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| The village of Potes, Picos de Europa |
The autonomous community of Cantabria stretches over an area of 5,321 km2, and has a population of about 580,000. It only consists of one province. Cantabria is known for its lush green vegetation, scenic coastline and mountainous hinterland. The community has an array of national parks, and archaeological sites, including the Cave of Altamira, an UNESCO World Heritage site.
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| El Sardinero Beach, Santander |
The capital city is Santander with a population of about 175,000. The city is known for its scenic beaches, in particular the iconic El Sardinero, and Magdalena Peninsula with its early 19th century palace. Santander is the home town of Spain's largest bank, Banco Santander. It is also more popular with local tourists than foreigners. Locals are attracted to the scenic beauty and the local seafood-based cuisine. In the city centre there is also the arts centre, Centro Botin. Of other interesting sights in Santander, it is worth mentioning some interesting museums, in particular the Maritime Museum, and the Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology of Cantabria. Other noteworthy sights include the The Gothic Cathedral, and for the less pious, the Gran Casino del Sardinero.
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| Santa María de la Asunción, Castro Urdiales |
Outside the capital, other interesting towns include Castro Urdiales to the east of Santander. Its town centre dates back to the medieval era, with the most impressive sight being the Gothic Church Santa María de la Asunción, A UNESCO World Heritage Site. With many nearby caves, archaeological sites, and a regional branch of the Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology, there are many things to do in this town of some 32,000 inhabitants.
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| Cable car, Fuente Dé, Picos de Europa |
Other nearby coastal towns on the way towards Santander include Laredo and Santoña. To the west of Santander is the historical village of Santillana del Mar, which despite its name is not a coastal town. Often mentioned as one of the most beautiful villages in Spain, it lies a few kilometres inland, near the Altamira Cave. Other interesting towns near the coast to the west of Santander include Comillas and San Vicente de la Barquera, located at the bank of a fluvial estuary by the same name. San Vicente de la Barquera is also relatively close to the scenic national park Picos de Europe, Cantabria's most impressive national park, as well as one of Spain´s. It is the only inhabited national park with towns such as Potes offering ample accommodation in the midst of the scenic park. The park also spans into Asturias and Castile & León. From the Cantabrian side, you can drive to Fuente Dé in the Camareño Valley at the very foot of the imposing rock walls and take the cable car up to enjoy the panoramic view over the Cantabrian Mountains at 2,000 metres of altitude.
