Medieval stone houses and cobblestone streets define this northern Spanish town. A 12th-century Romanesque monastery and well-preserved Gothic churches tell its rich past.
Santillana del Mar lies in Spain's Cantabria region, where you'll walk past Gothic mansions like the Torre de Don Borja and Renaissance palaces such as the Casa de los Villa. In the main square, the 12th-century Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana draws visitors with its carved stone cloisters depicting biblical scenes. Though its name means "Saint Juliana of the Sea," this inland village actually sits 2 kilometers from the coast, amid dairy farms that supply milk for local cheese production.
Walking Through Medieval Streets
The pedestrian-only center of Santillana del Mar has two main streets - Calle de Santo Domingo and Calle del Cantón - both paved with rounded river stones and lined with yellow sandstone buildings. Most structures date from the 15th century, when noble families built their homes around the Collegiate Church. Look up to see the distinctive wrought iron balconies and wooden solanas (covered galleries) that characterize the local architecture.
Visiting the Collegiate Church
The Romanesque Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana dominates the main square, its construction dating to the 1100s. Inside the cloisters, 42 carved column capitals display scenes from Christ's life, medieval monsters, and plant designs. The church contains the tomb and relics of St. Juliana of Nicomedia. Entry to the cloisters costs €3. Opening hours are 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM and 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM daily.
Getting Around and When to Visit
You'll find two parking lots at the village entrance: one near the Tourist Office and another by the Museum of Altamira. Parking costs €3 per day from April to October and is free the rest of the year. Tour groups fill the streets between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM, especially from May through September. For a calmer experience, explore before 10:00 AM or after 5:00 PM.
Transportation Connections
ALSA buses connect Santander to Santillana del Mar, with the journey taking 30 minutes. In summer, seven daily buses run each way. From Torrelavega's train station, 6 kilometers away, taxis cost around €12. By car, you can reach the village in 30 minutes from Santander or 1.5 hours from Bilbao.
Nearby Attractions
The Altamira Cave Museum, 2 kilometers from the village center, displays exact replicas of the 36,000-year-old cave paintings. Book tickets online to avoid queues. Several beaches lie within driving distance: the sandy Urbiaco beach (5km), the surf spot at Cobreces (10km), and the family-friendly Suances beach (10km). In Comillas, 12 kilometers away, you can visit El Capricho, an unusual villa designed by Antoni Gaudí with sunflower motifs and oriental-inspired towers.
Local Food
Restaurants in Santillana del Mar serve traditional Cantabrian dishes. Try the cocido montañés, a white bean stew with pork and cabbage, or fresh anchovy fillets from the nearby port of San Vicente de la Barquera. Local bakeries sell sobao pasiego (butter sponge cake) and quesadas, a light cheesecake made with fresh local milk.
