This beautiful region, which since the Roman Empire has given its name to the sea that bathes the northern coast of Spain, holds an abundance of attractions within its small area, which is why it is described as Infinita (infinite).

Its capital, Santander, stands majestically on its beautiful bay, with the magnificent Magdalena Palace reigning across its peninsula, where King Alfonso XIII and his family used to often spend their summers.

At the other end of the spectrum, demonstrating the harmony between tradition and modernity within this thriving city, the avant-garde Botín Centre of Arts, designed by famous Italian architect, Renzo Piano.

Medieval villas, such as Santillana del Mar, are mixed among impressive palaces built with ubiquitous stone extracted from its mountains. Not in vain, Cantabria shares with its western neighbours the privilege of housing the Picos de Europa National Park, which was the first protected area declared in Spain.

It is a popular summer destination thanks to its more than 60 beaches, which is why during the summer months we can experience great atmosphere in places like San Vicente de la Barquera, Laredo and Comillas. The latter has some of the most important buildings of modernism in Cantabria, such as the Sobrellano Palace, the Pontifical University and, of course, El Capricho, by the brilliant Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí.

This province also has a rich underground heritage, including the cave of El Soplao with its beautiful, yet unusual, geological formations, and the world-famous Altamira cave, labelled “the Sistine Chapel of Cave Art” and declared a World Heritage Site due to its great quality and beautiful Palaeolithic paintings and engravings.

Relaxation options and health therapies using water are also well-established in Cantabria, with well-known spas such as the Solares or the Caldas de Besaya, whose springs have been used for this purpose for centuries.

Santander hosts some of the main sailing competitions worldwide, given its popularity with the locals and the excellent conditions that the city has for practicing the sport.

Another noteworthy activity is golf; its flagship, the Pedreña Course, home to the legendary “Seve” Ballesteros, one of the best golfers in history.