travel
Time-travelling in Cantabria: from the stone age to Sartre via the ‘prettiest town in Spain’
On the north coast of Spain you can see some of the world’s oldest art, explore a stunning medieval village, then watch surfers ride Atlantic swells
TL;DR
- The region west of Santander provides a journey through different historical periods, including prehistoric art, medieval towns, and beach resorts.
- The Altamira Neocueva, a replica of the original cave, showcases prehistoric art dating back 13,000 to 36,000 years.
- Santillana del Mar is a well-preserved medieval town with origins dating back to the ninth century, once a stop for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago.
- Suances is a coastal town offering surfing, local cuisine like rabas and squid-ink croquetas, and scenic views.
- The article touches upon Jean-Paul Sartre's connection to Santillana del Mar, as described in his novel Nausea.
- Cantabria is noted as the only region crossed by two Unesco world heritage pilgrimage routes.