Spain’s Worst Kept Beautiful Secret : Santander
Most of the beautiful cities in the world are near or surrounded by even more majestic waters. History is written through these cities and the past curves the majesty of these places. Spain being a peninsula is surrounded by pristine and clear waters and is abundant in must visit cities.
There is Barcelona and its Iberian coast. And along these coastline is the ever famous Ibiza. And up north, the historical Cantabrian capital - Santander.
The majestic port city of Santander may not be your top of the list tourist destination but there is no shortage of awe-inspiring sites and history rich places in this Northern Spanish city. So sit back, and we will take you to the Cantabarian region of Spain.
The city's recorded history dates back to Roman times, when it was called 'Portus Victoriae Iuliobrigensium' and established here an important harbour which was the origin to the city we know today. However, its current name is reputed to have its origins in the third century, when legend has it that the head of a martyr, St. Emeterio (Santemter), was brought into the city. This is disputed by a number of other historians, who believe that the name is derived from St. Andrew (Sanct Ander) instead.
King Ferdinand VI declared Santander as a city in 1755. In 1833 the Spanish territorial reform gave Cantabria an administrative centre for the first time in its history. However, only in 1983 did the Spanish "province" of Santander became the Autonomous region of Cantabria.
Santander has been a popular destination among Spanish royalty since the late 19th century, and in 1909 the public gifted the Palacio Real de La Magdalena to the royal family. This English-style palace was the summer residence of the Spanish monarch from 1913 until 1930. The palace is now open to the public and is amongst the most-visited attractions in Santander.
The city was a favourite summer resort for King Alfonso 13th which brought about a boom in architecture and the development of Santander as a beach resort still popular today.
One of the saddest events in the history of Santander, was the fire which burnt the city during two days in 1941. Many buildings were destroyed, and the medieval city centre was lost, losing a part of the history of the city itself. Today, Santander is a charming, modern city with a rich cultural and historic heritage and seaside elegance. One of the most beautiful cities in Spain and a privileged destination for a holiday at the beach.
There are more historic cities to visit and places to discover, BCN Montjuic Tourist Point is on top of all these. Get your passports ready, and let’s see the world.