What to See & Do in Santander
Sights You can see most of the attractions on foot. The old city of Santander was rebuilt after 1941 with wide boulevards, a modern waterfront promenade, sidewalk cafés, shops, restaurants and hotels. The cathedral is the most important religious building in Santander and comprises two 13th Century gothic churches, built one on top of the other. The lower church, Iglesia del Santisimo Cristo, contains Roman excavations and the skulls of early Christian martyrs. The buildings and landmarks in Santander run from the City Hall to Puerto Chico. Start your tour at the Plaza del Generalísimo, which is just opposite the modernist style City Hall which fronts the busy Esperanza market. From the north side of the market you can see San Francisco Church. Head down Cervantes Street to the Fine Arts Museum and the Biblioteca y Casa-Museo Menéndez Pelayo in Rubio Street, which is the former home and now museum and library of the famous writer. Heading down Jesús de Monasterio Street and Avenida de Calvo Sotelo, you come to Plaza de Alfonso XIII and the Cathedral with La Cripta del Cristo (Christ’s Crypt). In the north of the city you will find Paseo de Pereda, lined with beautiful buildings, and the Iglesia de la Anunciación which dates from the 17th century and is now Banco Santander’s headquarters. Walk through the arch of this building into the Calle Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola and the Ensanche district, where the city first grew beyond the old walls. Here is the Plaza de José Antonio, and Santa Lucía Church next to Plaza de Cañadío. Heading east to return to Paseo de Pereda, you will find all the new buildings of Santander. The beautiful Plaza de Matías Montero is close to the Regional Historical and Archaeological Museum, and by crossing back over to the dockside you arrive at Castelar Street, one of the prettiest in Santander. Finally you will reach Puerto Chico with its dock and the Real Club Marítimo (Royal Yacht Club). Eating out Santanda is a gourmet’s paradise. Try specialities such as rabas (fried squid), bocartes rebozados (breaded whitebait), and fresh shellfish, and the excellent local beef dish, cocido montañés (a stew made of beans, meat and cabbage). The Bodega El Riojano (Rio de la Pila 5) is one of the most famous tapas bars in Santander, where you can experience the delights of various stews, meat and fish dishes. La Sardina (Glorieta del Doctor Fleming 3) is Santander’s best fish restaurant. Back to Santander
