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Palace
Palacio de la Magdalena
Palácio built between 1909 and 1911 by public subscription to serve as the summer residence of King Afonso XIII, on the península da Madalena, surrounded by a seaside park.
Cantábria · Spain Capital
Santander
In the destination Asturias and Cantabria.
In the photo: Palácio da Magdalena, Santander
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The city
What to expect from Santander.
Santander is the capital of Cantábria, on a bay of the Cantabrian Sea in northern Spain. The península da Madalena has the palácio built to be the royal summer residence, and next to it are the beaches do Sardinero, which made the city a seaside resort in the early 20th century. In the center are the Gothic cathedral, the mercado de ferro da Esperança and the Centro Botín, by Renzo Piano, over the bay next to the Paseo de Pereda. The Cabo Mayor lighthouse marks the entrance to the port. About 30 km away is the Museu de Altamira, with a replica of the cave of prehistoric paintings, and 17 km away is the Cabárceno park.
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The local experience
What to see in Santander
Beach
Playas de El Sardinero
The two large beaches do Sardinero, which turned Santander into a resort for royalty and the bourgeoisie in the early 20th century, with the Gran Casino and the gardens of Piquío.
Church
Catedral de Santander
Gothic Cathedral of the Assumption, on the former hill of Somorrostro, with a church-crypt below and visible Roman remains; it houses the mausoleum of Menéndez Pelayo.
Art centre
Centro Botín
Centro de arte da Fundação Botín, designed by Renzo Piano and Luis Vidal and opened in 2017, suspended over the bay next to the jardines de Pereda, with viewpoints over the water.
See 5 more places in Santander
Museum
Museo Marítimo del Cantábrico
Museum and aquarium on the shore of Santander's bay, showcasing life in the Cantábrico Sea, fishing, naval history and traditional boats.
Lighthouse
Faro de Cabo Mayor
Lighthouse from 1839 on the cliffs of Cabo Mayor, 91 metres above the sea, marking the entrance to the port of Santander, with an exhibition space and coastal paths.
Market
Mercado de la Esperanza
Iron market opened in 1904 in central Santander, next to the town hall, with fish and seafood stalls on the ground floor and meats, cheeses and vegetables on the upper floor.
Museum
Museo de Altamira
National museum next to the cave of Altamira, a World Heritage Site, in Santillana del Mar, about 30 km from Santander, featuring the Neocave, a faithful replica of the prehistoric paintings.
Park
Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno
Wildlife park in semi-freedom covering 750 hectares, in a former iron-mining valley 17 km from Santander, with over 120 species in large natural enclosures.
Routes in Spain
Santander is part of the Northern Way to Santiago on foot
The Camino de Santiago along the Cantabrian coast: from the Basque Country to Galicia on foot, via San Sebastián, Bilbao, Santander and Gijón, between the sea and the green mountains.
