Cantabria (aka
la Montaña) has a lot going for it: White, sandy beaches from Laredo in the east to Santander's el Sardinero & westward to San Vicente de la Barquera; the rolling hills of dairy country just a few kilometres inland, the rugged mountain passes, especially the gorge of the rio Deva on the border with the Principality of Asturias. The
Picos de Europa also straddle that frontier.
For religious pilgrimage you have
Cristo de Limpias in the village of Limpias, just south of Laredo,
Santo Toribio monastery near Potes (Liebana) where
Vera Cruz the largest known fragment of the Cross of Christ is kept,
San Sebastian de Garabandal, site of reported Marian apparitions (1960, '61).
Santillana del Mar has a new 'virtual'
Cuevas de Altimara exhibit, a Parador (there's also a new one in Limpias), and great restaurants and sightseeing. Then there's Comillas with the towering
Palacio del Arzobispo and the
Universidad Pontifical alongside; Antonio Gaudi's
Caprichos, building there has housed an Oriental restaurant the past 10-years.
If you want a nice scenic trip thru Cantabria, take FEVE (
Ferrocaril Español de Via Estrecha ) from Bilbao to near Unquera - the scenery is great!
Then there's the
Universidad Internaciónal Menendez Pelayo conveniently located in Playa Sardinero, Santander's best (IMHO).
In the summertime, Santander's
calle de Burgos has many street performers. From Jul 20 to 25th the
Santiago celebrations include daily bullfights, concerts, etc. and
El dia de Cantabria (Sep 15) is celebrated
big time