Santillana del Mar

Santillana del Mar is protected as a historic-artistic ensemble, and its collegiate church was already listed in 1889, the first monument in Cantabria to be protected. The village grew up around a monastery whose foundation is traditionally placed in the 8th or 9th century and which, according to legend, held the relics of Saint Juliana; the name Santillana comes from Santa Juliana. The Romanesque collegiate church dates mostly from the 12th century, and its Romanesque cloister with 42 capitals is considered one of the finest in the region. The stone houses with coats of arms and balconies are partly Baroque; many were built in the 18th century by emigrants who had returned from the Americas. The Torre del Merino dates from the 14th century.

The Altamira caves, about 2 km away, were discovered in 1868 and recognised as a prehistoric site in 1879. The original cave is largely closed to the public; in the museum you can see a replica. Coaches are a common sight in the village in high season, so weekdays or the shoulder seasons are better. According to a pilgrim's account, the bus station is about 600 m outside the village.