Santander (Spain) - Santander (España)

Santander (Spain)
Coat of arms of Santander.svg
Shield
The Palace of the Magdalena (2) .jpg
Magdalena Palace
CountrySpanish flagSpain
Distances74 km to Bilbao
165 km to Oviedo
IdiomSpanish
DemonymSantander
Demographic data
Surface34,76 km²
Population171 951 (2017)
Useful data
Time zone UTC 1
OpenStreetMap
Santander

Santander is a city and the capital of the province Spanish of Cantabria.

Context

Map of Santander (Spain)

The Cantabrian capital forms with its bay a natural port that was used since ancient times. The first vestiges that are known date from Roman times located where today the Cathedral is.

From that time to the present day, Santander has been one of the most important commercial and military ports in the north of the peninsula.

At the end of the 19th century, tourism barely existed and was only for a few wealthy people. Bathing in the sea was frowned upon due to its dangerousness until the Sardinero Spa was built. The doctors advised the "Wave Baths", they consisted in that every three waves the person had to receive the blow of the sea in the place that the doctor prescribed. It was considered good for rheumatic pain and for weight loss diets of that time.

With the arrival of the kings of Spain, Alfonso XIII made the baths become fashionable and Santander became the capital of tourism of the time.

The Sardinero hotel, the Rhin hotel, as well as the El Sardinero and La Concha spas are still preserved (with their subsequent restorations), although none of the latter two were restored as spas; the first is a cafeteria that maintains that name and the second is a restaurant called "Entre Tapas y Vinos" and a party room called "BNS" (Good Night Santander).

Now every year, during a week of the month of July, the "Baños de Ola" are celebrated in Santander where people put on the bathing suits of the time and various activities are held;

To get

By plane

At 10 kms from Santander is the Parayas airport. Its facilities have been expanded in order to respond to the increase in travelers that the airport has been experiencing in recent years. Iberia, Ryanair, Vueling and Volotea are the airlines that connect the Cantabrian capital with other national and international cities. Municipal bus every 30 minutes that takes travelers from the airport to the train and bus stations in the city center. The journey takes about 10 minutes. The airport also has ample parking, a car rental service and a taxi rank.

By car

Santander is located on the route of the Cantabrian highway (A-8), so the northern communications are connected to it (from the Basque Country to Galicia). From Madrid it is possible to take the N-611 (Burgos-Santander).

From Valladolid / Palencia take the A-67 plateau highway, although there are still sections that are not finished.

If you are coming from Madrid and you do not want to travel by national road, from Burgos there is a section (N-623) that connects you with Aguilar de Campoo, and from here take the highway to Santander.

By train

In the Plaza de las Estaciones, in the center of Santander and in front of the bus station, there are the two train stations. Cantabria has two types of railways:

  • 1  Renfe train station, Station Square, s / n. ☎942 018 270. It allows you to travel to the rest of the capitals of Spain.
  • 2  Feve train station, Station Square, s / n. Commercial division of the Spanish railway operator Renfe, a narrow gauge that links the cities of northern Spain.

The two companies have commuter services with the most important towns in Cantabria, except Laredo and Castro Urdiales. However, the FEVE railways have longer service hours.

By bus

Santander has a large bus station strategically located in front of the stations of the two railway companies that operate in the city, so it is very easy to transfer. There are numerous bus companies that stop in Santander and that link the main cities of the country and Europe, highlighting ALSA, Continental, Flixbus and Bilmanbus. In addition, there are numerous lines that run throughout the region. At the bus station there are numerous information panels with the destinations of the bus lines and restaurants. The station has left luggage service, and being located in the heart of the city, you can quickly access the commercial area of ​​Santander or the ferry station.

Santander's urban transport service (TUS) has numerous lines. You can buy a single ticket for each trip or electronic cards for many trips, which can be recharged at tobacconists or ATMs. This electronic card is also used for trips with the ALSA City company, which has urban bus lines that connect Santander with some of the closest towns.

Boat

The company Britanny ferries has two regular lines a week from Santander to Plymouth (England). One of them works as a transport service for heavy vehicles. The Santander maritime station is very close to the city center and the train and bus stations.

There is a regular service company that crosses the bay of Santander from Santander to the towns of Somo and Pedreña (the so-called pedreñeras). This service operates every day of the year and has its boarding next to the Palace of the pier, in the heart of Paseo de Pereda. In addition, the company makes tourist trips around the bay during the summer season.

Watch

In 1941 a spectacular fire broke out that devastated the entire old part of the city, affecting the Cathedral as well as all the buildings that surrounded it and left the city in ruins. Curiously, there was only one mortal victim despite how quickly the flames spread and the virulence of the fire.

At that post-war period, a large popular collection was carried out and supported by the government of that time, what they called "The Miracle of Santander" arose, which rebuilt the city in just five years.

Still, some building was saved from fire like the current post office.

  • Cathedral - That it is restored and preserves a Gothic cloister
  • Crypt of Christ - Located under the cathedral, it is the most remarkable monument in Santander, of Romanesque art where you can find the heads of the patrons of Santander, San Emeterio and San Celedonio and on whose ground Roman ruins are preserved.
  • The Menendez Pelayo Library - Former writer's house where there is a beautiful library with one of the most important book collections in Spain.
  • Municipal Museum of Fine Arts - Located in the annex building to the library, it contains very interesting paintings. It is worth highlighting a portrait of Fernando VII de Goya among other works by Riancho, Blanchard, Madrazo, etc.
  • Church of Santa Lucia.
  • Arqueologic Museum Located in the basement of the Mercado del Este, it contains pieces of great historical value found in the various excavations of Palaeolithic caves such as Altamira, El Castillo, El Pendo ... (the Altamira caves are located in Santillana del Mar just 25 Km from the Capital)
  • Oceanographic Museum - Small and renovated, it has a good collection of ship models, formalin fish, skeletons of different cetaceans (including a blue whale that occupies practically the entire building), and a small but interesting aquarium.
  • Magdalena Palace - Located on the peninsula with the same name and where the Menendez Pelayo University is held every year. Victorian in style, it was the former summer residence of the Kings of Spain, and although it is now a university headquarters, it retains some dependence on the time. Taking a walk through the Magdalena peninsula, you will be able to observe beautiful views of the Bay, as well as the Cantabrian Sea, surrounded by a park surrounded by trees; Be sure to visit the small zoo where you can see seals and penguins.
  • Palace of Festivals - Located in a modern building where the world-renowned classical music festival is performed during the month of August.

Other places not to be missed:

  • A walk from the jetty palace (Paseo de Pereda) to El Sardinero. It is 4 km long, with magnificent views of the entire Bay of Santander, crossing the Paseo de Pereda, Puerto Chico (Castelar), the Palace of Festivals, Avenida de Reina Victoria, La Magdalena until finally reaching the beaches of Sardinero .
  • Mataleñas Park - A park with lush vegetation where the municipal golf course is located.
  • Walk to the Mayor Lighthouse - Leaving from "El Chiqui", you get to the Lighthouse through Cabo menor, Cabo Mayor on a path next to a cliff that surrounds the sea, (2 km approx).
Camello Beach, Santander.
  • The Cape Mayor lighthouse.
  • Piquío's garden.
  • Gardens of Pereda.
  • The Sardinero.
  • The beach of "Los Peligros".
  • Playa del Camello (named after a rock that emerges from the sea that is just like a dromedary !!!).
  • Molinucos beach: a small cove within the Mataleñas Park
  • Mataleñas Beach: in the heart of Cueto, between Cabo Mayor and Cabo Menor, it is reached through 146 stairs. For some the prettiest

To buy

As in all capitals, Santander has several shopping centers. The Valle Real Shopping Center has numerous shops and an Eroski hypermarket. The Bahía de Santander Shopping Center is the largest in the region and is home to the El Corte Ingles department store and the Hipercor hypermarket. These two shopping centers are located next to the A-1 motorway, on the outskirts of Santander in the direction of Bilbao. Both have regular communication with urban buses that leave from the bus station. In addition, the Valle Real Shopping Center has a railway station of the FEVE company that communicates directly to users through a walkway.Other shopping centers are the Peñacastillo Shopping Center, or the El Alisal Shopping Center, both with a Carrefour hypermarket among other stores. Also how much with urban bus stop.

The streets of the center of Santander, such as Hernán Cortes, Calle San Francisco, Calle Lealtad or Calle Cadiz (all in the vicinity of the cathedral) is the commercial area of ​​the city with many clothing stores, mainly.

To eat

You can find great restaurants where you can taste excellent fish. One of the areas where you can find several establishments with budgets for all budgets is in "El Barrio Pesquero" (at the entrance of Santander if you arrive from Bilbao). Don't forget to try the "rabas" (floured and fried squid), as well as the grilled sardines. La Gaviota restaurant is the largest and oldest in the entire area, it has been open for almost 60 years and run by the same family (it opened in 1957 and has recently been completely renovated).

Right at the entrance to Santander, on a cross at the beginning of Calle Marqués de la Hermida, specifically on Calle Capitán Palacios, on the ground floor of the Edifico Castilla there are two very peculiar restaurants. La Taberna Vicente, for lovers of practically a single dish, meat, in many varieties. Next door, and especially for lovers of fish and seafood, La Narda, an excellent product at a more than affordable price for its quantity and quality.

Another area where you can find several restaurants is in Tetuán street (near Castelar street; where the fishing port used to be). The best known is the El Marucho restaurant.

In general, Santander's offer adapts to any pocket. From cheap places to the most select.

In Santander in recent years the offer of pinchos has been greatly expanded. Behind the headquarters of the Banco de Santander is one of the pioneering places in this regard, El Diluvio, where you can enjoy good and original pinchos. Next door, El Mercado del Este can also offer us its varieties. Just 50 meters away, on Calle del Martillo, which is accessed by the Banco de Santander arch, we find two places to taste very good pinchos. The Catavinos, a place with very careful pinchos and the peculiarity of being able to have a glass of practically more than 500 Spanish and foreign wines; the other place, located just opposite, the Luzmela, with a wide variety of pinchos and wines.

Another area of ​​pinchos is located around the Plaza de Cañadio, 100 meters from those mentioned above. Highlights include La Barbería, Casa Jero, La Despensa, and in the vicinity of them, in Puertochico, Casa Lita, a very lively place that stands out for the variety of pinchos and their sophistication. The Pata Negra and Las Olas also stand out, close together and highly recommended, without forgetting Las Hijas de Florencio. It is worth going to savor their skewers. Around the square and for the more night owls, we also find the Zampabollos sandwich shop. They are only open on weekends but from 9 at night to 7 in the morning and they have their own workshop where they even make their own bread. They offer from the most traditional sandwiches to specialties that you can only taste in their stores, quality and good work at very affordable prices.

Finally, the most fashionable area today for pinchos is the Río de la Pila, also just 400 meters from Plaza de Cañadio and at the end of Calle del Martillo. The Cantabria Bar, a classic of the city, offers menus and portions, in addition to its renowned ham. This place gives access to an alley (crossing of the Río de la Pila) in which two very careful and sophisticated pinchos are located, a very quiet environment, without noise and a place to sit, apart from a good selection of wines. Right next to the Cantabria, on a corner, another Zampabollos that is also open on weekend nights.

Two streets above the Mercado del Este, specifically in Calle El Arrabal is El Arrabal 11, a place with a lot of atmosphere and "essential" to have a pincho or dinner, with careful decoration. It is convenient to reserve because it has little capacity, but just to have a wine and a tapa you should go to visit it.

Climbing the ladder and for those who want something other than skewers, the offer is around 15/30 Euros. Around the Plaza de Cañadio, we find Italians such as Piccola Pizzeria (on the first floor); Dino Pizzeria; The Solecito; Pinocchio with his Crepe salad and his four cheese pizza (the latter next to the NH Ciudad de Santander Hotel) or the Telepizza Pizzas. However, the highest level in terms of Italians and essential to visit if we are passionate about this food is El Marcello on Floranes street (a kilometer and a half from the center). Traditional and modern Italian cuisine with a very, very careful atmosphere, it is advisable to reserve ( don't miss the smoked salad).

Other recommended restaurants in this price range can be El Rampalay rations, or the essential "La Conveniente" stone place with live piano music (recommended for its fried food and belly with peppers). These two places are next to the Church of Santa Lucia and the Plaza de Cañadio; Bodegas Mazon, typically seafood and with very appetizing portions and a "Santander" atmosphere, is in Puerto Chico. On Calle General Davila and a bit away from the center is La Radio, also ideal for rations. Special mention for a place located in the Travesía del Rio de la Pila (actually San Anton street) called "Yerbabuena" food with first quality products, special food and with dishes out of the ordinary, careful decoration and very quiet (sirloin puff pastry pork, mussaka and other varieties of vegetables and meat recommend the place for its quality / price) something to keep in mind is that they do not accept credit cards. The place is usually chosen by artists, bohemians and intellectual people. A must ... never disappoint.

Now, for food lovers regardless of the price, Santander has some enviable premises, especially because its offer and quality is equal to or superior to other cities but with much lower prices.

In the Puertochico / Castelar area you will find the majority .... citing La Bombi, La Posada del Mar and El Puerto, places with a long tradition in Santander, excellent and unbeatable product for a traditional meal, in the same sense and close from the Plaza de Cañadio is La Cigaleña. All of them with excellent treatment and service as well as a meal in which "the product" stands out and to a lesser extent the preparation.

In the Plaza de Cañadio we highlight El Cañadio, another place with very good quality and service.

We can have a separate mention for three other places that are not located in the center of Santander, such as La Casona del Judío in the Monte neighborhood (a place with an enviable terrace and dining room, El Hipódromo on the road to El Faro de Santander, also with a very pleasant terrace in summer and with a very peculiar and select decoration and, finally, El Tonino, seafood of high quality.

However, Santander can feel proud of two places considered the best in the city for their menu, their products and their elaboration, in addition to their offers in wines, cavas ... The first of them, "Lasal", in Castelar, careful menu, careful decoration (in summer they open a very pleasant terrace perfectly equipped and with a very chic atmosphere ...), very, very successful attention, styling and sophistication without forgetting the classic stamp and very elegant flavors and sensations, also with the base of some top quality products (you should not visit and do not try the Steak Tartare prepared by Koldo, simply majestic) also asking about the specialties off the menu are always a surprise. The second of the locals and the one that took the baton of restaurants with elaborate food (but not for that reason scarce) is "El Serval", without a doubt a reference in the city and like Lasal essential for those who want to enjoy Santander food. Magnificent attention, continuous surprises, variety to the limit in bread, coffees, wines, oils, water ... an experience that you will not be able to forget (if you go and it is the season, be sure to try the bonito in any of its varieties).

However Santander, with the smallness of its urban area in any place can surprise us with a place that meets our expectations ... it is only a matter of finding it and it will surely make us repeat.

Finally, products that should be ordered ... obviously fish and shellfish in all its varieties with the peculiarity of Las rabas and a very tasty fish El Jargo (grilled a delicacy), the mountain meats of Cantabria are not they are left behind and, well, in a matter of sweets, sobaos and quesadas.

Enjoy it!

Drink and go out

Santander can boast of having a very lively drinking area, especially in summer and, in addition, with the importance of being concentrated in very little space, so having to be forced to take a car or another vehicle is not necessary.

The center of all this atmosphere is located in the Plaza de Cañadio, right in the center of the city and next to the Igesia de Santa Lucia. From 11 at night you can have a first drink in any of the bars and pubs there, we highlight El Canela, El Fan ..., but above all, El Blues, Bar de Copas de tradition in Santander where you can have a drink first thing in the morning and have an atmosphere until two in the morning, open every day, a very select atmosphere, beautiful faces and very careful staff, especially the female one.

But without a doubt, the best area to have delicious drinks, with category and a good level is the area of ​​Castelar-Puertochico. Specialists in cocktails and gin and tonic, very well prepared glasses and the most select atmosphere in the city, artist from the Palace of Festivals and other celebrities enjoying a quiet drink in the pleasant terraces of Castelar 5, King's, Siboney and Stop. It also has some of the best restaurants in the city such as The salt, Port Y The Inn of the Sea.

Also for that first drink you can go to the Mercado del Este, in the center of the city and just behind the Banco de Santander Headquarters Building, it is an old colonial market that has been converted into a hotel center and has museums and shops , in addition to the oderta of glasses and skewers. Right next door is also La Floridita, an establishment with a lot of atmosphere from the first hour, a select atmosphere and very "handsome" staff.

When the night progresses we will visit the surroundings of the Plaza de Cañadio, El Valentina and El Zen are two places with careful decoration and a very youthful atmosphere, very handsome staff both girls and boys, modeling of girls and young boys. For people from approximately 25 years old we have to go to Fortuny, with a lot of atmosphere and with the beautiful people of Santander, as well as Retros, one of the best decorated places in the city, other offers in the same sense can be El Loft, El Rocambole, El Opium.

From three in the morning we should not miss going to La Bohemia, a place that despite the passage of time continues to be a reference until four or four thirty in the morning. All these stores are located within a radius of 500 meters around the Plaza de Cañadio.

When the bars close, the offer is limited a little, but you can always go to the Dolce Vita, the only nightclub in the city, old Pacha, with a modern and techno atmosphere, near Puerto Chico and easily located. just 800 meters from the Plaza de Cañadio. The Montreal located next to the old Madrazo Hospital, is perhaps the place with the most "modern" atmosphere in the city, with very careful music within techno environments. Another place for those who like to stretch out the night can be El Indian, a place decorated as if it were a western saloon. Located above Sardinero Beach, right in front of the Casino is the BNS (Good Night Santander), beautiful for its location and with a good atmosphere from three or four in the morning. go to the Dragon, located on Calle Tetuán in Santander ... it closes late and promises many surprises and good vibes.

For those who like alternative circuits, Santander also has an answer, for the more grunge and alternative environments Calle del Carmen, just three streets above Plaza de Cañadio offers those smaller, darker places with a more liberal atmosphere. The Niagara stands out above all, a classic that never dies and El Rubicon, a kind of English pub that has a very alternative and erudite atmosphere ... however that street has other places that can also be visited.

Special mention also to other areas of Santander, such as Perinés street where there are other more traditional pubs with a fixed clientele ... for more relaxed environments, any of the places will put us a good drink and more conservative music, You can mention El Agua de Valencia (in which you should have that glass of Valencian water that is typical) Pub La Pera is another of the traditional places par excellence and Copelia that stands out for its decoration and very careful people.

Sleep

You can find accommodation for all types of budget, from the great luxury of the "Royal Hotel", to two-star hotels.

Its location also influences its location, a hotel near the sardinero beaches is not the same as one that is in the center of the Capital.

Half

external links