Best places to stay:
The Marques de Santillana, Inigo Lopez de Mendoza, was a famous 15th-century warrior and courtly poet. His house – now a five star boutique hotel – is as deliciously atmospheric as Santillana itself and a real treat for history lovers.
There’s no end of original features –old beams, stone floors and walls and period antiques, and a staircase carved out of a single tree trunk. The covered terrace by the bar (with an impressive collection of gin) is beautifully illuminated at night.
There’s parking (important in Santillana), a good buffet breakfast and very helpful, English-speaking staff.
The Cave of Altamira and the sandy Playa de la Concha in the town of Suances, are both a 5-minute drive away.
The hotel is in the historic village centre, near the Romanesque Colegiata, shops, bars and restaurants. It can get very busy, especially in the summer when coachloads of day-trippers appear, but at night it’s generally very quiet.
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Bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Santillana del Mar, Cantabria, Spain[0.3 miles]
An enchanting medieval time capsule near Cantabria’s beach-rimmed coast – reputed to be ‘the most beautiful village in Spain’. Pair with a visit to the extraordinary Palaeolithic art-filled Altamira Cave.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Santillana del Mar, Cantabria, Spain[2 miles]
A unique and fascinating 270m Paleolithic cave with some of the world’s greatest Paleolithic cave art – including 14,000-year-old paintings of horses, deer and bison. Pair it with a visit to the nearby historic town of Santillana del Mar, one of the prettiest villages in Spain.
Best for ages: 4+ | £2
