Santander is a wonderful seaside city. Here we will find wonderful monuments and a place of religious worship, i.e. the cathedral. Beaches, lighthouses and modern buildings. All this combination can mean a great holiday adventure.
Santander is a city in northern Spain, on the Bay of Biscay, on the Costa Verde. The city is the capital of the Cantabrian area.
Centro Botín, Santander
Centro Botín Museum is a museum of contemporary art. The museum was designed by world-famous architect Renzo Piano and offers stunning views of the Bay of Biscay.
This ambitious waterfront arts and cultural centre opened to 2017. It encompasses 2500 sq metres of gallery space for exhibitions of international contemporary art, along with open-air stairways, a rooftop viewing platform and a bright cafe that’s an excellent place to stop for a drink or snack.
Palacio de la Magdalena, Santander
The Royal Palace of La Magdalena is located on the La Magdalena peninsula, in Santander. The palace was built at the beginning of the 20th century as the summer residence of the royal family. In 1914, royal stables were built nearby in the style of a medieval English countryside.
The area of the palace complex is 28 hectares and, apart from the palace, there is also a wonderful park with a small zoo and the open-air museum “Man and the Sea”, a cafe and a huge playground. The palace is often used for weddings and conferences.
Museo Marítimo del Cantábrico, Santander
In the Maritime Museum Calabrian, visitors have the opportunity to delve into the depths of marine biology, fishing ethnography, history and technology of the Cantabrian Sea. The museum is equipped with large and modern aquariums with an area of over 3,000 square meters, which clearly demonstrate the relationship between man and the sea over the centuries.
Nuestra Señora de la Asunción Cathedral, Santander
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Santander consists of two superimposed floors and a cloister with attached spaces, all with Gothic main groups. The building, erected in the 8th century, was initially just a small church. A few centuries later, it was decided to increase its rank. The cathedral gained its final form in the 14th century, becoming an extensive monastery and cathedral complex, full of unique cloisters and beautiful gardens.
Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology of Cantabria, Santander
Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology of Cantabria, Santander
The Museum of Prehistory and Archeology in Cantabria is a museum specializing in prehistoric archaeology, also having collections from the ancient and medieval periods.
Gran Casino del Sardinero, Santander
There is also a historic casino, Gran Casino del Sardinero, built in 1916. It is considered one of the most beautiful casinos in northern Europe.
Mirador del faro de cabo Mayor
If there is a sea, there must be a lighthouse. The Faro Cabo Mayor lighthouse, quite separated from the center, is situated on a steep cliff and is 30 meters high and took its final shape in 1839.
Playa Primera de El Sardinero
The most popular beach in Santander is Playa Primera de El Sardinero. It is actually divided into two beaches: Primera and Segunda. Above the beach there is a picturesque promenade and a district with elegant hotels and restaurants.
Playa de Mataleñas
It is also worth paying attention to the beaches in Playa de Mataleñas. It is beautifully situated and hidden between the cliffs, on the way to the Faro Cabo Mayor lighthouse and the Mataleñas golf course overlooking the coast.
