Santander

Written: April 4th, 2008  Print This Page  Email This Page

Santander is a port city and capital of the autonomous community of Cantabria in the northern coast of Spain. It faces the Bay of Biscay and is a popular destination by visitors coming in from all over Cantabria and from the neighboring Asturias and Basque Country. Foreign visitors also come to Santander to see its wonderful sights and unique heritage.

Sights & Activities

One of the city’s historic buildings is the El Sardinero, the summer retreat of Alfonso XIII. This palace is set within a beautiful park that visitors can wander in. Both the park and the palace is now part of the Santander International University.
Along the Avenida de Alfonso XIII is the Cathedral, a Gothic structure that was built in 13th century and is a prominent landmark of the old town. The cathedral contains a large crypt called the Iglesia del Cristo that is the final resting place of the saints Celedonius and Emeterius. At the cloister, visitors will come upon the tomb of Marcelino Menéndez y Pelayo, a writer and scholar that was born in the city and who died in 1912.
Pelayo actively collected volumes of books in his lifetime and his collections are showcased at the Menéndez y Pelayo Library, located along Rubio. The building where the library is located also houses the Municipal Museum of Art. Across it is a museum dedicated to the life and works of the famous writer, housed in the building where Pelayo lived and died.
At the eastern end of the Paseo de Pereda is the Museu Maritimo del Cantábrico, which focuses on the dependence of the city on the ocean. Among the subjects detailed by the museum are the city’s fishing industry, its shipbuilding industry, the marine biology of the area, marine cartography, and the different navigation systems. The building also houses an aquarium that features several interesting marine creatures.
Situated on Casimiro Sainz is the Museu Regional de Prehistoria y Arquelogia or the Regiona Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology. It showcases the artifacts taken from the nearby prehistoric caves as well as Roman antiquities.
Visitors can also head out to the Museu Taurino, an establishment dedicated to bullfighting. A nearby arena also serves as venue for this traditional form of entertainment.
The world famous Altamira Caves is located a short distance east of the city. This UNESCO World Heritage site contains rock paintings identified to originate from the Stone Age. Near the caves is the Altamira Caves Museum which contains some of the materials collected from the site. It also presents a video film regarding the attractions of the site and aims to educate its visitor on the Stone Age in general. Visitors should also take the time to behold the remains of a Paleolithic man that are also displayed at the museum. For a fee, visitors can participate on a guided tour inside the caves and behold the vivid paintings themselves.
Also located nearby is a stalactite cave that visitors can also explore.
Like the rest of the cities in Spain, Santander also has numerous festivities and events that bring the locals and visitors together in revelry. One is the Festival Internacional de Santander, an annual event that was established in 1948. Concurrent to the festival are several musical, dance, and theatrical performances that aims to promote the culture of the city.

Weather

Santander is a city that enjoys an Adriatic climate that is characterized by mild temperatures and plenty of precipitation. Summer can get warm to hot, though the cooling sea breeze always help to maintain the outdoor temperature in a comfortable range. Winter in Santander is mild, with an average of just 10°C. Rain is expected to occur in any day of the season, though with increased frequency and higher volume during the winter months.