years BC using several colours of pigment. The actual caves are closed to the public for conservation purposes, so the only option to visitors is to see a replica, the Neo Cueva, at the Museo de Altamira. Read more about Cave art at Altamira...
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