Places to see in ( Cantabria - Spain ) Santillana del Mar
Places to see in ( Cantabria - Spain ) Santillana del Mar
Santillana del Mar is a historic town situated in Cantabria, Spain. Its many historic buildings attract thousands of holidaymakers every year. There is an old saying that Santillana del Mar is The Town of Three Lies, since it is neither a Saint (Santo), nor flat (llana), nor is it by the sea (Mar) as implied by its name. However, the name actually derives from Santa Juliana (or Santa Illana) whose remains are kept in the Colegiata, a Romanesque church and former Benedictine monastery. The UNESCO World Heritage site Cave of Altamira is nearby.
Situated on the northern route of the Pilgrim's Road to Santiago de Compostela, Santillana del Mar is a beautiful medieval town which was developed around the collegiate church of Santa María. Its various defence towers and Renaissance palaces make Santillana one of the most important historical areas of Cantabria.
However, this Cantabrian town houses its greatest treasure on the outskirts: the Altamira caves, known as the “Sistine Chapel of the Paleolithic Age” and declared World Heritage. Local gastronomy and the incredible natural areas of the outskirts are other attractions offered by this town which has been declared a National Monument.
The Pilgrim's Route to Santiago de Compostela on its northern route, traditionally passes through one of the best preserved medieval spots in Cantabria: Santillana del Mar. To reach this town, pilgrims heading for Santiago de Compostela had to cross the estuaries of El Pas and San Martín de la Arena. The origin of the town goes back to the VIII century, when a medieval village began to be developed, which had as its centre the collegiate church of Santa Juliana, the building which would later give its name to the present day Santillana del Mar.
The centre of this village, declared a National Monument, continues to contain the collegiate church, considered one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture in Cantabria. Built on the site of a former hermitage in the XII century, you can admire its cloister with magnificent decorated capitals, as well as its interesting façade decorated with sculptures and Panthocrator (a representation of Christ framed in an almond shaped structure).
Through the calle de Santo Domingo, the main street in Santillana, you reach an historic quarter which has managed to survive the passage of time in an excellent state of conservation. Its picturesque cobbled streets are lined with stately buildings most of which were built between the XIV and XVII centuries.
From medieval times there are the Merino (XIV c.) or Don Borja ( XV c.) towers, considered the oldest buildings in the town. You can also admire the Renaissance palaces, such as the Velarde palace, and baroque mansions, among which the Valdivieso, Villa or that of the archduchess of Austria are worth seeing. However, in spite of the diversity of architectural styles existing in the town, Santillana presents a homogenous and harmonious appearance.
( Cantabria - Spain ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Cantabria . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Cantabria - Spain
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CANTABRIA SOLARES
Si por algo es famoso el municipio de Medio Cudeyo es por la tradición termal que le precede con el Balneario de Solares que data del siglo XVIII. Predominan en Solares-Valdecilla las casas solariegas y de indianos como es la finca del Marqués de Valdecilla del siglo XIX, amplio espacio natural de 15 hectáreas cuyo jardín posee robles y magnolios centenarios y seis edificios de gran singularidad. Actualmente el conjunto sirve de escenario para actividades formativas, culturales y congresuales.