Santillana del Mar is a historic medieval town with perfectly preserved stone buildings. In its vicinity there is the famous Altamira Cave entered on the UNESCO list.
The city is often called the most beautiful in the northern part of Spain. It looks a bit as if time has stopped here. Walking along the cobbled streets, you can admire the flowery facades decorated with the coats of arms of the former owners, decorative stone elements and charming squares.
The most important monument of the city is the Collegiate Church of St. Julianna. Built in the 12th century in the Romanesque style, it has a charming cloister and an ascetic, austere interior. In the Diocesan Museum located nearby, you can see collections of sacred art. There is also a museum of torture devoted to the activities of the Inquisition and the Renaissance Palace of Velarde.
Many tourists stay in Santillana del Mar mainly because of one of Cantabria's greatest attractions. On the outskirts of the city there is the Altamira Cave and Museum. Rock paintings from the Paleolithic period have been preserved there. Since the presence of too many people in the cave is harmful to the unique paintings, a faithful copy of it was built next to it for visitors.
