SANTANDER

Magdalena Palace
Magdalena Palace

Santander is the capital of the Autonomous Communitoy of Cantabria. It first emerged as a port to which the most ancient document of the city refers. The greatest growth and transformation period of Santander was in the XVIIIth century when it received the name of city in 1755. In 1941 the city suffered a devastating fire that destroyed great part of Santander`s oldest area. But the later reconstruction has beautified it with wide streets and avenues surrounded by a powerful industrial area: siderurgy, electrical and chemical products factories, shipyards, etc.

It is a city that is well communicated with the neighbouring provinces and Madrid by train and road. Its port commerces with the Peninsula ports and the most important ports in Europe, Africa and America.

Places of interest

Santander is a city of great beauty with many places to visit and enjoy. In addition to the museums there are in the city some spots that stand out: Avenida de Calvo Sotelo (Avenue), the streets Juan Herrera, San Francisco, Ruasal, and San José, with modern buildings and luxury stores. The Plaza Fortificada (Fortified Square), scenery for famous cultural festivals, is also noteworthy. Among its buildings the most impressive are the Cathedral and the Palacio de la Magdalena (Palace), with a zoo and a park, which becomes during the summer the seat for the Universidad de Verano de Menéndez Pelayo (Summer University Menéndez Pelayo). Also during the summer the Music and Dance Festivals and the days under the sun at the Playa del Sardinero (Sardinero Beach) are indispensable.

Tours around

Torrelavega has gone through an important growth process and prosperity due to its industry whose antecedents are in a weaving factory and another of flour of the end of the XVIIIth century. Nowadays it assembles in the municipality or neighbouring ones various industries: working of the zinc, sodium salts, plastic polyvinyl products, synthetic fibres, pulp from paper, tyres, condensed milk, biscuits, cheese, fabrics, etc. In addition, it counts with important animal fairs, specially the cattle one (The National Cattle Market "Jesús Collado" is located in this town. It is the most important one in Spain and one of the main markets in Europe. Torrelavega is the seat for Cantabria`s Exhibition Centre where anually fairs, exhibitions, congresses and an active comerce takes place.) Torrelavega also has historic heritage and natural resources treasures that justify a visit: the churches of Nuesra Señora de la Asunción (Neogothic) and the Virgen Grande (contemporary and rationalistic); the Palace of Demetrio Herrero (seat of the current Town Hall); the Monument Ensemble in Viérnoles (palaces and houses): its green areas, like the park Manuel Barquín or the parks of la Viesca, el Pico Dobra, its Squares and Avenues; its gastronomy with the famous "polkas" (made with a delicious pastry); the festivities of the Virgen Grande on the 15th of August that finish with the Flower Gala (National Touristic Interest) and San Cipriano, local festivity celebrated on the 16th of September; etc..

San Vicente de la Barquera is one of the most beautiful towns in the Cantabrian coast and an important tourist and summer holiday centre. It has a wonderful beach and an important, very active, fishing port. It is fishing, in fact, one of the main income sources for this town. In addition, its economy is based on farming, cattle breeding and canned food and salted fish products factories. The Castle, built in the XIth century, the Gothic-Romanesque church of the XII-XIIIth centuries and the Palacio del Inquisidor (Palace of the Inquisitor), of a Renaissance style, should be visited.

Santoña is also an important fishing port and an important comercial centre in Cantabria. Juan de la Cosa, author of the first map of America, was born here. Thanks to the beach of Nueva Berria it is also a frequently visited summer town. In aditton to fishing, the main base of its economy comes from the farming of potatoes, corn and beans, cattle breeding and the fish canned products industry. One of its treasures is the Palace of the Marqués de Manzanedo.

Santillana del Mar is a national monument. This town, close to Torrelavega, has numerous majestic houses that are a must, as well as La Colegiata (Collegiate Church). Three km away from Santillana del Mar you find the "Altamira Caves", of great prehistoric values. The main base of the economy of this beautiful Cantabrian town is: the breeding of cattle, farming of corn, potatoes and beans.

Links:

Services Directory

Hotels:

HOTEL REAL *****
Paseo Pérez Galdós, 28
Santander
+34942272550
www.hotelreal-santander.com
125 rooms

HOTEL SANTEMAR ****
Joaquín Costa, 28
Santander
+34942272900
350 rooms

HOTEL CHIQUI ***
Avenida García Lago s/n
Santander
+34942282700
www.hotelchiqui.com
161 rooms

HOTEL NH CIUDAD DE SANTANDER ***
Menéndez Pelayo, 13-15
Santander
+34942227965
www.nh-hoteles.com
62 rooms

HOTEL MARÍA ISABEL EMIJESA ***
Avenida García Lago 7
Santander
+34942271850
63 rooms

Museums:

SANTANDER FINE ARTS MUSEUM
(MUSEO DE BELLAS ARTES DE SANTANDER)
Rubio 6 (Ayuntamiento)
Santander
Telephone: 942239485
www.eldiariomontanes.es/
patrimonio/museos/mus10.htm
Visiting Hours: 10-13h., 17-20h.
Summer: 10.30-13h., 17.30-20h.
Closed on public holidays.
Free Admission.

LIBRARY AND HOUSE-MUSEUM MENÉNDEZ PELAYO
(BIBLIOTECA Y CASA-MUSEO MENÉNDEZ PELAYO)
Rubio 6 (Ayuntamiento)
Santander
Telephone: 942234534
www.unican.es/bibmp/bmp.htm
Visiting Hours: Monday to Friday: 9-13.30h., 16.30-21 h.
Closed: July to September, Saturday afternoons and Sundays.

MARITIME MUSEUM OF THE BAY OF BISCAY
(MUSEO MARÍTIMO DEL CANTÁBRICO)
Casimiro Sáinz 4
Santander
942207109/ 9422207105
Visisting Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 9-13 h., 16-19 h.
Sundays and public holidays: 11-13 h.
Closed on Mondays.
Summer: Tuesday to Saturday: 10-13 h.
Sundays and public holidays: 11-14 h.
Free Admission.

PREHISTORY AND ARCHEOLOGY MUSEUM OF CANTABRIA
(MUSEO DE PREHISTORIA Y ARQUEOLOGÍA DE CANTABRIA)
San Martín de bajamar s/n
Santander
942274962/ 942275744
Visiting Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 10-13 h., 16-18 h.
Summer: Tuesday to Saturday: 11-13 h., 16-19 h.
Sundays and public holidays: 11-14 h.
Closed on Mondays, 1st of January, Good Friday, 1st of May, 25th of December.
Free Admission.

Restaurants:

EL MOLINO (a 13 km. De Santander)
Adress: El Molino. Puente Arce (Santander)
Telephone: 942575055
Price: 30/ 36 euros.

LA SARDINA
Adress: Doctor Fleming 3, Santander
Telephone: 942271035
Price: 24/ 30 euros.

EL PUERTO
Adress: Hernán Cortés 63, Santander.
Telephone: 942213001
Price: 24/ 42 euros.

CAÑADIO
Adress: Gómez Oreña, 15 (Plaza Cañadio)
Telephone: 942314149
Price: 24/ 39 euros.
Menu: 15 euros.

Transports:

Buses
Bus Station
Plaza de las Estaciones s/n
Suburbs, national and international destinations.

Main national destinations from Santander: Alicante, Barcelona, Benidorm, Bilbao, Burgos, Gijón, Irún, La Coruña, La Manga, León, Logroño, Lugo, Oviedo, Pamplona, Palencia, Pontevedra, Santiago de Compostela, San Sebastián, Salamanca, Salou, Tarragona, Teruel, Valencia, Valladolid, Vigo, Vitoria, Zaragoza.

Trains
FEVE/ RENFE
Plaza de las Estaciones s/n
Telephones: 942211687 (FEVE)
942280202 (RENFE)
Main destinations from Santander: Alicante, Albacete, Aranjuez, Ávila, Madrid, Palencia, Torrelavega, Valladolid, Bilbao, Oviedo.

Taxis
RADIO TAXI SANTANDER 942273075

Emergency:

Emergencies 112
Cruz Roja (Red Cross) 942273058
Marqués de Valdecilla Hospital 942202520
Centro Médico Santander (Hospital) 942360506