Santillana del Mar

Member of Los Pueblos más Bonitos de España

Luis Fermín TURIEL PEREDOSantillana del Mar nucleo CC BY-SA 4.0
fredpanassacRues de Santillana del Mar (Cantabria)CC BY-SA 2.0
DaganeSantillanaM1 CC BY-SA 3.0
DaganeSantillanaM2 CC BY-SA 3.0
José Luis Filpo CabanaCalle del Río. Abrevadero CC BY 3.0
FroblesCiudadmonumentalsantillana CC BY-SA 4.0
DaganeCostaSantillana CC BY-SA 4.0
Luis Fermín TURIEL PEREDOPalacio de Velarde, Santillana del Mar pan CC BY-SA 4.0
G.WansorraSantilla del Mar CC BY-SA 3.0
ZaratemanSantillana del Mar - Colegiata de Santa Juliana, exterior 02 CC BY-SA 3.0 es
ZaratemanSantillana del Mar - Plaza de Ramón y Pelayo 1 CC0
ZaratemanSantillana del Mar 23 CC0
DaganeSantmarb CC BY 3.0

Locals call it the town of three lies: not holy, not flat and not by the sea. The name actually comes from Santa Juliana, whose medieval abbey gave rise to the town and whose Romanesque collegiate church anchors cobbled lanes of honey-coloured stone towers and mansions. The Altamira cave, with its famous prehistoric art, lies two kilometres to the west.

Highlights

The Colegiata de Santa Juliana and its Romanesque cloister
The Altamira cave and its museum, two kilometres away
Plaza Mayor, with the 14th-century Torre del Merino and Torre de Don Borja
Handmade sweets sold by the nuns of the Regina Coeli convent
The Museo Diocesano Regina Coeli, a museum of religious art

Text adapted from Wikipedia (Santillana del Mar (ES), Santillana del Mar (EN)), Wikivoyage (Santillana del Mar (ES), Santillana del Mar (EN)). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Population: 4,189

Things to see

Cueva de Covalanas (ES)
National Museum and Research Center of Altamira
Santillana Zoo (ES)
Museo de la Tortura, Santillana del Mar (ES)
Palace of Peredo, Mijares (ES)
Palacio de Peredo (ES)

Events through the year

Auto Sacramental y Cabalgata de Reyes Seasonal · Night of 5 JanuaryParade of the Three Kings with costumed scenes and a nativity contest
Las Marzas Seasonal · 1 MarchTraditional Cantabrian songs welcoming spring
Festival Internacional de Títeres Music and arts · Late May
Festival Capa y Espada Historical · JuneArtistic fencing displays around the town and an international course
Fiestas de Santa Juliana Religious · Around 28 JuneProcession, mass and dance for the patron on 28 June
Santillana al Aire Music and arts · July or AugustOpen-air concerts, theatre and film screenings
Fiestas de San Roque Religious · 15 and 16 AugustFolk music, street parades and a romería
Festival de Música Infrecuente Music and arts · SeptemberConcerts of world music and early music

Dates follow the traditional patterns in our sources: check locally before you travel.

Adapted from Wikipedia (Santillana del Mar (ES), Santillana del Mar (IT)). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Local food & wine

TamorlanSobaos-Pasteleria-2009 CC BY 3.0
Sobao pasiegoSweet
ValdaviaReinosa 009 Quesadas CC BY-SA 3.0
QuesadasSweetLight cheesecake
Tableta con lecheSweetSimple sponge cake of eggs, flour, sugar and lemon peel

Adapted from Wikipedia (Santillana del Mar). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to sleep

44 places to stay within 3 km

Hotels 28
B&Bs and guest houses 7
Campsites 5
Hostels 4

Thermal baths nearby

Hot spring: Pileta de captación del manantial · ~50 min by car

Nearby member villages

Comillas · 15 km
Carmona · 26 km
Bárcena Mayor · 29 km
Liérganes · 30 km
Potes · 50 km