West of the Basque Country
Cantabria
Cantabria is located on the northern coast of Spain, bathed by the Cantabrian Sea and bordered by Asturias, Castile and León, and the Basque Country. It has a mountainous terrain with the Picos de Europa in the southwest, green valleys, and scenic beaches. The climate is oceanic, with abundant rainfall and mild temperatures.
Its capital is Santander, a city located within a large natural bay that was a tourist destination for Spanish royalty during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Ebro River, the longest river in Spain, originates in the mountains of Cantabria and flows to the Mediterranean Sea, passing through the Basque Country, Navarre, La Rioja, Aragon, and Catalonia before reaching the sea.
It is a land of green, mountainous landscapes and has two natural parks of interest in its interior: the Picos de Europa National Park and the Cabarceno Park.
Historical curiosities
The Altamira Caves: Known as the “Sistine Chapel of cave art,” they contain prehistoric paintings dating back more than 15,000 years. It is a unique place in the world where part of human history is undoubtedly written.
The origin of the Cantabrians comes from the pre-Roman people of the Cantabrians, famous for their resistance against the Roman Empire. Later, Cantabria became part of the Kingdom of Asturias and was one of the bases of the Christian kingdom that resisted the Muslim invasion after the Battle of Covadonga.
In the 19th century, Santander became a summer destination for Spanish royalty, especially during the reign of Alfonso XIII.
Gastronomy
Cantabria combines the best of the sea and the mountains:
Seafood, meat, cheese… I know that you like European cheese so i mention some of them such as Tresviso cheese or Picón Bejes-Tresviso (blue cheese).
They also produce high-quality white and red wines that are well worth mentioning. Surrounded by mountains and located next to the sea, Cantabria has a variety of microclimates, which is ideal for growing different types of grapes.
https://www.winetwotrip.com/bodegas
Historical sites
There are some historical sites that are worth mentioning, such as:
The Monastery of Liebana, one of the five holy sites of Christianity, along with Jerusalem, Rome, Santiago, and Cravaca. This monastery houses the largest surviving fragment of the cross of Christ (Lignum Crucis).
The Altamira Caves (Santillana del Mar), declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, house cave paintings that are 15,000 years old.
Santillana del Mar is notable for its Romanesque architecture from the Middle Ages, dating from the 12th and 13th centuries. A good example of this architecture is the Romanesque collegiate church of Santillana del Mar, although the town as a whole has a large number of buildings of interest and is one of the most beautiful towns in Spain.
Palacio de la Magdalena, the summer residence of the kings of Spain. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century on the Magdalena peninsula overlooking the sea and is a historical and cultural symbol of Santander.
As you can see Cantabria is a region of Spain that is well worth visiting. If you decide to do so, I recommend the company https://www.winetwotrip.com/ which is a pioneer in this sector and has always developed its tourist offerings with love and admiration for its own land.
