Santander Things to Do

4 more images

Alfonse XIII Square is popularly known as Plaza de las Farolas (Square of the Streetlamps). It faces the Gardens of Pereda and is lined with fine buildings that were not affected by the fire of 1941, including the Bank of Spain and the Post Office. The beautiful perspective includes the abses of the cathedral in the background.

4 more images

Just across the street from the Porticoed Square, you will find the Post Office Building. It is the best example in the city of the Regionalist tendencies in the architecture of the early XX century in Cantabria, inspired by the popular constructions of the region. The plans were designed by architects Secundino Zuazo and Eugenio Fernández Quintanilla.

2 more images

The city's oldest and finest memorial monument is dedicated to Pedro Velarde, a local militar who participated, together with Luis Daoíz in the Independence War against Napoléon.

The statue was originally placed in 1880 in front of the Post Office building. It was then moved to Pombo Square (at the time known as Freedom Square) and then to the Porticoed Square, when it was completed in 1946. The square is actually named after Velarde, although nobody in the city would call it like that.

The statue of Pedro Velarde did not last long in "his" square. Before the construction of the Festivall Hall, the Porticoed Square was used to stage the city's Summer Festival, so the statue was moved to the nearby Alfonse XIII Square, where it remained for decades. With the recent remodelation of the Porticoed Square, it has finally returned there 60 years later.

4 more images

Built in the middle of the XX century in Neo-Herrerian style, the solemnity of the official buildings give it an aspect of majesty. This is probably the most celebrated project that followed the reconstruction of the city after the fire of 1941. The aim was to provide the area with a space of monumental buildings inspired by the style of El Escorial, very dear to the then governing fascist dictator.

The building in the bottom is the headquarters of the savings bank of Cantabria. The severe buildings that flank it host gouvernment offices (Treasury and Government's Delegation).

This square has a very good acustic. For this reason it was used as the place to hold the summer music festival before the festival hall was built.

Lately, the square has been renovated and has been almost totally pedestrianised.

1 more image

The Modesto Tapia Building hosted originally the headquarters of the Mount of Pity of Santander. The plans of the building were designed by the famous Catalan architect Domènech i Montaner, one of the most celebrated authors of the Modernist movement in Barcelona.

This is one of his rare works outside of Catalonia. The reason for his presence in Cantabria is that the works were commissioned by the second Marquis of Comillas, a rich Cantabrian businessman established in Barcelona who was an activ member of the artistic circles of that city.

The Mount of Pity was the founding stone of the Savings Bank of Santander, fostered by the Marquis himself and Mr Modesto Tapia, after whom the building is named. Today, the building is a civic and cultural centre.

4 more images

The Church and Residence of the Sacred Heart, on Saint Joseph Street, also known as Jesuits' Church, is a late XIX century Neo-gothic work by Leocadio Pasagartundúa and José María Basterra. Its sleek tower stands out behind the buildings on the Waterfront and is one of the most recognisable features of the city's skyline seen from the bay.

The adjacent convent was totally rebuilt after the dammage suffered during the 1941 big fire.

2 more images

Prince Square is a quaint small square from where several shopping streets depart. Although the area is not really very old, since it was developped duringt the XIX century, the business association of the area have decided to call themselves Casco Viejo (Old Core of the city), for the streets being narrow and lined with old buildings, it has a vague ressemblance with Medieval areas of nearby cities.

2 more images

A work of Antonio de Zabaleta, this Mercado del Este was conceived to give service as market hall to the new urban development of the Paseo Pereda and adjacent streets, which constitue the XIX century Ensanche (enlargement) of Santander. It occupies two blocks on land claimed to the sea and was one of the most modern existing markets by the time it was completed.

However, decades later, the building had structural deficiencies that advised that the merchants be moved to other location. For many years, the market hall was abandonned and faced demolition but a citizen platform urged the authorities for its reconstruction and finally obtained their goal.

Nowadays, the building is no longer a market hall. It hosts a few popular bars and cafés instead.