Santander Facts

Although Santander is not a particularly large city, it has a peculiar geography that has fascinated tourists for many years. The region's mountains directed the city's development to conform to an odd shape: running west-to-east and hugging the northern rim of the bay.

There are two distinct and equally-important parts of the city: the center and El Sardinero.

The center is where you will find most of the shops, businesses, and services, as well as the greater portion of monuments and tourist attractions. This is where the main streets San Fernando, Burgos, Jesús de Monasterio, Calvo Sotelo Avenue, and Paseo de Pereda all meet.

The city starts at Somorrostro Hill, where the cathedral stands and...

...has always been a rival of San Sebastián in the east, but it has never attained the premier status of that Basque resort. It did, however, become a royal residence from 1913 to 1930, after city officials presented an English-style Magdalena Palace to Alfonso XIII and his queen, Victoria Eugenia.

An ancient city, Santander was damaged by a 1941 fire, which destroyed the Old Quarter and most of its dwellings. It was rebuilt along original lines, with wide boulevards, a waterfront promenade, sidewalk cafes, shops, restaurants, and hotels.

Most visitors to Santander head for El Sardinero [SS], a resort less than 2.5km (1 1/2 miles) from the city. Buses and trolleys make the short run between the...