Cantabria in Northern Spain is a land of Celtic legends and rural splendor, which is best savored slowly and carefully. You can marvel at the prehistoric cave paintings in Altamira, delight in the modern architecture of the Centro Botín in Santander, or witness the spirit of the Romanesque churches in Liébana. If you take a drive along its roads, you’ll also encounter the stunning Picos de Europa mountains. Be sure to make a restaurant stop to taste its delectable Cantabrian anchovies and sit with the spirited Cantabrian people. Read more about the rich Cantabria culture, and why you should get to know its hidden gems!
Cantabria: Culture, Caves, and Coastal Wonders
Visit Santander, Cantabria’s Capital
Santander is embraced by the Cantabrian Sea, history, and modernity. The center was ruined by a fire in 1941, so just a few old buildings stand today. Worth visiting, however, is its Gothic-style cathedral, which was rebuilt and reopened in 1953.
Much of Santander’s life centers around the Bay of Santander. One historic gem by the sea is the Palacio de La Magdalena, a stately English-style home given from Santander to the Spanish Royal Family in 1912. It’s in a privileged location, on the highest spot of the Magdalena Peninsula, overlooking the Cantabrian Sea. The royal family used this ornate residence until 1930.
Designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano, Centro Botín is a contemporary arts and cultural center. Its glass façade gives it a futuristic appearance, and part of the building is suspended and overhangs over the Cantabrian Sea. Head to the rooftop café to enjoy the view and a drink.
A visit to Santander’s suburb of El Sardinero to the north is worth a visit. It’s a beautiful resort with graceful cafes, gardens, and an elegant casino. Relax on the sands at El Sardinero Beach.
Altamira: A Journey into Prehistory
The Cuevas de Altamira (Altamira Caves), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, were discovered in 1869. This important find challenged prevailing notions about the intellectual and artistic capacities of early humans.
The earliest of the engravings are those of bison, which are about 14,000 to 20,000 years old. They’re notable for their vivid colors and remarkable level of detail, considering the tools available during that era. Horses, deer, and other animals are depicted with a sense of movement and realism, showing the ancient artists’ keen observations.
Preservation of the cave is of utmost importance, which means that admission is limited to just five people per week via lottery. Check the Altamira Cave website for the latest details.
The site does have a replica museum called the National Museum and Research Center of Altamira, where you can take an informative tour and get a glimpse into a fascinating part of our human history.
Santillana del Mar: Stepping into History
Graced with medieval charm, Santillana del Mar is considered one of the most beautiful towns in all of Spain for the distinctive golden hue of its stone houses.
Visit La Colegiata de Santa Juliana, a Romanesque church dating back to the 12th century that has intricate carvings and a graceful bell tower.
The heart of Santillana del Mar is the Plaza Mayor, a central square surrounded by old buildings like a mansion-turned-parador. The Museo Diocesano, the first diocesan museum in Spain, has a collection of painted carvings of religious figures from the 12th to the 20th centuries and is housed in the restored Convent de Regina Coeli.
Comillas: Artistic Splendor
Visit the charming town of Comillas, known for its unusual architecture by Catalan modernist architects.
The neogothic Sobrellano Palace by architect Joan Martorell is ornate. Its double marble staircase, stunning stained-glass windows, and wood-carved fireplaces adorn this grandiose building. The only way to visit it is through a guided tour in Spanish.
Nearby is El Capricho, a building by famous architect Antoni Gaudí. Now a restaurant, El Capricho was designed for a rich businessman in 1883 to 1889. In traditional Gaudí fashion, his whimsical mansion features vibrant green colors and a distinct blend of Moorish and Catalan influences with a minaret-like tower.
It’s a popular site, so be ready for the crowds, and book your tickets in advance.
Laredo: Coastal Tranquility and Festivities
One of Cantabria’s most popular beach resorts is Laredo, with its long, sandy beach. The beauty of this small town is the narrow lanes with balconied houses, along with the Iglesia de La Asuncion, a 13th-century church with a Flemish altar and large bronze lecterns.
The entertaining and colorful Battle of the Flowers is an annual event that features floats decked out in thousands of brightly colored fresh flowers. More about it below!
Cabárceno Natural Park: A Wildlife Oasis
Cabárceno National Park was once an iron mine and is now transformed into a massive, sprawling wildlife sanctuary. Home to over a hundred diverse species on five continents, it’s better than a traditional zoo – it simulates natural habitats for wild animals like elephants, tigers, and gorillas. It also has a breathtaking setting of rolling hills, rocky landscapes, and botanical gardens.
Visitors will love to experience its real wildlife encounters. One way is through the air via a six-kilometer-long cable car ride. It’s a tour that takes about an hour, and you’ll get a bird’s-eye view to observe the rhinoceros, elephants, ostriches, and more.
You can also drive yourself around the park in a private car, where you can get out and observe the animals more closely.
Potes: Gateway to Picos de Europa
Potes, an old town, is the principal center of the rugged eastern mountains of the Picos de Europa. Because of its fertile soil, it produces orujo, a type of pomace brandy crafted from the remnants of grapes after the wine-making process, which include grape skins, seeds, and stems.
The town is graced by the Torre del Infantado, a medieval tower built in the 15th century. The small village’s stone houses and bridges are the perfect environment for relaxation and historical exploration.
To the west is the monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana, said to be home to a fragment of the True Cross of Jesus, which is kept in a silver reliquary. The church displays Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque elements, and it includes a basilica, a cloister, and other structures, making it a destination for many pilgrims as well.
Cantabrian Festivals: Embracing Tradition
Immerse yourself in the Northern Spain spirit! Also known as Santander’s Big Week, the Semana Grande de Santander takes place in late July and is a celebration of the city’s patron saint, the Virgen del Mar. The festival includes concerts, exhibitions, sports events, fireworks, and the traditional Roma pilgrimage to the Virgen del Mar sanctuary.
The Battle of the Flowers in Laredo occurs in late August as floats adorned with intricately designed flower arrangements parade through the town’s streets and participants throw flowers into the crowd.
Held in Potes, the Fiesta del Orujo is a three-day festival celebrating the traditional orujo liquor. Taking place in November, it features tastings at booths, traditional music, dance performances, and craft workshops.
Cantabrian Cuisine: Gastronomic Delights
To warm the belly and soul, be sure to try the cocido Montañés, a traditional stew made with white beans, chorizo, morcilla (blood sausage), bacon, and collard greens. It’s mostly eaten in the winter and during lunchtime. Paired with some crusty bread, it’s the perfect one-course meal.
Delightful sponge cakes called sobaos pasiegos hail from the Pasiego valleys. Made with simple ingredients such as butter, sugar, eggs, and flour, they are baked until golden and aromatic. Sobaos are a special sweet treat, enjoyed with coffee or as an afternoon snack.
A perfect seafood tapa, rabas are battered and fried thick calamari rings that are a staple of the region’s cuisine. They’re tender on the inside and crispy on the outside, and are served piping hot, accompanied by a squeeze of lemon.
Cantabrian anchovies, known as anchoas de Santoña, are a local delicacy, unlike the typical canned variety found in many places. Carefully prepared using traditional methods, the process involves curing the fresh anchovies in salt and then filleting them by hand. This labor-intensive method preserves the delicate texture and distinct flavor of these delicious anchovies.
Picos de Europa: Majestic Mountain Adventures
The Picos de Europa span across the provinces of Asturias, Cantabria, Castile and León. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot the elusive Cantabrian brown bear and the strange-looking chamois, a sort of goat antelope.
It’s best to explore the mountains by car. It has an extensive network of caves to explore and picturesque roads that wind through the mountains, offering breathtaking vistas and photo opportunities.
You can start driving from Potes, as mentioned above, and pass through Fuente Dé, where you can take an exciting cable car ride, taking you from the valley floor to the heights of the Picos de Europa. At the top, be sure to have lunch at the restaurant to further enjoy the amazing views of the rugged peaks. End the trip in the neighboring town of Santillana del Mar.
FAQs
What is Cantabria known for?
Cantabria in Northern Spain is known for its natural landscapes that blend coastal beauty along the Cantabrian Sea with the rugged magnificence of the Picos de Europa mountain range. It’s famous for its prehistoric cave art at the Altamira Cave, which has drawings that are about 36,000 years old. It also has a rich cultural heritage, with historic places like Santillana del Mar, which has well-preserved medieval architecture and traditional stone houses, and the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana, a revered pilgrimage destination that holds a relic of the True Cross.
What is the traditional dance of Cantabria?
One traditional dance in Cantabria is the Jota Montañesa. It’s done in pairs, often during pilgrimages. It’s accompanied by bagpipes, whistles, rebecs, tambourines, drums, bass drums, and the traditional pitu montañés (clarinet). Cantabrians perform the dance in regional costumes and use castanets or tarrañuelas (a type of castanets).
What is the traditional food of Cantabria?
Cantabria’s traditional cuisine has coastal and mountainous influences. Seafood, particularly anchovies, is a highlight. Cantabrian anchovies, called anchoas de Santoña, are a delicacy. Hearty stews like cocido montañés, made with beans and pork, are popular. It also has a regional drink called orujo, a pomace brandy, which is made from fermented and distilled grape skins left over from winemaking.
Learn about the other regions of Spain! Through its quaint towns, oceanic and mountain gastronomy, and historic churches, Cantabria overflows with cultural wonders. But the true magic lies in experiencing it firsthand! Need help creating an itinerary to explore Cantabria and beyond? Schedule a chat with us, and we’d be glad to make some suggestions!
