Historical Santander
The city of Santander can be found in Northern Spain, which is famed for its amazing landscapes, idyllic beaches, friendly locals and natural reserves, unspoiled by tourism. These are some of the many unknown treasures of Spain in this northern region.
The city
Santander is a major city of Cantabria which is the Spanish region with a population of 185,000. Although mid-sized, this city spans along the bay with beaches and harbors on its north, and the city centre at its south with some green mountains. It’s sandwiched between the cool blue and lush greens.
History
Santander is rich in history as part of the Cantabria; one can discover amazing prehistoric remains, cave paintings of Altamira in prehistoric times and Paleolithic caves with artistic remains.History has it that the Cantabria was the last region to fall under the Roman Empire as the people resisted vehemently; thus, the Roman influence here is superficial and limited unlike other of their conquests.
After the Romans, the Visigoths came in 574 to build the Duchy of Cantabria, which was thought to be part of Castile and Asturias. Nevertheless, Santander rose to be a significant harbor for Castile then when trading was established with the New World.
In 1755, Santander was officially a city through King Ferdinand VI. It was King Alfonso XIII’s favorite summer escape which triggers off Santander as a popular beach resort today.A tragic fire in 1941 caused Santander to lose a lot of medieval buildings and thus, its historical heritage.
Santander today
This is one Spanish city which you must visit when touring Spain. Even the locals drop in frequently for a holiday. It not only appeals as a tourist resort but also as a business centre for conferences and congresses. Santander today is charming and modern with a historical heritage full of culture at the seaside.
The beautiful and idyllic beaches, captivating museums, well maintained gardens and natural reserves are sights you would want to indulge while at Santander. The whole Cantabria region is well set to explore nature at her best besides enjoying the modern sky resorts, traditional but beautiful local villages and prehistoric and world heritage sites. Other interesting places of discovery in Santander include caves, parks and its University.
As it was renowned for Spanish politicians and the aristocrats to enjoy their holiday, Santander has wonderful palaces and promenades for your viewing pleasure. This city also boasts of famous local writers such as Jose Maria de Pereda.
Its fishing ports are still active as Santander is located between the mountains and the sea, which accounts for its succulent seafood catches such as squids and shellfish. Its meat dishes are excellent as well as its traditional desserts like ‘corbatas’ (puff pastry), ‘quesada’ (cheesecake) and ‘sobaos pasiegos’ (sponge cakes)