Santander

Excursions

excursions
 

Castro-Urdiales: seaside village east of Santanderwith a nice Gothic church and lighthouse.

LaredoSpain: another seaside village to the East, the old quarter is worth a visit.

Potes: this small village is the key to the Picos de Europa mountain range which is a National Park, and the Liébana region. Good eating place, and the local orujo a strong spirits drink is highly recommended.

Reinosa: the main town on southern Cantabria, it's a good base to explore the Cantabrian mountain range Cordillera Cantábrica, with the Alto Campoo sky resort, the Roman city of Julióbriga and several Medieval churches close by.

Santillana del Mar: Picturesque stone village 1 hour away by bus; visit the famous cave of Altamira.

San Vicente de la Barquera - Sea-side fishing village, about 30 minutes by bus. See the fishing vessels unload what Madrid will be eating tomorrow. Fantastic tides, so stay for at least 6 hours. Nice Roman bridge.

Valles Pasiegos: for a taste of rural Cantabria, no better place than the Valley of the Pas river, especially Toranzo, Selaya, Villacarriedo, Vega de Pas, San Roque de Riomiera and San Pedro del Romeral. Try the typical sobaos and quesadas, two traditional desserts.

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excursions
Ethnography Museum (Museo Etnografico de Cantabria Casa Velarde)
Calle de los Heroes dos de Mayo, Muriedas, Camargo, Spain
942251347
from Jul until Sep Tue to Sat 10 am to 1 pm, 4 to 7 pm, Sun 11 am to 2 pm, from October to June Tue to Sat 10 am to 1 pm, 4 to 6 pm, Sun 11 am to 2 pm
5 ml/8 km from Santander
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Parks

parks
Alameda de Oviedo
San Fernando, s/n

in the western part of the city center, running from Cuatro Caminos Roundabout in the west, to Plaza de Numancia in the east, specifically between Calle de San Fernando and Calle Vargas.

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parks
Jardines de Pereda
Paseo de Pereda, s/n

Santander's most famous park with a lot of trees, bushes and flowers, a pond, several sculptures, a music pavilion, a monument to the writer José María de Pereda 1833-1906, a fountain dedicated to the Cantabrian author, Concha Espina 1877-1953, the Fuente de los Meones and the city tourist office nearby.

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parks
Parque de Altamira
Paseo del General Dávila, s/n
in the north of the city near the commercial center between Paseo del General Dávila and Calle Vía Cornelia

botanical garden in city center, covering a total area of 16000m2.

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parks
Parque de La Magdalena
Avenida de La Magdalena, s/n
942272504
8 am to 10 pm daily

With 25000 m2 the biggest park in the city, surrounding the Palacio Real Royal Palace. It was deserted until the end of the 19th century and houses a hermitage dedicated to Saint Magdalena and a defensive castle overlooking the bay. It has a zoo on the rocky cliffs on the northern end, with lions, seals, penguins and polar bears and a galleon nearby that belonged to the sailor and adventurer Vital Alsar.

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parks
Parque de Cabo Mayor
Avenida del Faro, s/n,
situated near El Sardinero beaches.

Covering an area of more than 100,000m2, the park is extremely spectacular on windy days, when the waves crash onto the cliffs. The Faro de Cabo Mayor is the oldest lighthouse in Cantabria. It was built in 1839, is 30m high and its light can be seen from 29 miles away. The rock formation of the Puente del Diablo Devil's Bridge and the Panteón del Inglés Englishman's Pantheon is nearby.

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Museums

museums
Museo del Faro de Cabo Mayor
942391994
admission free
Jul and Aug Tue to Sun 11 am to 1.30 pm, 5 to 9 pm, rest of the year:11 am to 1.30 pm, 5 to 8 pm

There's an art gallery and a strange collection of lighthouse images from popular culture--on everything from matchboxes to liquor bottles.

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museums
Maritime Museum of Cantabria
San Martín de Bajamar s/n.
942274962
adults: €6, children from 4 to 12: €4, senior citizens over 65: €4, tourist groups: €5 per person
Oct 1 until Apr 30 Tue to Sun 10am until 6pm, May 2 until Sept 30 Tue to Sun 10am until 7.30pm, closed Mon, Jan 1, Good Friday, May 1 and Dec 25
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museums
Biblioteca Menéndez Pelayo
C/ Rubio 6
942234534
Mon to Fri 9 to 11.30 am. guided visits every 30 min
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museums
Colección del Ateneo de Santander
C/ Gómez Oreña, 5-1º
9421212820
admission free
Salón Social and Cafetería: 9am to 1 pm, 4 to 9.30 pm
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museums
Colecciones y Patrimonio de Caja Cantabria
C/ Rubio 6
942234 534
Mon to Sat 9 am to 1.30 pm, Tue and Thu 4.30 to 9 pm except Jul, Aug, closed Sat afternoon and Sun
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Churches

churches
Cathedral - Catedral de Santa Maria de la Asunción
Plaza del Obispo José Eguino y Trecu s/n
942226024
Mon to Fri 10am to 1 pm and 4 to 7.30 pm, Holy service at 11 am and 6.30 pm, Sat 10am to 1 pm and 4 to 8 pm, Holy service at 11 am, 5 and 8 pm, Sun 10am to 1 pm and 5 to 9 pm, Holy service at 12 am, 1.30, 5 and 8 pm. The cathedral cannot be visited during services, guided tours free of charge in July and August
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churches
Iglesia del Santísimo Cristo
C/ Somorrostro s/n
Jun 1 until Sep 30: 8am to 1 pm and 4 to 8 pm every day, Oct 1 until May 31: 8am to 1.30 pm and 5 to 8 pm every day, Holy services from mon to Fri at 11 am and 8.30 pm, Sat 10am to 1 pm and 4 to 8 pm, Holy service at 8.15, 10 and 11.15 am, 5 and 8 pm, Sat at 10 and 11.15 am, 1.15, 6 and 8.30 pm, Sun at 8.15, 10, 11 and 12 am, 1, 5 and 8.30 pm. The church cannot be visited during services, guided tours free of charge in July and August
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Public buildings

public buildings
Mercado de la Esperanza
Plaza de la Esperanza
inaugurated 1904 in Modernism style
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public buildings
Plaza Porticada
Plaza Porticada
constructed as new city center after the fire of 1941
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public buildings
Dique de Gamazo
small fishing port, dating from 1908, 180 m long, 15 m wide, 8 m deep, in the city center, reached with bus no 1
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public buildings
Casa Pardo
Paseo de Perez Galdos
house of 1915, also called 'Palacio de los Botin' with spectacular views over the bay, one of the most splendid mansions of the city, at Sardinero, reached with bus no 10
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public buildings
Mercado del Este
C/General Mola
erected from 1840 onwards, completely reconstructed in 1986
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public buildings
Santander Bank (Edificio del Banco Santander)
Paseo Pereda 9-12
942206100
opposite Pereda Gardens, not open to the public, in the city center, best reached with bus no. 1,3,4.C1,4.C2,9 and 10
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public buildings
Banco de España
Avenida Alfonso XIII
opened 1922
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public buildings
Banco Español de Crédito
Hernan Cortes 11
building in the eclectic style of 1900
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public buildings
Casa Pombo
Plaza de Jose Antonio 3
mansion of 1875, in the city center, reached with bus no 1
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public buildings
Town Hall (Ayuntamiento)
Plaza del Ayuntamiento s/n
building in the ecclectic style of the 19th century, richly decorated with columns, balconies and coats of arms
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public buildings
Post Office Building (Edificio de Correos)
Avenida de Alfonso XII
942223023
an impressive building, one of the landmarks of Santander, builtin 1915,in the city center, reached with bus no 1 and 8
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public buildings
Edificio de Los Arcos de Botin
Hernan Cortes 21
neoclassic building on the north side of Piaza Pombo, near the harbour, good example of 19th cent. architecture, visitors are not allowed inside, in the city center, reached with bus no 1
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public buildings
Edificio de Los Pinares
Duque de Santo Mauro
near Primera Playa, between Calle Duque de Santo Mauro and Calle Joaquín Costa
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public buildings
Edificio de Viviendas
Calle Castelar, 15
in the city center, reached with bus no 1
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Palacio de la Magdalena
La Magdalena, s/n
942203084

Summer residence of the Spanish King from 1913 until 1930.

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streets and squares
Plaza de José Antonio (Plaza Pombo)
Calle de Hernán Cortés and General Mola are on the north and south, and Pancho Cossío and Las Infantas on the east and west

charming plaza with colorful flowerbeds and musician bandstand

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