Santillana del Mar
There is much more to Santillana del Mar than the Cave of Altamira. In the ninth century the Monasterio de Santa Juliana was already in the town, which was converted into the renowned Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana in the twelfth century, the first and most important example of Romanesque art in Cantabria.
From the late twelfth-early thirteenth century, surrounding Collegiate Church and its beautiful cloister, a population started to grow. As evidenced by the wealth of the many mansions and palaces that make up this town, the people experienced times of great economic strength.
In its medieval cobbled streets, we can also find many craftsmen workshops and sample tasty milk with sponge cake, the most popular snack in the village.
