C A N T A B R I A
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The evergreen basins of the Pas, Pisueña (Carriedo) and Miera rivers perfectly respond to the most wi-despread stereotype of Cantabria: intricate valleys, grasslands that are lost behind the hills of the moun-tains and people of a reserved character. These three valleys, contiguous and until recently cut off from each other by road (nowadays driving is not a problem, except in heavy winter snowfalls), have been ancestrally communicated precisely through the mountains that divide them, due to the transhumance its inhabitants, the pasiegos.
The most important population centers in the area are Liérganes – whose old part has been declared a historical-artistic complex, Villacarriedo and Selaya.The pasiegas lands have been populated since time immemorial, and this is reflected in the landscape. Pasiegas cottages are scattered throughout the rugged pasture landscape. The Three Villas Pasiegas: San Pedro del Romeral, Vega de Pas and San Roque de Riomiera are the best example of this way of life that its people have been able to transmit from generation to generation. The well-kept meadows, although created by the hand of man over the centuries, are one more attribute of an ecosystem in which nature and traditional ways of life are closely integrated.
The Miera Valley, with narrow gorges carved into the rock by the river, is the most closed in the region, and at its head is a glacial cirque. The native forest – hazel, ash, chestnut, oak – is quite reduced in favor of the meadows.
You can find this information and more in our guide.
♦ VILLAGES
The Cabárceno Nature Park is home to almost 120 animal species from the five continents that live in semi-freedom, distributed in large area enclosures where one or more species coexist.
The Cabárceno Nature Park is not a conventional zoo or a natural park. It is a space naturalized by the hand of man, based on the primitive beauty of its karst landscape, on an old open-pit mining operation.
The Cabárceno Nature Park is an ideal place to spend the day with the family as it has numerous re-creational areas, picnic areas, viewpoints, botanical routes, cafes, restaurants, children’s playground.
Its documentary history starts early, with mentions from the 9th century to the Cayón Valley. Their lands were the dominion of the Garcilaso and the Marqués de Santillana, although this regime aroused great resistance that gave rise to the Viejo and de los Valles lawsuits, which would result in the return to the realengo. It was one of the municipalities that took part in the Juntas de Puente San Miguel, where the province of Cantabria was established in the 18th century.Santa María de Cayón is a territory rich in terms of monuments.
The parish churches of the municipal capital (12th century), San Andrés (from the same period), in Argomilla and equipped with sarcophagi of a Roman necropolis, and the hermitage of San Miguel de Sardinia, also Romanesque (13th century), are its most appreciated values.
Esles is the most important town, from an architectural point of view, in the entire municipality of Santa María de Cayón. In the town you can see numerous emblazoned stately homes located in large gardens, alternated with traditional houses. In Esles, the navy brigadier Juan Antonio Gutiérrez de la Concha (1760-1810) and the actor and director Ramón Pereda (1903-1986) were born.
The Madrid painter Fernando Bermejo (1949) is linked to this town.Its parish church from the seventeenth century has a tower built in sandstone at the beginning of the twentieth century and has a large altarpiece inside, there are also various chapels and hermitages from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries in the urban complex.
Award to the most beautiful town of Cantabria 2018.
In Castañeda we will find the Collegiate Church of Santa Ana, or Castañeda, as it is commonly known, it is a magnificent Romanesque temple, whose original construction was later completed with neoclas-sical elements.
It has a 19th century cemetery in the back.In medieval times it was the nucleus of feudal rights over numerous places in the Toranzo and Carriedo valleys, so it is an inseparable part of the historical evolution not only of the municipality, but of the entire region of the Pisueña River.
Capital of the municipality of the same name, its urban complex, declared of national historical-artistic interest in 1978, contains valuable classicist architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries, the result of the economic boom that the artillery factory fostered in that period in the region.
Liérganes and his story are linked to the legend of the Man-Fish, which like all legends has something real (its protagonist, Francisco de la Vega) and something fictional (its varied ending). Francisco de la Vega was born in the town in 1660 and, after throwing himself into the Miera River, he disappeared into the Cantabrian Sea. They say that he was located years later, lost his reason and speech, in the bay of Cádiz.
A walk through the historical-artistic complex of Villacarriedo will reveal to us, in a few hundred meters, the history of the valley, under the witnesses of the magnificent Baroque Palace of Soñanes, the school of the Piarist Fathers, the mountain houses in a row and small churches . We can also see the “Cajigona de Villacarriedo”, located in one of its squares, a centenary oak and emblematic of the municipality.
Its exquisite gastronomy offers a variety of dishes such as “mountain stew”, pasiegos cheeses, steaks and lambs as well as the typical sobaos and quesadas.
Puente Viesgo Located in the northern part of the Toranzo valley and crossed by the most famous river in Cantabria, the Pas, Puente Viesgo was established as a population center in the late Middle Ages.In Puente Viesgo you will find one of the most important prehistoric cave complexes in the region. It is specifically on Monte Castillo (peak with a regular conical shape), where the various cavities that house samples of Palaeolithic art open.
These caves are known as El Castillo, Las Chimeneas, Las Monedas and La Pasiega.Since the 18th century, Puente Viesgo has had a spa that takes advantage of the medicinal waters of the spring. Its thermal waters were declared of public utility in 1862 and are especially indicated for di-seases of the heart, the nervous system, arterial hypertension and visceral rheumatism.
Of medieval origin, it formed with its neighborhoods of Campillo, Pisueña and Bustantegua one of the four municipalities into which the old Carriedo Valley was divided around the year 1000. Its territory formed the manors of Lara and Castañeda, although it was the House of the Vega the one who had the greatest influence.
The urban complex of Selaya is its main heritage as far as art is concerned. It is a group of mansions and popular houses, churches and hermitages, all of which were built between the 15th and 19th cen-turies. In Selaya there is also a “heraldic scroll” from the 18th century, with the arms of Miera, Sámano and other nobles. It was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1980.
This municipality has a great tradition in the artisan manufacture of the most typical sweets of Cantabria: sobaos and quesadas pasiegas.
It is a medieval town, it is full of cobbled streets, it has been declared a historic-artistic complex.It is popularly known as the town of the three lies since it is neither holy, nor flat, nor does it have a sea. This small municipality is one of the most important tourist attractions in the region, as it is home to La Cueva de Altamira, considered “The Sistine Chapel” of Quaternary art, and a well-preserved historic center in which the Collegiate Church dating from the 12th century stands out.
Other buildings such as La Torre de Don Borja, La Torre del Merino or El Palacio de los Velarde, both from the 15th century, stand out alongside them Peredos Barreda palace, Los Villas house and Los Bustamantes house, all of them from century XVIII.
It is one of the three villas pasiegas. An eminently livestock area, with a great wealth of pastures, at the bottom of Portillo de Lunada. It offers beautiful places that in winter, due to their altitude, register co-pious snowfalls.
The dispersion of the population is very typical in this region.Although the landscape and rural settlements are undoubtedly its main attribute, San Roque de Riomiera also has some artistic manifestations such as the parish church of La Pedrosa, built in the seventeenth century although with numerous later reforms.
The imagery was destroyed during the Civil War. The main altarpiece is from the mid-18th century and was brought from Burgos.
Located southeast of Cantabria, on the border with Burgos, Vega de Pas is one of the three pasiegas towns, built in medieval times. From here illustrious Cantabrians descend like Marcelino Menéndez Pelayo, the Marquis of Valdecilla and Gerardo Diego. Many of the broodwives of the Spanish Court for centuries were also from this land.
What is really significant about this village is its rural architecture, concretized in the Pasiega hut, whose influence is evident in its traditional way of life. It is a simple stone construction used by the pasiego in their particular transhumant life in search of the best pastures for livestock.
Comillas, has been declared a historical-artistic complex on March 29th 1985, it is better known by “the town of the archbishops”, since 5 prelates were born who during the Middle Ages occupied various dioceses. It is worth highlighting the magnificent popular architecture and the manor houses with their coats of arms.
Its cobbled streets and squares invite you to check every corner of the town.It has some of the most important Art Nouveau buildings in Cantabria, which include Sobrellano Palace Chapel and the Pantheon, the Pontifical University and, of course, the brilliant El Capricho by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi.
♦ BEACHES
Somocuevas beach is characterized by being one of the most charming coves in Cantabria. To access it, it is necessary to walk the 139 steps. This beach has fine sand and calm waters, it gives you the opportunity to watch the sunset and nudism is allowed, of which a high percentage of bathers make use of. Without a doubt one of the best recommendations of what we call in Cantabria the Costa Quebrada.
They all have something in common, an extensive blanket of clean, fine, golden sand. That sand so cha–racteristic of the Cantabrian beaches. The list is long: Los Peligros, La Magdalena, Bikini, El Camello, La Concha, Primera de El Sardinero, Segunda de El Sardinero, Los Molinucos, Mataleñas, El Bocal, Rosamunda, La Maruca and Virgen del Mar.
The most popular are : el Sardinero 1 and 2 , being the largest in the city. Next to the gardens of the Palacio de la Magdalena, we find the Camello beach followed by La Concha, which is a little smaller. Closer to the city center and on the Bay side are the beaches of Los Peligros, Los Bikinis and La Magdalena.
Somo Beach, El Puntal, Loredo Beach, Langre Beach and Galizano Beach.
Its landscape is identified by a wide plain, it is formed by impressive cliffs that protect the beautiful beaches of Langre, Arnillas and Galizano, which are a natural paradise.
In the whole area of the beaches it is easy to find surf schools where you can also rent material for water sports.
Without a doubt one of our best recommendations for a family vacation. Galizano beach is characterized by a river estuary, a lot of vegetation and it also protects from the wind. It is a very safe space for the little ones because of the water rafts that allow the whole family to play and relax.
La Concha beach and Los Locos beach.
La Concha beach is the most accessible and crowded of the sandy areas of the town, it is located in one of the coastal enclaves of greatest tourist interest in Cantabria.
Los Locos beach in Suances is one of the best ones to surf in all Spain.Soil: golden, fine-grained sand. With some unevenness to access both beaches.
El Sable beach in Tagle is a beautiful and isolated beach in the municipality of Suances. Soil: fine-grained golden sand.
♦ LOCAL SERVICES
Mesón Madrileño
» Phone: 942 563 327
» Location: https://goo.gl/maps/ve8G5eKM54v9vHhG9
» Distance: 250 M.
Logos
» Phone: 942 564 717
» Location: https://goo.gl/maps/VYiLKu2dJL1Hr1uG6
» Distance: 350 M.
Pastelería María Luisa
» Phone: 942 564 186
» Location: https://goo.gl/maps/uwHrnGUbAbb3VqPX6
» Distance: 350 M.
Jade
» Phone: 942 563 226
» Location: https://www.google.com/maps/place/JADE
» Distance: 700 M.
La Rioja
» Phone: 942 517 813
» Location: https://goo.gl/maps/RhKqKWRgdL1VVhpq7
» Distance: 400 M.
La Alquitara
» Phone: 924 562 767
» Location: https://goo.gl/maps/GXP3FBa6MPXfnCXH6
» Distance: 450 M.
La Puebla (mexicano)
» Phone: 697 892 172
» Location: https://g.page/LaPueblaGastroMX?share
» Distance: 180 M.
Logos
» Phone: 942 564 717
» Location: https://goo.gl/maps/VYiLKu2dJL1Hr1uG6
» Distance: 350 M.
Pizzeria Debiaggi
» Phone: 942 943750
» Location: https://goo.gl/maps/xFx1Ci3SGnAaV1848
» Distance: 350 M.
La Rioja
» Phone: 942 517 813
» Location: https://goo.gl/maps/RhKqKWRgdL1VVhpq7
» Distance: 400 M.
Mesón los Robles
» Phone: 942 564 845
» Location: https://goo.gl/maps/GoMnD6ceiiNuKRiv5
» Distance: 500 M.
BEST LOCAL RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATION ⇒ Bar Raquel (Penagos)
» Phone: 699 80 47 57
» Location: https://goo.gl/maps/WNX22JvzXFKF9hSh9
» Distance: 5 Km
La tienda de Pedro Garcia (Solares)
Reservation is required. Lunch and dinner.
» Phone: 942 521 178
» Location: https://goo.gl/maps/iL7DxYvH5FM7HnHq8
» Distance: 13 Km
Pan de Cuco (Ribamontán al Mar)
Reservation is required. Lunch and dinner.
» Phone: 942 504 028
» Location: https://goo.gl/maps/Qch6mW1buS7L4XXQA
» Distance: 22 Km
Bodega la Conveniente (Santander)
Reservations are not accepted. Dinner.
» Location: https://goo.gl/maps/QTsxKqPb1ToiUBGw8
» Distance: 22 Km
Restaurante Cantabria
Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
» Phone: 942 221 074
» Location: https://g.page/restaurantecantabriasantander?share
» Distance: 23 Km
La Caseta de Bombas
Lunch and drinks.
» Phone: 942 742 668
» Location: https://g.page/lacasetadebombas?share
» Distance: 30 Km
Lupa Sarón
» Location: https://goo.gl/maps/MHacU64sJktXKkv39
» Distance: 130 M.
BM Sarón
» Location: https://goo.gl/maps/oHZR55tN1U57gHMCA
» Distance: 800 M
