Santillana del Mar - "Santillana del Mar is a historic town situated in Cantabria, Spain. Its many historic buildings attract thousands of holidaymakers every year.
There is an old saying that Santillana del Mar is The Town of Three Lies, since it is neither a Saint (Santo), nor flat (llana), nor is it by the sea (Mar) as implied by its name. However, the name actually derives from Santa Juliana (or Santa Illana) whose remains are kept in the Colegiata, a Romanesque church and former Benedictine monastery."
My parents holiday home was located just above this village so we spent a great deal of time here.
Not much English spoken at all, so if you go there, make sure you are armed with a phrase book.
This small town is on the Pilgrims route.
In both Santillana de Mar and Comillas live bands would play Spanish music in the village squares. You could sit and listen on the benches dotted around the square, or find a bistro to have dinner with music in the background, or simply have a drink in a bar. Very festive.
Grand Palace |
Santa Juliana Church |
Comillas is a small township and municipality in the northern reaches of Spain, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. The Marquisate of Comillas, a fiefdom of Spanish nobility, holds ceremonial office in the seat of power at a small castle which overlooks the town. The Comillas Pontifical University was housed here before it moved to Madrid, and the old university buildings are among the finest examples of architecture in the town. Besides this, there are many notable medieval and baroque buildings
Capricho de Gaud
Capricho de Gaud |
Chapel Pantheon of the Marquis de Comillas |
Me in the town square |
Palacio de las Marquesas |
Ashlee and friend |
The university |