The best walks and hikes around Santillana Del Mar

A beautiful coastal hike with views of the Picos de Europa, the Sierra de Cuera, and, in the distance, the coast of Asturias, approximately 60 km away. The hike starts at the La Santuca restaurant (recommended) in the tiny village of Arroyo (Santillana).

At the beginning of March, all cafes were closed, tickets were all sold out, all other buildings were closed

The Altamira cave paintings in northern Spain were discovered in 1879. They were the first cave paintings ever found. It was a coincidence: a hunter was looking for his dog on a country estate and came across a cave. He reported this to the owner of the estate, Don Marcelino Sautuola, but he showed little interest. It was not until ten years later, in 1878, that he examined the cave and found some stone tools there. Another year later, he took his 9-year-old daughter Maria with him. While her father was crawling around on the floor, Maria looked up at the ceiling - and saw a whole herd of bison! "Alta mira" means something like: look up! Modern graffiti or Stone Age art? Altamira Caves Don Marcelino Sautuola's daughter Maria discovered the paintings on the wall of the Altamira Cave.[ © Wikimedia, public domain ] Sautuola was quite excited when he discovered the animals painted in red and brown tones. At their side were wild horses, deer and wild boars. How disappointed Sautuola was when scholars dismissed the paintings as the work of an untalented modern artist!

The Altamira Cave covers an area of more than 5500 m². It was used from 33,600 BC until the entrance collapsed in 11,000 BC. The particularly impressive ceiling paintings are dated to the period 16,500 to 13,000 BC.[3] The cave was discovered in 1868 by a hunter due to the disappearance of a hunting dog, who immediately reported the discovery to the lord of Santillana,[2] the naturalist Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola (1831–1888). The paintings were discovered by Sautuola's five-year-old daughter Maria, who was able to walk upright through the cave and made out images of "cattle" on the ceiling.[2] Marcelino began systematically digging in the cave in 1879[2] and published a short description of the "prehistoric objects in the province of Santander". Even the Spanish King Alfonso XII was invited into the cave. However, the academic world doubted the authenticity of the cave paintings.[2] The French prehistorian Émile Cartailhac described the paintings as a "vulgar prank by a scribbler" that he and his contemporaries did not even want to look at. The discovery had to wait almost 23 years for recognition. It was only when similar paintings were discovered in the Font-de-Gaume cave near Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil in the Dordogne department (France) in 1901 that the attitude of French researchers and Cartailhac, who became the symbol of archaeological ignorance, changed. Cartailhac apologized posthumously to the Marquis de Sautuola in an essay in 1902 ("Mea culpa" d'un sceptique[4]).

The Altamira Cave, near the town of Santillana del Mar in Cantabria, Spain, 32 km southwest of Santander, is known for its Stone Age cave paintings. Like the Chauvet Cave, it belongs to the area of Franco-Cantabrian cave art[1] and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Altamira Cave covers an area of more than 5500 m². It was used from 33,600 BC until the entrance collapsed in 11,000 BC. The particularly impressive ceiling paintings are dated to the period 16,500 to 13,000 BC.[3] The cave was discovered in 1868 by a hunter due to the disappearance of a hunting dog, who immediately reported the discovery to the lord of Santillana,[2] the naturalist Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola (1831–1888). The paintings were discovered by Sautuola's five-year-old daughter Maria, who was able to walk upright through the cave and made out images of "cattle" on the ceiling.[2] Marcelino began systematically digging in the cave in 1879[2] and published a short description of the "prehistoric objects in the province of Santander". Even the Spanish King Alfonso XII was invited into the cave. However, the academic world doubted the authenticity of the cave paintings.

Located near the UNESCO World Heritage Altamira Caves, this center explores the lives of its early inhabitants. The Altamira National Museum and Research Center, located near the Altamira Caves, is an important place to learn and experience cave art, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This museum offers visitors a unique educational experience about the lives of the region's first inhabitants. The Neok Cave is a faithful replica of the original cave, designed to preserve the ancient paintings. Guided tours are highly recommended to maximize the experience, with guides providing detailed and entertaining explanations. Entry is free on Sundays, although there can be long queues, so arriving early is advised. The natural environment surrounding the museum is enchanting and makes the experience even more enjoyable.

Surrounded by rocks, it is a very wild and beautiful place. They say that when the water is calm you can take a nice swim, but in my case, I couldn't enjoy it, although I did enjoy its beauty.