Cantabria
Spain – Costa Verde | Anno 2025
Santander
Santander
Río Agüera
Bahía de Santander
Santander
Centro Botín
Centro Botín, Bahía de Santander
Monument to the 1941 fire (José Cobo, 1989) that destroyed much of Santander's historic centre. The work depicts the city's orphaned inhabitants, but also the city's post-disaster revival |
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Femme (Woman, Joan Miró, 1969) |
Tête sur soccle (Head on base, Joan Miró, 1978)
Post office |
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Cathedral (restored after the fire of 1941) |
Paving stones point the way to Santiago de Compostella
Plaza de Velarde
Cuevas de Altamira
The world-famous cave of Altamira is 270 meters long, its height varies from six meters at the front to two meters at the back [Image of a bison]
About 150 rock paintings adorn the ceilings, estimated to be 15,000 years old [Image of a sleeping bison]
The cave was discovered in 1868, but the rock carvings were only noticed by chance in 1879 by the eight-year-old daughter of the landowner, Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola, a lawyer and amateur archaeologist [Image of a pregnant doe]
Because of the high quality of the drawings, the scientific community refused to acknowledge their authenticity. They even called them forgeries [Image of a deer]
It was not until 1902, fourteen years after the death of the reviled discoverer, that the rock carvings were recognised as genuine [Image of a stag with enormous antlers]
To protect the rock art, the number of visitors to the original cave is strictly limited. In 2001, a highly realistic replica of the largest room was created, which now welcomes visitors [Image of two male deer confront each other]
Santillana del Mar
Santillana del Mar is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Spain
In 1045, Santillana del Mar acquired urban privileges from King Ferdinand I of Castile
Parador de Santillana Gil Blas |
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Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana. In the mid-12th century, the existing Benedictine monastery was converted into this collegiate church
Juliana of Nicomedia was martyred in present-day Turkey. Here she is depicted in the central niche, defeating the devil
Main altarpiece in Spanish-Flemish style (late 15th century) |
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Baptistery with Romanesque baptismal font and an exceptional Pantocrator from around 1200 |
Main altarpiece
Original Romanesque altar (11th century)
Baroque organ with so-called Spanish trumpets (horizontally placed organ pipes)
Cloister |
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The 42 capitals of the cloister show various figurative, geometric and plant motifs of Romanesque architecture |
It is striking that, apart from the cloister, all other typical monastic buildings such as kitchens, storage rooms, refectory and dormitory are missing
Evening mood
Jaak Palmans
© 2025 | Version 2025-08-18 14:00