Along the Costa Esmeralda, or the Emerald coastline, up in Cantabria, stop and look around Santander.? Like Bilbao, not just a place to pass through, better to pass some time here instead.? If you happen to visit this summer, bring your guitar and best singing voice too and join in with some of the best music festivals around, which make Santander a note-worthy place to stay!?
Looking down approaching Santander
Trains and Boats and Planes
Now you just know that there will be song titles littering this post!
So, how to get here?? Well, you may have sailed here straight from Plymouth on the ferry, flown in to the international airport ? in fact the only airport in Cantabria ? just 7 kms from the city, or caught the train.? With the main station on Plaza de las Estaciones there are direct links to many destinations including Madrid, Segovia, Valladolid and Bilbao.
?Smoke on the Water
The city was practically destroyed by fire back in 1941, the flames burned for 2 days and despite only one casualty, ruined much of the medieval part of the city and also the Romanesque cathedral. The fire bescame known as The Andalusian, because of the names of the streets where it started and finally finished, Cadiz and Sevilla. Although, some fantastic rebuilding took place and the city is now very fashionable with trendy Madrile?os for their summer holidays.
It?s also well known as a Royal summer resort, perhaps Wills and Kate might decide to visit too!
Why not join them?!? Here is a list of lovely holiday homes to rent in Santander for your vacation. Choose from downtown apartments, country houses or beach-side retreats. You choose!
Messing about on the water
Echo Beach
Beaches abound in this coastal city.? the large protected bay and calm waters provide a different backdrop to the green city with it?s multitude of parks and fountains. Water sports, boat trips, fishing trips or just a place to laze away the day under the Spanish sun? some of the best of the 11 clean and sandy beaches to visit are:
- Playa de la Magdalena
- Playa del promontorio
- Primera
- Segunda
- Somo
- El Puntal
- Pedrena
The last three are linked to a 15 minute boat ride from the centre of town.? Or there?s always the beach at Las Atenas if you like to travel light ? it?s nudist!? Primera and Segunda? ? First and Second ? were so named not due to lack of imagination but the Primera was originally for nobility and Segunda for rank and file!
That would have been around the time of Alfonso XIII, who was given the Palacio de la Magdalena as a gift from the city, now it?s part of the wonderful Summer University.
Music Festival Santander
The Sound of Music
But of course, you came for the music.? Since 1951 the Festival Internacional de Santander has hosted some of the best Pop, Opera, Rock and Jazz music event.? Also throw in some folk dancing, magic shows, and lots of fireworks for a fantastic party.? It takes place across several venues such as the Auditorium and the Finca Altamira as well as outdoor areas and it happens throughout? the whole of August.
Late August sees the Romeria Montanesa del Faro, or the pilgrimage to the lighthouse which ends in everyone gathering at the Cabo Mayor Lighthouse, overlooking the golf course and the sea.? A reminder that a famous golfing son of Santander was the late Seve Ballesteros.
If you visit a little earlier then the end of this month (July) sees the Semana Grande, as the name suggests this is a week long fiesta of music, food and fireworks.
Peninsula de la Magdalena Santander
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We Shall Have a Fishy on the Dishy
Well, maybe not, but there is something fishy about Santander ? yes we?re on to food of course!
You can trawl (sorry) the beach-side restaurants of course but the absolute best place to go for a plate of the freshest catch of the day has to be the aptly named Barrio Pequero, down behind the main train station.? This is where the real people eat, it?s better value, a bit spit and sawdust but ultimately local and a there?s a? great selection.
Try out Los Ponucas or La Gaviota for a fantastic selection of:
- Grilled fish
- ?Clams
- ?Prawns
- ?Lobster
- ?Crab
For meat eaters choose from:
- T -? bone steaks
- Foie Gras
- Iberian Hams
- Rabbit Pie
- Wild Boar
Or just opt for the wonderful Treviso cheese of the area ? quite often the steak dishes are smothered in a melted Treviso sauce ? wash it all down with a local wine.? Hungry yet?!
A platter of seafood
This Town?
?is anything but a ghost town.? If the weather isn?t kind you can amuse the kids with a trip to see the museums.
Museo de Prehistoria y Arqueologia? Tues ? Sat 10:00-13:00? 14:00-19:00?
has everything you needed to know about the first locals, the cave men of Cantabria.? Tools and ancient art collide to give you a picture of times past.
Museo de Belles Artes Mon ? Fri 10:30-13:00 17:30 ? 20:00
is stuffed with contemporary art,and for the bookworms take a walk to the:
Casa Museo de Mene?dez Pelayo Mon ? Fri 9:30 ? 11:00?. which has yards of books.
A little shopping...
Fashion
You don?t have to be Lady GaGa to like clothes shopping and there are lots of little independent clothes shops and boutiques to browse in Santander.
If you want more there?s a 50-unit shopping center 3km from the city, Check out the Centro Comercial Valle Real, Carretera Bilbao Km 2.
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Ceramics from this area are particularly nice too, the little medieval town of? Santillana del Mar at 28kms away will provide you with all the selection you could wish for ,you can go potty in fact!
Browsing pottery in Santillana del Mar
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Flickr accreditation *emalaith/chrisinplymouth/javinovo/tell/edmittence/soon
Originally from Dublin, Carol has also lived in London and Wales before settling in Spain with her husband and family in 2006. She blogs about traditional village life, sparked by a passion for the culture and history of Spain, and teaches English at the local school.
Source: http://www.spain-holiday.com/blog/sing-a-song-for-santander-capital-of-cantabria.php
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