When a Parisian, (from arguably one of the world’s most elegant cities) comes to your town and calls it “the prettiest village in Spain”, their judgement must hold some clout, right? When that Parisian is Jean-Paul Sartre, an author whose words won him a Nobel Prize in literature, what he says surely holds some value. Though opinions are subjective, this Sartre guy was really on to something. Santillana del Mar is indeed pretty, not to mention one of the best-preserved medieval towns that exist in Iberia.
I went to Santillana del Mar for just a few hours after my weekend in Santander. For a small town, it does have some buildings of historic interest, but honestly I went on a whim without researching anything (the horror!) and just wanted to wander around with my camera and walk along its cobblestone streets.
As it turns out, sometimes the best plans are the ones we don’t make. Apparently it tends to swarm with tourists in the high season, but I went in December when there were no crowds. You already know I love low-season travel, and Santillana del Mar was the perfect town to get lost in for the afternoon.
A beautiful doorway in Santillana del Mar
A shop selling ceramic and leather goods.
A view of the countryside in Santillana
Lavender plants in Santillana del Mar
A gorgeous stone house
The center of town
Some of the buildings in the center.
A house dripping in flora.
La Colegiata de Santa Juliana
Fresh milk for 1 Euro per glass
Every street is covered in cobblestones.
An old stone wall.
How to get to Santillana del Mar:
Catch a bus from Santander to Santillana del Mar. For hours and rates, click the link.
I went to Santillana in 2011 and thought it was so pretty! Great pictures, too!
Ashlee D. [Polyglottony] recently posted…The one with the Ghanian police officer
Thank you! Isn’t it such a gorgeous little place!?
What a gorgeous village! I also like to travel without making too many plans before hand, but sometimes you can really kick yourself if you missed something important then. Some villages that have a strong summer tourist season don’t have everything open if you visit in the winter, did you have this problem at all?
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There’s definitely pros and cons to traveling within each season. I didn’t have this problem with Santillana, but then again there weren’t any sites that I just had to see. It’s always a good idea to look up this info before-hand!
Great images! love the cobbled stones! I agree with low season travel but much like Katherine I often find things are closed as well, which is pretty disappointing! however this place does look beautiful
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The only thing I’ve found close this time of the year in Northern Spain have been a few restaurants (it’s typical that they take off the holidays, and some take off all of January too!) Santillana was a gorgeous village and there wasn’t anything closed that I tried to enter.
ok so definitely going there. i’ll have to email you later. I definitely want to go to Santander and obviously now have to go here too
I’m a sucker for the small towns. Incredibly picturesque.
This village looks adorable! Stunning photography, Christine!
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It was darling! Thank you!
Christine, you have to come and visit us in the Canaries. Gran Canaria, for example, boasts Artenara where people still live in cave houses and Tejeda best visited when the almond trees are in bloom. What we may lack in architecture, we make up for in setting.
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I would love to visit Las Canarias! I didn’t realize that people lived in cave houses there, I thought it was only in and around Granada. Definitely on my list of places to see in Spain!
It is a lovely town and is also handy for going to Altamira.
I didn’t get the chance to go to Altamira–such a shame! The caves were closed anyway I think, so I’ll have to go back.
I have just signed up to follow your blog. Your type of exploring is very much on the same line as mine. I am a relative newbie to European Travel (in my 50’s) but have major plans to do it for months on end when I retire which hopefully is in the next 2-4 years. My partner Rick and I have booked our first trip to Spain for May of this year. Unfortunately, we won’t be making it to the North this trip. We plan to spend our time in Andulucia Area, Up the coast line and hills in between up to Barcelona. We are going to follow your blog with great interest. You go girl!!
That’s so exciting that your retirement is coming up soon! You’ll love Spain, I’m sure. I was living in Andalucía for 3 years, so if you need any advice on where to go, let me know! Enjoy your upcoming trip!
This village is breathtaking! And your photographs are incredible. What a lovely post.
I’ll be moving back to Spain soon, and Pais Vasco is first on my list of places to see. I’ll be in grad school, so I’m hoping to head up on one of the puentes or longer breaks and see as much as I can. How would you recommend getting around? I’d love to rent a car, but will have to do some practicing on a manual before I leave I guess haha. Any recommendations of easy ways to see a lot of the region in a limited amount of time? Thanks! x
Thank you! If you don’t want to get a rental I’d definitely recommend getting around by Bus. The Basque Country is well-connected by buses and they are partially funded by the government so the prices are low. Try searching BizkaiBus in google for the website for Vizcaya. There are some limited trains as well–always a great way to see the countryside. Definitely let me know if you come and we’ll meet up!
Great, thanks so much! Unfortunately I still have 6 months between me and my beloved España, but I will absolutely be in touch when I get there!
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Definitely let me know if you need help with anything. You must be so excited to return!!
Beautiful pictures; I especially liked the one of the cobblestoned street. Can’t wait to visit the town next year!
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Thank you! Make sure you go in the off-season, I’ve heard in the summer it’s packed with tourists.
Gorgeous pictures! Those were taken in the Winter? Looks like a wonderful time to visit.
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