Santillana del Mar

Spain

Santillana del Mar is a picturesque town in Cantabria, Spain, renowned for its medieval architecture. The area around Santillana del Mar has been populated for thousands of years and there are traces of some of the earliest inhabitants at the Altamira Caves about two kilometres from the town. Unfortunately, the village has become a bit of a tourist trap, and is so swamped with new developments around the outskirts, that on arrival you might be forgiven for wondering what all the fuss is about.

However, the original kernel of the medieval village still survives in the centre, although the beauty of the winding streets and yellow sandstone buildings is rather marred by the abundance of shops selling tourist nick-nacks that have proliferated into almost every doorway. The highlight of the town is the Colegiata de Santa Juliana - a lovely medieval church with a walled cloister that can be found in the heart of the town. The entrance fee is €3.

For the more adventurous, there are some lovely walks in the small hills around the town that afford stunning views of the Picos de Europa and ??? mountain ranges, as well as the coast of the Bay of Biscay..

There is a very modern and helpful tourist office in the town that provides lots of useful information

The whole town, old and well-preserved, is worth visiting.

  • Museo Diocesiano de Regina Coeli, El Cruce, +34 942818004, +34 639830520. 10AM to 1:30PM, 4 to 6:30PM, in summer to 7:30PM, in winter closed on Mon. 2,50.
  • Museo Jesús Otero, Plaza de Francisco Abad, +34 942818806. winter: 9:30AM to 1:30PM, 4 to 7PM, summer: 10AM to 1PM, 4 to 7:30PM. museum of the Cantabrian scultpor Jesús Otero free.
  • Museo y Centro de Investigación de Altamira, +34 942818005. from Jul until Sep: Tu-Sa 9:30AM to 7:30PM, Sun 9:30AM to 5PM, rest of the year: Tu-Su 9:30AM to 7PM, duration of the visit: one hour. ´€ 2,50.
  • Museo de la Inquisición el Solar, Escultor Jesús Otero, +34 942840273. winter 10:30AM to 8PM, summer 10AM to 10PM. museum displaying torture tools and "instruments for public humiliation" € 3,50.
  • El Museo de la Tortura or Torture Museum contains an impressive collection of instruments of torture from around Europe, including those used in the Spanish Inquisition. The museum is interesting and rich in history, but be warned that it is not for the faint of heart!
  • La Cueva Mitológica, Calle El Cantón. summer 11:30AM to 2PM, winter: short visits in the morning only. € 4.

Museo Diocesiano de Regina Coeli, El Cruce, +34 942818004, +34 639830520. 10AM to 1:30PM, 4 to 6:30PM, in summer to 7:30PM, in winter closed on Mon. 2,50.

Museo Jesús Otero, Plaza de Francisco Abad, +34 942818806. winter: 9:30AM to 1:30PM, 4 to 7PM, summer: 10AM to 1PM, 4 to 7:30PM. museum of the Cantabrian scultpor Jesús Otero free.

Museo y Centro de Investigación de Altamira, +34 942818005. from Jul until Sep: Tu-Sa 9:30AM to 7:30PM, Sun 9:30AM to 5PM, rest of the year: Tu-Su 9:30AM to 7PM, duration of the visit: one hour. ´€ 2,50.

Museo de la Inquisición el Solar, Escultor Jesús Otero, +34 942840273. winter 10:30AM to 8PM, summer 10AM to 10PM. museum displaying torture tools and "instruments for public humiliation" € 3,50.

El Museo de la Tortura or Torture Museum contains an impressive collection of instruments of torture from around Europe, including those used in the Spanish Inquisition. The museum is interesting and rich in history, but be warned that it is not for the faint of heart!

La Cueva Mitológica, Calle El Cantón. summer 11:30AM to 2PM, winter: short visits in the morning only. € 4.

  • Collegiata de Santa Juliana. Tu-Sa 10AM to 1:30PM, 4 to 6:30PM. in summer to 7:30PM. abbey dating to the 12th cent, beautiful Romanesque church, in ancient times one of the most powerful monasteries of Spain, attracting many noble families who built their houses in Santillana del Mar € 3.
  • Claustro de la Colegiata, Plaza del Abad Francisco Navarro, +34 639830520. 9:30AM to 1PM and 4 to 6PM, in winter closed on Sundays. Romanesque cloisters dating to the 12th and 13th cent with scenes from the Bible and fighting scenes € 2,50.
  • Convento de las Clarisas, Rúa Jesús Tagle.
  • Convento de las Dominicas, Calle Antonio Niceas.

Collegiata de Santa Juliana. Tu-Sa 10AM to 1:30PM, 4 to 6:30PM. in summer to 7:30PM. abbey dating to the 12th cent, beautiful Romanesque church, in ancient times one of the most powerful monasteries of Spain, attracting many noble families who built their houses in Santillana del Mar € 3.

Claustro de la Colegiata, Plaza del Abad Francisco Navarro, +34 639830520. 9:30AM to 1PM and 4 to 6PM, in winter closed on Sundays. Romanesque cloisters dating to the 12th and 13th cent with scenes from the Bible and fighting scenes € 2,50.

Convento de las Clarisas, Rúa Jesús Tagle.

Convento de las Dominicas, Calle Antonio Niceas.

  • Casas del Águila y la Parra, Calle Juan Infante, +34 942818398. winter: 10AM to 1PM and 4 to 7PM, Sat, Su 10AM to 1PM, Mon closed. adm free.
  • Casa de los Sánchez Tagle, Calle de Velasco, +34 942818141. Passion Week and from Jul until Sep 10:30AM to 1:30PM and 4.30 to 8:30PM, Mon closed, rest of the year weekends only.
  • Palacio de Velarde, Plaza de las Arenas.
  • Casa de los Quevedo, Calle del Río.
  • Palacio de Peredo - Barrera, Santo Domingo, +34 942818171. from Tu-Su 11AM to 2PM and 4 to 8PM. € 2,50.
  • Casa de los Hombrones, Calle Cantón. decorated with Baroque coat of arms saying 'Un bon morir es onra de la vida' - A good dying honours life
  • Casa del Marqués de Santillana, Calle Cantón.
  • Casa de los Bustamante, Calle de la Carrera.
  • Casa de los Villa, Calle Santo Domingo.
  • Plaza Ramón Pelayo o del Mercado.
  • Casa de los Barreda - Bracho, Calle Santo Domingo.
  • Torre del Merino, Plaza Ramón Pelayo. free.
  • Torre de Don Borja, Plaza Ramón Pelayo. 10AM to 1:30PM, 4 to 8PM.
  • Casa de la Infanta Paz, Plaza Ramón Pelayo.
  • Casa de la Archiduquesa, Calle Río Cantón.

Casas del Águila y la Parra, Calle Juan Infante, +34 942818398. winter: 10AM to 1PM and 4 to 7PM, Sat, Su 10AM to 1PM, Mon closed. adm free.

Casa de los Sánchez Tagle, Calle de Velasco, +34 942818141. Passion Week and from Jul until Sep 10:30AM to 1:30PM and 4.30 to 8:30PM, Mon closed, rest of the year weekends only.

Palacio de Velarde, Plaza de las Arenas.

Casa de los Quevedo, Calle del Río.

Palacio de Peredo - Barrera, Santo Domingo, +34 942818171. from Tu-Su 11AM to 2PM and 4 to 8PM. € 2,50.

Casa de los Hombrones, Calle Cantón. decorated with Baroque coat of arms saying 'Un bon morir es onra de la vida' - A good dying honours life

Casa del Marqués de Santillana, Calle Cantón.

Casa de los Bustamante, Calle de la Carrera.

Casa de los Villa, Calle Santo Domingo.

Plaza Ramón Pelayo o del Mercado.

Casa de los Barreda - Bracho, Calle Santo Domingo.

Torre del Merino, Plaza Ramón Pelayo. free.

Torre de Don Borja, Plaza Ramón Pelayo. 10AM to 1:30PM, 4 to 8PM.

Casa de la Infanta Paz, Plaza Ramón Pelayo.

Casa de la Archiduquesa, Calle Río Cantón.

Bison in the Altamira cave

  • Altamira. A cave with prehistoric paintings, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
  • Santillana zoo.
  • Comillas.
  • San Vicente de la Barquera.
  • Oyambre National Park.
  • Queveda.
  • La Barca de Calderón, Carretera de Santillana del Mar a Viveda. house of the Calderón de la Barca family, 15th cent
  • Santa María de Viaceli, Cóbreces, on the road from Santillana del Mar to Comillas.
  • Complejo del Monte Castillo, Cuevas del Castillo. from May 1 until Sep 30 10AM to 2PM and 4PM to 8:30PM, maximum 380 persons per day in groups of 20, duration of the visit 45 min.
  • Cueva de Covalanas, Ramales de la Victoria, +34 942645504. from May 1 until Sep 30 10AM to 1PM and 4PM to 7PM. Mon and Tue closed, maximum 60 persons per day. rock paintings, more than 15000 years old
  • Cueva de Chufin, Riclones (Rionansa), +34 942727457. 10AM and 4PM.
  • Ecomuseo Saja-Nansa, Puente Pumar (Señorial Valle de las Poblaciones) (more than 1000 square km, up to altitudes of 2000 meters.
  • Suances, Ría de San Martín.
  • Torrelavega, N-611.

Altamira. A cave with prehistoric paintings, inscribed on the [[UNESCO World Heritage List]].

Santillana zoo.

Comillas.

San Vicente de la Barquera.

Oyambre National Park.

Queveda.

La Barca de Calderón, Carretera de Santillana del Mar a Viveda. house of the Calderón de la Barca family, 15th cent

Santa María de Viaceli, Cóbreces, on the road from Santillana del Mar to Comillas.

Complejo del Monte Castillo, Cuevas del Castillo. from May 1 until Sep 30 10AM to 2PM and 4PM to 8:30PM, maximum 380 persons per day in groups of 20, duration of the visit 45 min.

Cueva de Covalanas, Ramales de la Victoria, +34 942645504. from May 1 until Sep 30 10AM to 1PM and 4PM to 7PM. Mon and Tue closed, maximum 60 persons per day. rock paintings, more than 15000 years old

Cueva de Chufin, Riclones (Rionansa), +34 942727457. 10AM and 4PM.

Ecomuseo Saja-Nansa, Puente Pumar (Señorial Valle de las Poblaciones) (more than 1000 square km, up to altitudes of 2000 meters.

Suances, Ría de San Martín.

Torrelavega, N-611.

  • Zoo, Ctra. Puente de San Miguel, +34 942818125, +34 942840175. 9:30AM to sunset. € 8, children: € 4, guided tour: € 7.

Epiphany: Santillana, 5 January. Medieval Festival: June. Folia: Variable, San Vicente de la Barquera, 30 km. Procession for Santa Juliana: 28 June, Santillana del Mar. San Roque: 16 August.

There are beaches at

  • Ubiarco (5 km),
  • Cobreces (10 km),
  • Comillas (17 km),
  • Oyambre (20 km) and
  • Suances (10 km)

Zoo, Ctra. Puente de San Miguel, +34 942818125, +34 942840175. 9:30AM to sunset. € 8, children: € 4, guided tour: € 7.

Typical pastries include sobao pasiego and quesadas (a light sort of cheesecake)

  • Los Blasones, Plaza de la Gandara 8, +34 942818070. old fashioned restaurant, € 25.
  • Casa Cossio, Plaza Abad Francisco s/n, +34 942818355. € 22.
  • Café Concana, Calle los Hornos, +34 942840161.
  • La Joraca, Los Hornos, +34 942840137.
  • Altamira, Cantón, +34 942818025. € 12.
  • Taberna del Chus, Calle del Río, +34 942818122.
  • Los Nobles, Calle Carrera, +34 942818042.
  • El Catillo, Plaza Mayor, +34 942818377.
  • Casa Ángel, El Cantón, +34 942818227. € 24.
  • Parador Gil Blas, Plaza de Ramón Pelayo, +34 842818000. € 30.

Los Blasones, Plaza de la Gandara 8, +34 942818070. old fashioned restaurant, € 25.

Casa Cossio, Plaza Abad Francisco s/n, +34 942818355. € 22.

Café Concana, Calle los Hornos, +34 942840161.

La Joraca, Los Hornos, +34 942840137.

Altamira, Cantón, +34 942818025. € 12.

Taberna del Chus, Calle del Río, +34 942818122.

Los Nobles, Calle Carrera, +34 942818042.

El Catillo, Plaza Mayor, +34 942818377.

Casa Ángel, El Cantón, +34 942818227. € 24.

Parador Gil Blas, Plaza de Ramón Pelayo, +34 842818000. € 30.

A trip to northern Spain must include a sampling of sidra, or hard cider, which is typical of Cantabria as well as Asturias and Basque Country. It is traditional to pour the cider into the glass from a height of about three feet. Your bartender will know how if you are hesitant to try the feat yourself.

  • Tourist Information (Oficina de Turismo) Calle Jesus Otero 26, tel 942818812
  • Guardia Civil, Avda. Antonio Sandi, s/n, +34 42 818 010.
  • Centro de Salud Altamira (Health Center), Barrio La Teja, s/n, 39530 Puente San Miguel, +34 942838515, +34 942820684.
  • Hospital de Sierrallana (Hospital), Ganzo, s/n, 39300 Torrelavega, +34 942847400, +34 942847402, +34 942847403, +34 942847505 (urgencies).
  • Farmacia (Pharmacy), Jesús Otero, s/n, +34 942 818 369.

Tourist Information (Oficina de Turismo) Calle Jesus Otero 26, tel 942818812

Guardia Civil, Avda. Antonio Sandi, s/n, +34 42 818 010.

Centro de Salud Altamira (Health Center), Barrio La Teja, s/n, 39530 Puente San Miguel, +34 942838515, +34 942820684.

Hospital de Sierrallana (Hospital), Ganzo, s/n, 39300 Torrelavega, +34 942847400, +34 942847402, +34 942847403, +34 942847505 (urgencies).

Farmacia (Pharmacy), Jesús Otero, s/n, +34 942 818 369.

The bus to Santander departs from the steps in front of the town hall?.

  • La Cantabrica operates bus services from Santillana del Mar to Santander Bus Station (estación de Autobuses de Santander) from Sep 1 until Jun 30 M-F at 7:15AM, daily at 10:15AM and 3:45PM, M-F at 6PM, Sat and Sun at 7.30 pnm. Journey time: 40 minutes, price: € 2.25 single (December 2009).
  • Autobuses Garcia C/H.Alcalde del Rio, 2 Bajo, Torrelavega, tel 942891640 fax 942891104 operate bus services from Santillana del Mar to Torrelavega.

La Cantabrica operates bus services from Santillana del Mar to Santander Bus Station (estación de Autobuses de Santander) from Sep 1 until Jun 30 M-F at 7:15AM, daily at 10:15AM and 3:45PM, M-F at 6PM, Sat and Sun at 7.30 pnm. Journey time: 40 minutes, price: € 2.25 single (December 2009).

Autobuses Garcia C/H.Alcalde del Rio, 2 Bajo, Torrelavega, tel 942891640 fax 942891104 operate bus services from Santillana del Mar to Torrelavega.