Summer Routes: Towns to Visit in Santander

The towns to visit in Santander The ones we're going to tell you about combine wonderful beaches with a privileged natural setting and monuments that speak to their past. In fact, some of them are among the most beautiful in Spain.

Also, among the towns we are going to visit there are beautiful coastal villas where you can enjoy water activities. But also other interior ones which are located in the unique setting of the Picos de EuropaIn short, all the towns we're going to show you in Santander are worth a visit, as are many others in this wonderful province that we won't be able to mention.

Castro Urdiales

Located on the border with the the Basque Country, is the third town by number of inhabitants in the region, after Santander y TorrelavegaIts municipal area has about twenty kilometers of coastline that are home to magnificent beaches such as those of Oriñón, Brazomar, Ostende or Arenillas.

On the other hand, Castro has a beautiful historic center of medieval originOne of its most important constructions is the church of Santa María de la Asunción, built in the 13th century and one of the most important Gothic buildings in Cantabria. Declared National Monument 1931, houses paintings that are attributed, among others, to Zurbaran.

Behind the temple is the castle of Santa Ana, which was built in the same century and whose roof housed a lighthouse. Don't miss the wonderful views from its towers. Also in the area, you can visit the ruins of the St. Peter's Church, dating back to the 11th century.

Back in the town center, head to the Town Hall Square, built in the 17th century. It is covered by a gallery of arches named The Run and, in the end, you will see the House of the ShillingsThis is a neo-Gothic building from the early 20th century that has been classified as a Site of Cultural Interest. It's also one of the examples of modernist architecture you'll discover in Castro Urdiales.

It also includes other buildings such as the Royal Building, or the Isidra del Cerro's house, but, above all, what stands out among them is the Ocharán Palace and CastleIt was built in 1901 by the architect Eladio laredo and responds to an eclectic style. It also has beautiful gardens. On the other hand, the Sotileza chalet It presents a regionalist mountain style.

Laredo, one of the most visited towns to travel to in Santander

After visiting Castro Urdiales, we approached Laredo, which is one of the towns to travel to in Santander with more tourist successThis is largely due to beaches like those of Regatón, Aila or La Salvé, which is the largest in all of Cantabria. It also serves as the unofficial capital of the region of the Eastern Coast and has about ten thousand inhabitants.

Another of Laredo's great attractions is the Santoña, Victoria and Joyel Marshes Natural Park, which it shares with neighboring municipalities. It covers some six thousand hectares where migratory birds nest and offer beautiful views. hiking trails.

As for the monuments of the Cantabrian town, your visit should begin with the so-called Old Puebla, made up of several medieval streets. All of them are located next to the church of Santa María de la Asunción, in the Gothic style. However, they also have many large houses and mansions.

Sample of them are the house of Zarauz, built in the 18th century; that of The Pilgrims, in the Cantabrian style; that of the Villotas, built in the 16th century and which has a magnificent Herrerian cloister, or that of the Sickle family. For its part, the building of the Town Hall It is from the 17th century and is located near the Gates of Santa Maria and San Lorenzo, as well as the convent of San Francisco.

However, Laredo also has monuments from more recent times. An example of military architecture is the Rastrillar fort, in La Atalaya. Precisely, this is crossed by a tunnel built in 1863. But more important are the Indian constructions. Its best example is the House of the Four Seasons, built at the beginning of the 20th century, although the Carasa Palace (the aforementioned City Council); the Doctor Velasco schools and the Food Market.

Santillana del Mar

Popularly known as «The village of three lies» Because "it is neither flat, nor holy, nor does it have a sea," it is another of the must-see towns in Santander. Not for nothing is it classified as Historic Artistic Set since 1889 and belongs to the network of the most beautiful towns in Spain.

Simply walking through its narrow cobbled streets is a return to the Middle AgesThis is also due to towers like Merino, built in the 13th century, or of Don Borja, from the 15th and current City Council. But also to convents such as Regina Coeli and San Ildefonso.

However, the great symbol of Santillana is the imposing collegiate church of Santa JulianaIt is a Romanesque construction from the 12th century that holds the category of National MonumentConsidered one of the most important religious buildings in Cantabria, its church has three naves, three semicircular apses, a cylindrical tower, a dome, and a beautiful cloister.

You'll also see many Renaissance and Baroque palaces in Santillana. Among them, those of Valdivieso, las Arenas or Barreda-Bracho, as well as stately homes such as those of the Quevedo and Cossío families, the Hombrones, the Archduchess or the Polanco familiesThe prehistoric complex of the Altamira caveAs you may know, this one cannot be visited in order to preserve its archaeological treasure. But you can see a replica, as well as the museum of rock art. Finally, you must visit the Santillana Zoo, equipped with a beautiful botanical garden.

Comillas, a gem among the towns to travel to in Santander

If Santillana del Mar is beautiful, we can say the same about Quotation marks, one of Cantabria's jewels. It combines medieval and Renaissance monuments with a rich modernist heritage and even Indian-style buildings.

As for the first ones, it is about mountain-style mansions that are grouped in the neighborhoods of Fields y The sorrow. Even more important is the tower of La Vega, dating from the 14th century and of Gothic design. And, above all, the Church of San Cristobal, built between the 17th and 18th centuries following the canons of Baroque architecture. Inside, you should notice the image of the Holy Christ of Amparo and on the organ.

In turn, the modernist heritage Comillas is impressive. This is largely due to the taste for that style of Antonio López y López, first Marquis of Comillas. The palace was built for him Sobrellano palace, with its pantheon chapel. Both are works by the Catalan architect Joan Martorell and respond to neo-Gothic features. Inside, the first one houses furniture designed by Antonio Gaudi, who, however, left his mark on the town thanks to the so-called Caprice, a construction inspired by the Islamic art of the Iberian Peninsula.

For his part, the also modernist Lluis Domènech i Montaner intervened in the cemetery (the statue of the Exterminating Angel is impressive due to Josep Llimona) and in Park Güell and Martosas well as in the fountain of the Three Spouts. But, above all, in the design of the Pontifical University, one of the most spectacular buildings in Comillas.

At the beginning of the 20th century also belongs the house of the Duke of Almodóvar del Río, a building in the English historicist style. And in the Ocejo house the king stayed Alfonso XII during their summer stays in the town. Not surprisingly, Comillas also has beautiful beaches. Among them, you can enjoy the urban one and the one integrated into the Oyambre Natural Park, next to the Rabia estuary.

San Vicente de la Barquera

On our tour of the towns to travel in Santander we now arrive at the town of San Vicente de la Barquera, whose municipal area also includes much of the aforementioned territory Oyambre Park. In fact, its nature is one of its main attractions. The estuary that forms the mouth of the Gandarilla and Escudo rivers is impressive, as are beaches such as those of Tostadero, Maza and Merón They are magnificent.

On the other hand, the call Old Puebla The old town of San Vicente is A Historic since 1987. It houses monuments such as the provost tower. However, there are two main attractions of the town. These are the Church of Santa Maria de los Angeles and the King's castle.

The first, declared A Cultural Built in 1931 between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, it is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Cantabria. Inside, however, the most notable features are the Baroque main altarpiece and, above all, the Renaissance chapel of the Corro family.

In turn, the King's castle It is located next to the temple and is also A CulturalAlso dating from the 13th century, it enclosed the town with its walls. Built with masonry and ashlar, it has two towers, one square and the other pentagonal, connected by the central body.

In conclusion, we have shown you some of the towns to visit in SantanderBut we could recommend many others, such as, for example, Barcena Mayor, with its traditional mountain architecture; Mogroviejo, at the foot of the Ándara massif and with the church of Our Lady of the Assumption; Jars, in the Picos de Europa and with its Infantado tower, or Riocorvo, whose town center is a Historic Site. Come discover these beautiful towns in Cantabria.