Cantabria
-
A lush and green region of Spain with lovely countryside, mountain areas
and sea coast. The area has prehistoric caves of the first residents
of the Iberian Peninsula.
Santander
is the capital of Cantabria. Located on a beautiful bay with lovely beaches,
the city is well designed and elegant. Santillana del Mar
is also well worth a visit.
The Picos de Europe extend
from Asturias into Cantabria giving wonderful mountainous scenery.
Cantabria
Holidays - Santander Tourist Attractions by Steve Greenwood
Cantabria is an autonomous
community of northern Spain with a coastline that overlooks the Cantabria
Sea. The region is bordered by the Basque Country to the east, Castilla
Leon to the south, and Asturias to the west. Cantabria has much to offer
visitors to the region with a mixture of mountainous massifs, rolling lush
meadows and picturesque fishing ports. Santander is the region's capital
and is the best place to start any venture around the province as most
places can easily be reached within a 3-hour car drive
Santander,
capital
of Cantabria - Santander is a modern commercial city and one of Spain's
main ports of arrival for ferry passengers from Britain. In 1941, Santander
fell victim to a great fire, which burned for 2 days fanned by strong southerly
winds. Only one person was killed while the city was plunged into chaos
and much of the historic centre was destroyed. The oldest remaining building
to be found in Santander today is the cathedral.
Cantabria Holiday Attractions
- Much of the tourism that comes to the region head towards the summer
holiday resorts to be found along the northern coastal strip.
El Sardinero near Santander
is one of the most popular beaches for visitors to the capital city.
It can get busy along its
1.3km length during the summer months, but the wide promenade, which is
one of the prettiest in Spain, runs the whole length of the beach and there
is a good supply of hotels and eateries to choose from. At one end of the
beach can be found Magdalena Park, which offers a beach playground, mini
zoo and train circuit.
The town of Comillas has
a picturesque sandy beach with plenty of parking nearby and a fishing port
at one end. The beach at Laredo is over 4km long and has fine golden sand
overlooked by a long promenade. It also offers good conditions and lifeguard
facilities for those interested in surfing.
For all those who are searching
for cheap and affordable safari tours in Kenya, please be sure to have
a look at African Sermon on this website: http://africansermonsafaris.com/
Cantabria has many national
parks for those interested in the flora and fauna Spain has to offer. The
Parque Nacional de los Picos de Europa was the first Spanish national park
to receive this classification in 1935. The Picos de Europa Mountains are
spread over the three provinces Asturias, Leon and Catalonia and contain
3 massifs characterised by constant rainfall and often snowfall on the
peaks. The Nature Reserve offers some fantastic extremes of landscape including
vertical drops of over 2km, hillside forests of oak, beech, maple and walnut
trees, meadows of green pasture land and the great Covadonga lakes.
This northern region of Spain
is a great destination for discovering some of the natural delights of
this diverse country. Beautiful beaches and dramatic sheer cliff faces
dominate the coastline, while the Picos de Europa can be found just 25km
from the coast. Cantabria has a good selection of Nature Reserves both
within the mountainous areas and along its northern coastal stretch. With
fantastic scenery and a wonderful diverse range of flora and fauna, these
offer some excellent walking and hiking opportunities for visitors who
want to experience the more rugged side of Spain.
Castro Urdiales, a seaport
of northern Spain, in the autonomous community of Cantabria, situated on
the bay of Biscay. Castro Urdiales is a modern town, although its
castle and parish church, Iglesia de Santa Maria de la Asuncion, date from
the Middle Ages. Its chief industries are tourism, fishing, and the preservation
of fish, especially sardines and anchovies, in oil. The Lolin anchovy canning
factory serves as a reminder of the town's closeness to this industry and
its proximity to the sea. Between 1894 and 1904 the exports of iron ore
rose from 277,200 tons to 516,574 tons.
Tourism has greatly increased in
Castro Urdiales in the last thirty years; many people from Bilbao and other
parts of the Basque Country and Cantabria as well as Northern Spain in
general keep summer homes in the town. Although the number of people registered
in the town is around 28,604, the summer population can double or even
triple this figure.The town is popular because of its beaches and scenic
harbor. Sadly, the commercial fishing industry is declining and may soon
be eradicated completely.
Sercotel
Las Rocas Hotel, Castro Urdiales The
Las Rocas Hotel is located in the fishing village and seaport of Castro
Urdiales, Spain. Brazomar Beach is adjacent, and Bilbao harbour is 18 kilometres
away. Castro Urdiales bus station is 500 metres away. Facing the Atlantic
Ocean, the hotel is set in a modern six-storey building surrounded by a
garden filled with palm trees. The modern, pastel-toned Las Rocas
Restaurant serves a daily set menu which specialises in fresh, locally
caught fish. The café also offers a selection of snacks, tapas,
and other light dishes throughout the day. The 66 air-conditioned
guestrooms have sleek modern decor and white wood furnishings.
Ruesga
- in a privileged
location, among sea and mountains, next to Natural Park Collados del Asón
(Hillocks of Asón river), only twenty minutes from the beaches of
Laredo and between Santander and Bilbao city. This situation permits great
variety of activities and cultural visits. There are numerous activities
of active tourism that can be carried out, among others: senderismo, with
a lot of routes in number and degree of difficulty; paint-ball; routes
by quads, fishing, horses, going down the river Asón by canoe, aquatic
sports or speleology in some of the numerous caves existing in the zone,
known on a world scale.
Hotel
Torre de Ruesga, Valle de Ruesga Hotel Torre de Ruesga is
perfectly renovated 17th century palace which now hosts a charming hotel
in a wonderful location, surrounded by pretty gardens on the banks
of the river Asón. The hotel's interior features 19th century frescos
by the Catalan painter, León Criach. The palace has retained the
original sitting room with open fireplace and also has a snooker room,
sauna and a gym. The cuisine is a blend of traditional Cantabrian
and international dishes. This is a peaceful place un unwind and relax.
The guestrooms are spacious and elegant, with modern fabrics, wood floors,
satellite TV, radio, minibar and many little extras.
Santillana del Mar is a historic
town situated in Cantabria, Spain. Certain features of this historical
town includes Altamira Caves (Cuevas de Altamira) and many historic buildings,
attracting thousands of holiday-makers every year. There is an old saying
that Santillana del Mar is The Town of Three Lies, since it is neither
a Saint (Santo), nor flat (llana) and has no sea (Mar) as implied by the
town's name. However, the name actually derives from Santa Juliana
(or Santa Illana) whose remains are in the kept in the Colegiata, a Romanesque
church and former Benedictine monastery.
Hotel
Casa del Marques, Santillana del Mar The Hotel Casa Del Marques
is housed in a renovated 16th century Gothic building with stone façade
and iron-finished wood doors, set in medieval Santillana Del Mar and is
the former residence of the first Marquis of Santillana. Guests can relax
in the public areas of this 16th century Gothic building, which preserves
some of the original features and is divided into the Ladies Hall, the
Nobleman's Hall and the Reading Hall. Guests can unwind with a drink
in the furnished garden and patio area or relax with a good book in the
hotel library. The 14 guestrooms feature traditional French rustic-style
decor with exposed brick, wood beams, cherry-wood floors and painted wood
furniture.
Parador
de Santillana, Santillana del Mar This newly built manor house
conserves the typical architecture of the area, blending in perfectly with
the architectural surroundings of this beautiful locale. Comfortable rooms
with a pleasant atmosphere help the guest to find peacefulness and rest.
The restaurant and bar, located in the Parador Santillana Gil Blas offer
guests the opportunity to sample Cantabrian cuisine's most traditional
dishes. We recommend you try cocido montañes (mountain stew): cabbage,
beans, ribs, sausage, panceta, chorizo, black pudding all go into it. Enjoy
too the grilled beef steak with Tresviso sauce, the hake in Cantabrian
sauce, clams from Pedreña, the anchovy salad, the Cantabrian ventrisca
(tuna) and quesada pasiega (cheesecake).
Parador
de Santillana Gil Blas, Santillana del Mar The Hotel is in the lovely
mansion of the Barreda-Bracho family, in the square of Santillana del Mar,
a town declared a National Monument, whose origins go back to the 7th century.
The grand entrance leads to open, welcoming public spaces, with wooden
floors and traditional decoration and furniture. The bedrooms are
comfortable and in harmony with the overall look of the hotel. The dining
room serves traditional stews, steaks, hake from the Cantabrian sea over
green asparagus and quesada pasiega (cheesecake). The Emperador room
is the most emblematic at the Parador and, for this reason, has hosted
many famous figures such as General de Gaulle, the present emperors of
Japan, etc.
Posada
Casa de Guela, Santillana del Mar This Santillana Del Mar
hotel is nine kilometres from Torrelavega and Suances and 16 kilometres
from Comillas. Posada Casa de Guela - Guest House serves a daily
complimentary breakfast; this hotel has an outdoor pool. Guestrooms
feature private bathrooms, and safes, telephones, and minibars are provided
in all guestrooms.
Posada
los Calderones, Santillana del Mar This boutique hotel in Santillana
is located three kilometres away from Altamira, 16 kilometres away from
Comillas, and 33 kilometres away from Cabarceno. The hotel offers
an outdoor pool, a spa tub, and a patio area; a complimentary breakfast
is served daily and staff can arrange airport transport for a surcharge.
Posada Los Calderones - Guest House offers nine guestrooms, all of which
include televisions, direct-dial phones, refrigerators (on request), and
hair dryers.
Solares is a spa town, located
at 50 meters above sea level, and 0.7 kilometers from the capital of the
municipality, Valdecilla. Close to the Cantabrian capital, Santander, at
only 15 kilometers. Here you can visit Pico Castillo and the Palacio
de los Marqueses de Valbuena. Interesting samples of architecture
of century XII can also be seen, among them particular residences like
Villa Arras, and the bath complex constructed in 1827 (reconstructed recently
and turned into a hotel-bath) around the spring of Fuencaliente and to
the Solares water bottling plant next to the Miera river.
Hotel
Balneario Solares The Hotel Balneario Solares
is located in the spa town of Solares, Spain, 10 kilometres from the beaches
of the Cantabrian Coast and 18 kilometres from Santander. Housed in a renovated
historic building with a grand white-stone façade, the Hotel Balneario
Solares is a contemporary four-storey property. The 5,000 square-metre
spa centre features a fitness suite, sauna, indoor pool, and a hydrotherapy
pool. A range of traditional and modern beauty and therapeutic treatments
are offered. An outdoor pool can be found in the hotel gardens. The
hotel's El Manantial restaurant is decorated in a contemporary style and
open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu offers a selection
of local and international dishes. Drinks and snacks are served in the
cafe-bar.
Hotel
Cuevas III, Suances The Hotel Cuevas III is
a bougainvillea-covered traditional-style country mansion situated 400
metres from La Concha beach in Suances, 30 kilometres from Santander. Guests
can dine at the hotel's Covadonga Restaurant, which serves traditional
Cantabrian dishes and seafood specialities in a rustic-style setting with
exposed stone walls and ceramic tiled floors. Before or after a meal, guests
can relax with a glass of wine in the traditional ambience of the bar,
or take advantage of room service, which is available round the clock.
The three-floor hotel features 62 guestrooms, all of which have terracotta
decor with exposed wooden beams and antique furnishings. All guestrooms
include balconies, work desks, satellite television, direct-dial phones,
and bathrooms with hair dryers.
Hotel
Playa Ribera, Suances Hotel of a modern design,
located 50 metres from the beach, and one kilometre from the village centre
of Suances; Santillana del Mar is seven kilometres away. Complimentary
wireless Internet is accessible throughout the public areas and parking
is free; express check-in and check-out are available. Hotel Playa
Ribera serves a complimentary breakfast each morning. Hot tub (jacuzzi)
available for guests. Hotel Playa Ribera's guestrooms offer flatscreen
televisions with satellite channels and high-speed Internet access; a half-board
rate is available.
Torrelavega is a municipality
and important industrial and commercial hub in the single province Autonomous
Community of Cantabria in northern Spain. It is situated roughly 8 kilometers
from the Cantabrian Coast and 27.5 kilometers from the capital of the Autonomous
Community, Santander, half way between the Principality of Asturias and
the Basque Country. The rivers Saja and Besaya flow through the city.
It is the capital of the county of Valle del Besaya which, along with Torrelavega,
is composed of the municipalities of Cartes, Los Corrales de Buelna, Cieza,
Arenas de Iguña, Bárcena de Pie de Concha, Molledo, Anievas
and San Felices de Buelna. Its highest point is 606 meters and its
lowest point is 12 meters.
Husa
Torresport Hotel, Torrelavega The Husa Torres Port is
a modern hotel set in the quiet area of Torrelavega, 20 kilometers from
Santander. Those wishing to explore the area will find the cobbled streets
of Santillana del Mar, Altamira caves and the Prehistoric Museum, all within
one and a half kilometers of the hotel. Guest can dine in the Sijos
Restaurant, which serves local specialties with a contemporary twist in
a light, bright setting. The hotel offers an array of amenities including
a lounge with television and DVD player, and an indoor pool with massage
area. The 66 guestrooms are decorated in bright colors with cheerful
fabrics, wooden furniture, and have separate sitting areas.
