Santander: Maritime History, Culture and Nature

When looking for a hotel for your trip to Santander, it is worth first deciding what you want to focus on during your stay: maritime culture, the city’s history or the coastal landscape. The sights offer different perspectives, from a museum with a themed maritime exhibition to the La Magdalena Peninsula, with its palace and marine park. This allows you to plan your trip around the interests that bring you to Santander.

Maritime Culture and Architecture

Designed by Renzo Piano, the Centro Botín is a space for art and creative development. Its facilities include two large exhibition halls and an auditorium with a capacity of 300 people. Architecture, art and event space come together here as tangible features of the building; the stated capacity also gives an idea of the size of the auditorium.

The Museo Marítimo del Cantábrico has more than 3,000 square metres of exhibition space. Its maritime exhibition is divided into four sections: marine life, fishermen and fishing, maritime history, and maritime technology. The range of topics therefore spans the natural world of the sea, the people and activities involved in fishing, and the technical and historical dimensions of seafaring. Anyone particularly interested in Santander’s maritime character during a city break will find several different perspectives under one roof.

City History in Buildings and Artefacts

The Centro Arqueológico de la Muralla Medieval preserves a section of Santander’s medieval city wall. It was built after the town was granted its fuero in 1187. The centre displays ceramics, coins and other objects recovered during the restoration of the site. A visit therefore takes in both surviving sections of the wall and artefacts connected with the history of the site.

The Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción was declared a national monument in 1931. The bell tower of the cathedral complex houses the Centro de Interpretación de la Historia de la Ciudad. It presents the history of the buildings and the city; the top of the tower also offers panoramic views over Santander. Those interested in the city’s development can bring together historical context and a view across the city as part of one visit.

The Mercado de La Esperanza is also notable for architecture enthusiasts: it is considered an outstanding example of 19th-century iron architecture in Spain. Together with the historic sites and the archaeological centre, it shows that Santander’s urban history can be explored not only through exhibitions but also through its buildings.

La Magdalena and the Coastal Landscape

The La Magdalena Peninsula covers 24.5 hectares. It is home to the Palacio de La Magdalena, which served as the summer residence of Alfonso XIII and Victoria Eugenia. Since 1933, the palace has also been the main venue for the summer courses of the Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo. These different uses place the site in the context of both the history of the Spanish monarchy and academic life.

A tourist train tours the peninsula and explains its history along the way. Check operating details before your trip. Visitors can also see seals, sea lions and penguins at an open-air marine park on the peninsula. The palace’s history, a narrated ride and the chance to observe marine animals offer different possible focuses for a visit to La Magdalena.

The Senda de Mataleñas passes small beaches, cliffs and parks. The Bay of Santander is another point of interest for nature lovers: it is considered a refuge for biodiversity and attracts birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts. By contrast, El Sardinero offers a historical perspective: from 1847, Primera de El Sardinero was promoted as suitable for therapeutic sea bathing. Its history also shows how early visits to the seaside became part of Santander’s appeal to tourists.

Getting Around and Dining

The city centre can be explored on foot, as the distances are relatively short. When planning, you can combine this general guidance with your personal interests: museums and architectural history offer a different focus from the coastal landscape or the La Magdalena Peninsula. Visitors can also enjoy fish and seafood in restaurants and taverns, another link to the city’s maritime character.

Discover more destinations: Ontoria, Santoña, Rumoroso, Val De San Vicente, Luey, Cabuérniga, Vega De Pas, Rasines.

For the wider travel overview: Cantabria.