Santillana del Mar

Santillana del Mar is said to be one of the prettiest villages in Spain because it's so well taken care of. It's a pleasure to walk through the streets and see the pretty houses with their flowers and balconies. The best plan is to visit the town during the Renaissance festival when the plaza fills up with medieval stands and people in period dress. It's like going back in time! Since it's only a few streets wide, you can see Santillana del Mar pretty quickly, but it's best to take your time and enjoy all the history that happened there.

Santillana del Mar isn’t “santa” (holy) or “llana” (flat), nor is it near the “mar” (sea). However, it’s considered one of the prettiest towns in all of Spain. All you have to do is explore this tiny village on foot to appreciate its full historic and artistic value.

There are a lot of hotels, one campsite, and a zoo. I’d suggest the Posada el Jardín, a 4-star hotel you can stay at for only 100€/double room during the low season. It’s very clean, close to the city center, and the owners are just lovely.

Santillana is also a great starting point to visit the surrounding areas:

"It’s not santa, nor llana, nor near the mar", goes the popular saying. It’s a medieval village which is full of interesting things like cobblestone streets, defensive towers, regal homes emblazoned with coats of arms, an impressive Romanesque college, and a history full of nobility and aristocratic bloodlines. It’s the pride of Cantabria and Spain as a whole.

I was on a Semana Santa trip through Cantabria, and on one specific day we went to Santillana del Mar for a visit. The town is very relaxed and a lot smaller than I imagined (just how I like it!). Wandering through the streets and squares is definitely a treat for the senses. It's undoubtedly one of the most beautiful villages I've seen in Spain.

Preciosa población, con una magia excepcional por su construcción. Personas muy amables.