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    Santillana del Mar
    Village

    Spain

    Santillana del Mar

    Santillana del Mar is a medieval town with cobblestone streets, heraldic houses, and the Romanesque Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana.

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    Santillana del Mar is a medieval town with cobblestone streets, heraldic houses, and the Romanesque Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana. About two kilometers away is the Altamira Cave, whose Stone Age paintings can be seen in the museum with a faithful replica.
    Santillana del Mar is a small town with around 4,000 inhabitants in the municipality, located about 30 kilometers west of Santander and approximately four kilometers from the coast. The car-free town center features a few cobbled streets with stone noble houses, wooden balconies, and coats of arms above the entrances. At the end of the main street stands the Romanesque Collegiate Church. A popular saying claims Santillana is the town of three lies: neither holy (santa), nor flat (llana), nor by the sea (mar). During the day, many bus groups visit; however, it is quiet in the evenings and early mornings.

    Sights in Santillana del Mar

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Colegiata de Santa Juliana
    Church

    Colegiata de Santa Juliana

    The Romanesque collegiate church from the 12th century stands at the end of the main street and preserves the relics of Saint Juliana. Worth seeing are the facade and the cloister with its figurally decorated capitals.
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    Museum

    Museo de Altamira

    The National Museum next to the Altamira Cave features in the Neocueva a faithful replica of the cave with its famous Bison Ceiling from the Paleolithic period. The exhibition explains the life of humans from approximately 15,000 to 35,000 years ago. The original cave is almost completely closed to protect the paintings.
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    Historic Landmark

    Torre del Merino

    Medieval dwelling tower on the Plaza Mayor, one of the town's oldest secular buildings. It served the Merino, the king's representative, as his seat and is now used for exhibitions.
    Open in Google Maps

    Sights in Santillana del Mar

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Colegiata de Santa Juliana
    Church

    1Colegiata de Santa Juliana

    The Romanesque collegiate church from the 12th century stands at the end of the main street and preserves the relics of Saint Juliana. Worth seeing are the facade and the cloister with its figurally decorated capitals.
    Open in Google Maps
    Museum

    2Museo de Altamira

    The National Museum next to the Altamira Cave features in the Neocueva a faithful replica of the cave with its famous Bison Ceiling from the Paleolithic period. The exhibition explains the life of humans from approximately 15,000 to 35,000 years ago. The original cave is almost completely closed to protect the paintings.
    Open in Google Maps
    Historic Landmark

    3Torre del Merino

    Medieval dwelling tower on the Plaza Mayor, one of the town's oldest secular buildings. It served the Merino, the king's representative, as his seat and is now used for exhibitions.
    Open in Google Maps

    Restaurants in Santillana del Mar

    Food & Beverages

    Milk and biscuit

    In the alleys, farmhouses offer a glass of fresh milk with a piece of sponge cake, a local tradition.

    Sobaos and Quesada

    Butter cake and cheesecake from Cantabria, which are sold in many shops in the town.

    Spirit

    Romanesque and Stone AgeThe town developed around a monastery where the relics of Saint Juliana were kept. The current Colegiata de Santa Juliana dates from the 12th century and features a cloister with finely carved capitals. From the 15th century, noble families built their towers and palaces, including the Torre del Merino and the Torre de Don Borja.Just under two kilometres outside the town lies the Altamira Cave with paintings of bison, deer, and horses from the Paleolithic era. It was discovered in 1868 and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The museum displays a faithful replica, the Neocueva.

    Exploring on-site

    ALSA buses connect Santillana to Santander and Comillas several times daily. The town centre is car-free; parking is on the outskirts. You can reach the Altamira Museum on foot in about 20 minutes or by car.

    Accommodations in Santillana del Mar

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    Campgrounds in Santillana del Mar

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    Nearby

    Comillas

    Comillas

    The coastal town of Comillas became a hub for Catalan architects in the 19th century, thanks to the Marqués de Comillas. It is home to Gaudí's El Capricho, the Palacio de Sobrellano, and the former Pontifical University, plus a long sandy beach.
    Cantabria

    Cantabria

    Cantabria lies between Asturias and the Basque Country on the Bay of Biscay. The capital Santander with its bay, medieval Santillana del Mar, and the Modernisme buildings of Comillas are located close to each other. Inland rise the Picos de Europa, and in caves like Altamira are found some of the most significant Paleolithic cave paintings.
    Santander

    Santander

    Santander, the capital of Cantabria, is located on a wide bay of the Bay of Biscay. Largely rebuilt after the city fire of 1941, today the cityscape is shaped by the La Magdalena peninsula with its palace, the beaches of Sardinero, and the Centro Botín at the harbour.
    Llanes

    Llanes

    Llanes, a charming coastal town in Asturias, combines maritime history with impressive nature. Here you'll find a well-preserved old town with medieval walls and the historic Torreón. The lively harbour is the heart of the town, where fishing boats and Agustín Ibarrola's colourful art installation Cubos de la Memoria define the scene. Along the coast, you'll discover unique beaches like Playa de Toró with its striking rock formations or the bizarre Playa de Gulpiyuri, a small saltwater inland lake. The Paseo de San Pedro offers spectacular views of the Cantabrian Sea and the Picos de Europa in the background. It's best to visit Llanes in late spring or early autumn to enjoy mild temperatures and fewer visitors. A stroll through the old town's alleys reveals traditional Asturian architecture and cozy Sidrerías.
    Picos de Europa Nationalpark (Cangas de Onís)

    Picos de Europa Nationalpark (Cangas de Onís)

    Als Tor zum Picos de Europa Nationalpark bietet die Region um Cangas de Onís atemberaubende Berglandschaften, die heilige Stätte Covadonga und unzählige Möglichkeiten für Outdoor-Aktivitäten.