Santander and Faro de Ajo

SANTANDER

Santander is an elegant city that extends over a wide bay with views of the Cantabrian Sea. Its historic quarter includes a group of majestic buildings situated against an incredible natural backdrop of sea and mountains. Its marine and commercial tradition is linked to tourism. Its main attractions are the famous El Sardinero beach, its promenade and the La Magdalena peninsula. The cultural wealth of the Cantabrian capital is enriched by being part of the Pilgrim's Road to Santiago de Compostela, and by the neighbouring Altamira Caves, both of which have been declared World Heritage Sites. 

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Beach of Sardinero
Sardinero is located in the heart of the city of Santander and is one of the most popular beaches in Cantabria. It offers a wide range of services and is bordered by an attractive seafront promenade. Following the coastline will lead you to the second Sardinero and the La Concha beach, which are joined at low tide. 
Sardinero is lined with hotels, restaurants, and a casino, and is regarded as one of the most elegant beach resorts in Spain. 

Cathedral of Santander

Originally, the Cathedral of Santander was the Abbey of San Emeterio, the starting point of the city. Consecrated to the Holy Martyrs, San Emeterio y San Celedonio, it was declared a Heritage of Cultural Interest. The roundness of its lines often leads people confuse it with a military fortress. Indeed, it is located on what used to be a hill because that was the best place to guard the entrance of the bay. The monument is complemented by a beautiful Gothic cloister whose garden was the cemetery of the town in the Middle Ages.

Palace of Magdalena

The Palace of La Magdalena is the most emblematic building in the city of Santander and one of the most prominent examples of civil architecture in northern Spain. Situated in a majestic landscape, it is located at the highest point of the Peninsula bearing the same name. Its construction, between 1908 and 1912, following the plans of Gonzalo Bringas and Javier González de Riancho, resulted from a municipal initiative: the Town Council wanted to present Kings Alfonso XIII and Victoria Eugenia with a summer residence to consolidate the summer tradition that was taking root in the city and its province.

The Maritime Museum of Santander

The Cantabrian Maritime Museum is located in the bay of Santander. It is an attractive, modern building created as a tribute to the northern Spanish region and its strong connection to the sea. Spanning over 3,000 square metres, its aim is to showcase the relationship between humans and the maritime world throughout history. This museum is divided into four main sections: Sea Life and Marine Biology, Fishermen and Fishing Ethnography, the Cantabrian region and its sea and the technological avant-garde.

Our next stop after Santander will be the:

FARO DE AJO

    Nestled on the cliffs along Spain's Cantabrian coast, the Faro de Ajo Lighthouse has been a vital guide for sailors since its construction in 1928. Its bold red lantern has faithfully illuminated the way through the Atlantic's challenging waters for decades. The 16-meter formerly white lighthouse, was painted with over 70 colors by Cantabrian artist, Okuda San Miguel, to show off the cultural diversity of the area. It offers a spectacular view of the ocean, and it's a must-see destination for anyone captivated by the sea and coastal history.  Before its transformation, Faro de Ajo was a typical white lighthouse. Now, it's the most colorful lighthouse in Spain.

(In case it rains, we will visit Castro instead)