Santillana del Mar is a medieval village in Northern Spain’s Cantabria area, simply 25 minutes from Santander. It’s identified for being some of the lovely villages in Spain, and it is a really perfect day-trip vacation spot.
My mother-in-law is from Santander. She can be a former tour information. So throughout our two-week journey to Santander and Galicia, she made some extent to take us to Santillana del Mar.
Santillana del Mar is situated on the Northern Route of the Camino de Santiago, a preferred pilgrimage route that ends in Santiago de Compostela. (Word: Santillana del Mar and Santiago de Compostela are practically 5 hours aside by automobile; it is a multi-day journey on foot).
What to Learn about Santillana del Mar
A very powerful factor to know is that the streets are cobblestone, so plan your footwear accordingly. Skip the heels and go for sneakers.
The historic part of the city is closed to site visitors. Paid parking is on the market a brief stroll away.
The way to Get to Santillana del Mar
When you’ve got a automobile, it is only a 25-minute drive from Santander. It takes slightly below 90 minutes to drive from Bilbao. When you do not need to drive, a bus is on the market from Santander.
Santillana del Mar Historical past
Santillana del Mar’s historical past dates again to the eighth century when the village shaped round a monastery. By the twelfth century, the monastery had grown into the Santillana del Mar Collegiate Church.
The village’s location on the Camino (the pilgrimage path to Santiago de Compostela) made it an financial heart and necessary non secular web site.
Throughout the Renaissance, noble households, together with the Velarde household, arrived within the village and constructed palaces. Santillana del Mar skilled vital development throughout this era, and many of the buildings surrounding the church had been constructed between the 14th and 18th centuries.
The village’s structure from the Center Ages and Renaissance stays in nice situation. Many buildings have conventional Cantabrian balconies stuffed with flowers.
The city heart has been declared a nationwide monument.
What does Santillana del Mar imply?
One could assume that title comes from the phrases for Saint (Santo), Flat (LLana), and Sea (Mar). It is stated that it’s the “City of Three Lies” because it is not a saint, flat, or on the ocean. In actuality, the city title got here from Saint Juliana, whose stays are within the church, and the truth that it’s close to the ocean.
The Prettiest Village in Spain
Jean-Paul Sartre referred to as Santillana del Mar “le plus joli village d’Espagne” (the prettiest village in Spain) in his first novel, La Nausée (Nausea), which was printed in 1938.
Issues to Do in Santillana del Mar
The small village has a few can’t-miss websites. I feel that among the finest issues to do in Santillana del Mar is to simply wander across the lovely and well-kept city heart.
Santillana del Mar Collegiate Church
This huge church is house to the relics of Santa Juliana and serves because the centerpiece of Santillana del Mar. That includes Romanesque-style structure, it was constructed within the eleventh and twelfth centuries.
The embossed silver altar was added within the seventeenth century.
The Velarde Palace Museum
This small Renaissance-era palace was a residence till 2011 and has just lately been opened as a museum. It is situated simply throughout from the church.
The tour is great, that includes holograms of the ghosts of the palace’s former residents speaking in regards to the area and the palace’s historical past. The palace was house to a famed writer, a duchess, a Cardinal, and even a hideout for a Nazi spy.Â
Take a second to benefit from the view of the church and the village from the second ground of the Velarde Palace.
Word that the museum has a set schedule of tour occasions. We needed to wait quarter-hour for the subsequent tour to start – it’s properly well worth the wait.
Eating places
Santillana del Mar is stuffed with eating places that cater to vacationers and supply a menu of the day. My mother-in-law selected Jardin Del Marques, which has a fantastic terrace.
Purchasing
There are many boutiques and retailers for vacationers within the village. Most of them are darling! Some promote native meals merchandise, together with meats and cheeses. Others promote clothes and jewellery. It is price taking the time to browse them.
Playground
There’s a playground very close to the parking space. We let our daughter run round and play for some time earlier than driving again to Santander.
Pony Rides
My daughter frolicked along with her grandparents at a espresso store whereas I went into the church. This meant that she did not see the horse rides that happen simply beside the church’s entrance. I wished to make point out of this in order that different dad and mom could be conscious that if they bring about their youngsters into the church, they may find yourself with youngsters begging to go on a pony trip.
Museum of Torture – Inquisicion
We skipped this since our younger daughter was with us, however this museum shows devices of torture from the Center Ages via the Industrial Age.
Altamira Caves / Museo de Altamira
These well-known caves have some well-preserved prehistoric artwork relationship again to the tip of the Ice Age. The caves themselves have been closed however a museum with a duplicate of the cave has opened.
Annual Occasions
Three Kings Parade and Celebration
This non secular celebration takes place on January fifth and includes carol singing, a Nativity Scene contest, a non secular play, and a parade. Three Kings Parades happen all through Spain, however the celebration on this village is especially well-known.
The place to Keep in Santillana del Mar
Santillana del Mar could be very small, making it a day-trip vacation spot. My mother-in-law has stayed within the village when she visits for the Three Kings Parade.
Parador de Santillana del Mar
This four-star resort is beside the city sq. making it the perfect place to remain in case you are visiting for the Three Kings Celebration.
Casa del Marqués
A five-star resort housed in a Fifteenth-century mansion and former residence of the primary Marquis of Santillana.
Learn Extra About Northern Spain:
Casa Beatnik
Issues to Do in Santander
