The 15 most beautiful towns in Cantabria
Cantabria is one of the smallest autonomous communities in Spain, with an area of 5,321 square kilometers and a population of 581,949 inhabitants (number 16 in the entire country). Even so, thanks to its historical heritage, the beauty of its landscapes, the cultural backwaters and the festivities that take place there celebrate, ** has become one of the most favorite tourist destinations for Spaniards and other tourists international
We are facing a mountainous and coastal region, characterized by a temperate, mild climate and abundant rainfall (up to 2,400 mm per year in mountain areas). This makes Cantabria the perfect breeding ground for dazzling biodiversity and breathtaking landscapes: despite Due to its small size, this autonomous community is home to more than 90 beaches, 37 protected areas and a myriad of species emblematic.
Gastronomy, wooded landscapes, mountainous environments, biodiversity, history, sea, beach... Cantabria has it all. If you are already preparing your suitcases to leave for this destination, stay with us a little longer: below we present the 15 most beautiful towns in Cantabria.
- We recommend you read: "The 12 most beautiful towns in Asturias"
What towns in Cantabria do I have to visit?
Cantabria has a total of 102 municipalities, each of them with its landscapes and peculiarities, which is why choosing only a few of them is a less complex task. Even so, we show you in the following lines the 15 that have caught our attention the most. Let's go there.
1. San Vicente de la Barquera
With about 4,000 inhabitants spread over 41 square kilometers, San Vicente de la Barquera is one of the most popular fishing villages in the Cantabrian Sea. There are 5 assets of cultural interest in the municipality: the church of Santa María de los Ángeles, the former convent of San Luis, the castle of San Vicente de la Barquera, the tower of the Provost and the Puebla Old woman.
From a natural point of view, this territory it has a beautiful list of beaches and, in addition, it hosts some of the most iconic festivities in all of Cantabria: The folía and the Carmen procession are examples of this.
2. Santillana del Mar
Santillana del Mar is a municipality located on the western coast of Cantabria. As a curious fact we will say that it is popularly known as the town of the three lies, since "it is neither holy, nor is it flat, nor does it have a sea." This region is home to about 4,000 inhabitants in 25.5 square kilometers, which are mainly dedicated to agriculture and tourism.
We could get lost in buildings and beaches, but, without a doubt, the most important thing in Santillana del Mar are the Altamira caves, "The Sistine Chapel of Quaternary Art". Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the paintings in these caves will transport you back to the Magdalenian and Solutrean periods, some 36,000 years ago. Anyway, its entrance is very restricted.
3. Pots
This is one of the most striking municipalities in Cantabria due to its geographical location. It is a flat terrain surrounded by mountains, since the town of Potes is located at the confluence of four valleys.
The town of Potes enjoys the category of a historical complex and the church of San Vicente built there as a monument, but without a doubt the most striking attraction of this municipality is the gastronomy. The lebaniego stew, one of its culinary stars, will delight the most demanding palates.
4. Quotation marks
Located in the region of the Western Coast, Comillas borders to the north with the imposing Cantabrian Sea. Once again we find a territory of unequaled historical value, since the Meaza caves discovered here present Palaeolithic paintings of some 14,000 years old.
Even so, Comillas does not fall short in the most recent historical value: the old square, the church parish church and some houses in the center of the town are an excellent example of popular architecture from the century XVIII. Buildings full of history and memories stain this picturesque town.
5. Carmona
Located on the slopes of the Nansa River, Carmona is a town considered as a historical-artistic complex due to the typical architecture of its mountain houses. If you go to this small territory, you will be able to observe first-hand the most typical cattle farms in northern Spain and a wooden handicraft preserved throughout the centuries. Undoubtedly, In backwaters like this it seems that time does not pass.
6. Bárcena Mayor
Bárcena Mayor is a rural nucleus with abundant houses typical of the area. Despite its small size and its negligible population density (of 84 inhabitants in 2009), this town became a historical-artistic complex in 1979, due to the impeccable preservation of the mountain architecture it presents, most of it conceived at the time fernandina.
7. Mogrovejo
Again, we show you a small village of 44 inhabitants located in the municipality of Camaleño, in a very dominant high. In addition to presenting an important group of popular houses, the Mogrovejo tower, built in the 13th century and declared a historic site in 1985.
8. Viesgo Bridge
Puente Viesgo is a Cantabrian municipality located in the region of the Pasiegos valleys, on the banks of the Pas river. We are facing a much larger territory than the last ones we have named, since it has an area of 36 square kilometers and some 2,500 inhabitants spread over its territory.
This municipality has six assets of cultural interest: Casa de los Fuente-Pila (monument), Cueva de la Pasiega (archaeological site), cave El Castillo (archaeological site), Cueva de las Chimeneas (archaeological site), Cueva de las Monedas and other sets of areas archaeological. Without a doubt, Puente Viesgo has an incalculable historical value for its set of prehistoric caves.
9. Noja
The succession of beaches is the main tourist attraction of this municipality, being the Tregandín beach the most iconic, with 4.4 kilometers of extension. Those who are passionate about nature must pass through this place yes or yes, because in it is the Natural Park of the Marismas de Santoña, Victoria and Joyel.
Prepare to become an expert in ornithology, because with patience and dedication they can be observed in this park more than 130 different species of birds, as it is an important visit point for many birds migratory.
10. Castro Urdiales
Castro Urdiales is a municipality that stands out for the history it tells, since in its time it was a Roman settlement. It preserves an interesting old town and stands out mainly for its gastronomy. Anchovies in olive oil and sea bream with snails are two of its most exquisite dishes.
11. Cosio
Cosio was chosen as the most beautiful town in Cantabria in 2016, which is said soon. This small population center stands out for its architecture from the 17th and 17th centuries and for the festivities that are celebrated here, such as the celebration of Nuestra Señora del Carmen and San Miguel.
12. Liencres
Another coastal town, this time located in the municipality of Piélagos. In this territory the dunes of Liencres stand out above anything else, located in a Natural park of great geomorphological and landscape interest that was declared a protected area in the year 1986. Undoubtedly, the dunes of this area will fascinate you, as they present a picture impossible to see in any other Spanish region.
13. Cartes
Cartes is a municipality belonging to the Cantabrian region of Besaya, named after the river that crosses it. Its urban area was listed as a historical site in 1985, and has three important cultural assets: the church of Santa María, the historical complex of Riocorvo and the town of Cartes. This municipality is also characteristic for its many mills.
14. Laredo
Laredo is another of those municipalities in Cantabria that stands out for its beaches, more specifically for La Salvé beach, Regatón beach and Aila beach. In addition, it is part of the Santoña, Victoria and Joyel Marshes Natural Park, already described in previous lines.
15. Liérganes
The urban area of Liérganes, declared artistic heritage in 1978, it concentrated multiple examples of classicist architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries. You will be surprised to know that the legend of the fish man was born here, nickname of Francisco de la Vega Casar, a mythological being from Cantabrian mythology.
Resume
As you may have seen in these lines, Cantabria has everything despite its small geographical area: history, legends, paleontology, diversity, pristine towns of past architecture and many more fascinating qualities.
In addition, all this is accompanied by a landscape of unparalleled beauty, since its conditions Temperate climates allow the growth of vegetables and the development of fauna in an environment as beautiful as steep. Without a doubt, Cantabria is the perfect balance between human society and nature.
Bibliographic references:
- San Vicente de la Barquera, Turismodecantabria.com. Picked up on November 29 at https://www.turismodecantabria.com/descubrela/municipios/32-san-vicente-de-la-barquera
- Santillana del Mar, Turismodecantabria.com. Picked up on November 29 at https://www.turismodecantabria.com/descubrela/municipios/17-santillana-del-mar
- Potes, Turismodecantabria.com. Picked up on November 29 at https://www.turismodecantabria.com/descubrela/municipios/45-potes
- Comillas, Turismodecantabria.com. Picked up on November 29 at https://www.turismodecantabria.com/descubrela/municipios/15-destino
- Bárcena Mayor, Turismodecantabria.com. Picked up on November 29 at https://www.turismodecantabria.com/disfrutala/que-visitar/219-barcena-mayor/buscador-cHJvY2VzYXJCdXNxdWVkYT1vayZpZENhdGVnb3JpYT02Jg==
- Mogrovejo, Turismodecantabria.com. Picked up on November 29 at https://www.turismodecantabria.com/disfrutala/que-visitar/213-mogrovejo
- Puente Viesgo, Turismodecantabria.com. Picked up on November 29 at https://www.turismodecantabria.com/descubrela/municipios/40-puente-viesgo
- Noja, Turismodecantabria.com. Picked up on November 29 at https://www.turismodecantabria.com/descubrela/municipios/50-noja
- Castro Urdiales, Turismodecantabria.com. Picked up on November 29 at https://www.turismodecantabria.com/descubrela/municipios/34-castro-urdiales