Santillana del Mar Art & Culture: Top 5 Spots You Have to See

Santillana del Mar, often called the “town of three lies” because it is neither a holy place (“Santa”), flat (“llana”), nor by the sea (“del Mar”), is so very much a gem of Cantabria, Spain. That town is, rather, overflowing with history and boasting a cultural scene that’s pretty rich. When you get the chance to stroll through the cobbled lanes, you could find so many things at nearly every turn: wonderfully old architecture, fantastic museums, and galleries practically begging to be visited. This guide is here to take you right into the heart of Santillana del Mar’s amazing art and culture scene, to share with you some places you really must check out during your visit. It will make your trip way more interesting.

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1. Collegiate Church of Santillana del Mar

At the top of the list really must be the Collegiate Church of Santillana del Mar, arguably the very heart of the town’s cultural identity. The church is so not just a site of religion; it’s, in a way, an unbelievable architectural masterpiece displaying so many Romanesque design characteristics. Construction originally started back in the 12th century, and so, you get to see such a brilliant mix of the old design with features added over time. Inside the building, that serene space draws visitors so very much with some stone vaulted ceilings, sophisticated carvings, and an ambiance suggesting age. One of the special things is the sepulcher of Santa Juliana, it’s almost like, that early martyr brings that added significance.

Basically, you will want to spend some time examining those elaborated sculpted details all around the church structure and let its beautiful calmness truly grab your senses. That Collegiate Church almost acts as such a portal, transporting you way, way back through a passage of old European history.

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2. Regina Coeli Diocesan Museum

For anyone truly trying to delve more into the artwork that is religious, think about Regina Coeli Diocesan Museum. That museum is based at a building which at one time used to be an old monastery. That setting definitely offers so very much atmosphere while displaying a vast assortment displaying sacred artwork. You will find exhibitions showcasing pieces coming right out of every corner from different church buildings all over the Cantabria region.

There truly is way more at that place than the paintings on display; a good part involves classic sculptured objects plus different historic liturgical details demonstrating Spain’s Catholicism throughout those historical times. Anybody having such a curious mind as concerns religious history will see Regina Coeli delivers some profound and very interesting knowledge relating specifically towards Cantabria’s Catholic customs along history lessons too.

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3. Museum and Research Centre of Altamira

Slightly distanced from the center part of Santillana del Mar lies this unique place that serves a twin thing so really well which consists of research center as the Museum plus is known very famously owing directly for those caves lying within close area. These ancient cavern systems are filled and rich including those very famed prehistoric illustrations, thus making them known throughout all geographical areas everywhere.

You could visit those places now to marvel for a chance in replicating cave forms plus exhibitions that bring about detailed narratives behind life during prehistoric periods around historical events as portrayed straight originating out these paintings’ analysis, providing all of us deeper comprehension regarding creative ingenuity and cultural practices back through ancient populations through timeframes too long long ago. This museum serves definitely important work about saving ancient paintings within those caves which may still educate further generations over past societies existed quite far ahead of us really nowadays.

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4. Diocesan Museum Regina Coeli

Housed right inside an ancient, restored convent space; almost surprisingly is this really very attractive art haven dedicated exclusively to religious styles created. You know there’s nearly just too much to keep your attention looking so long over an extremely vast stockpile filled entirely full ranging from old period parts for sculptures that sparkle; paintings that keep you wondering then way past religious equipment parts providing amazing outlooks on past religious background.

During exploration, they have something so special; many tour products exist meant providing way closer views plus contextual insight helping attendees connect deeply inside meaning as underlying these very valuable creations; creating almost special ties between art together spiritual values too thereby turning it into something which visitors that’s keen learn a tad more about old Spanish religious past truly cannot do excluding them altogether almost any trip plans visiting somewhere very here around Northern Santander, now why just don’t you include them.

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5. The Houses of the Valleys

Found at a key place near old quarter parts just inside Santillana is quite literally what happens when old dwellings become historic monuments; presenting those wonderful sights of classic houses together. Now looking over just along either sides those old cobbled lane; something’s feels totally unreal when just experiencing ancient home’s beauty because this quite much something worth looking onto; being built through that stretch inside many historic days; now providing almost complete looks with regards architectural progress happening over so quite some decades while Spain kept being who these currently end out being now!

It is almost that some tours usually include time at there especially around Plaza Mayor whereby seeing these well maintained mansions presents chance both capturing striking snaps also getting in some very deep history then meaning regarding town being well before just today though; therefore adding more rich experience those people venturing down Santander.

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