Santillana del Mar, 40 km from Pechón, is a living museum of a medieval town developed around the collegiate church of Santa Juliana, although most of its hamlets correspond to the various architectural contributions from the fourteenth to the eighteenth centuries. The historical-artistic complex of Santillana can only be visited on foot.
It is one of the towns with the greatest historical-artistic value in Spain and the main focus of tourist attention in Cantabria, which makes it one of the most visited and attractive places in the region.
The town houses true architectural treasures, with La Colegiata de Santa Juliana being the most representative building in Santillana del Mar and the most important Romanesque jewel in Cantabria.
To speak of Santillana is to also speak of the Altamira Caves, named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and classified as the Sistine Chapel of cave art, this cave probably contains the most famous prehistoric paintings in the world. At present you can visit the Museum of the Cave, modern and functional, an author's building, integrated into a landscape of forests and meadows that allows you to enjoy the current landscape and reflect on the past in an exact replica.
The town of Santillana del Mar is home to an intense cultural activity, which takes place throughout the year in its different exhibition halls and museums.