Santander - Cantabria - Spain
Situated in the part of the peninsula known as Green Spain, Santander has one of the most beautiful bays in Europe. It is the capital of Cantabria, a favourite Spanish tourist destination owing to its wealth of nature and landscapes, which combine sea and high mountains within a few kilometres of each other. It has very diverse ecosystems, fantastic cuisine, and a multitude of sporting and leisure activities to suit everyone’s tastes.
SOME FACTS ABOUT SANTANDER
Originally, Santander was a fisherman's town. However, its main activities today focus on nearby industry, tourism, trade and its port activity.
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​It is characterized by its urban development over various small hills and watercourses. As a result, it has steep streets, sharp ascending and descending slopes, sprawling poplar groves and coastal pathways. It is also characterized for having reclaimed land from the sea in a large central area (i.e. for the "Jardines de Pereda").
Aerial view of Santander
The city center covers an approximate área of 35 km2 and has a population of 185,000 in habitants. However, with the expansion of the center, the surrounding small towns have become part of the city: Cueto, Monte, San Román de la Llanilla and Peñacastillo. Half of the population of all Cantabria live in Santander and its surroundings now.
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The city center covers an approximate área of 35 km2 and has a population of 185,000 in habitants. However, with the expansion of the center, the surrounding small towns have become part of the city:
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y Academia and the Paloma O'Shea International Piano Competition are main cultural events.
It is important to mention as well that this is a pretty quiet city. In fact, it is one of the safest cities in Spain with one of the lowest crimes rate in Spain.
The city has a damp, mild, Atlantic climate with fairly constant average temperatures. Winter sees temperatures between 8 ºC and 12 ºC, while the summer months do not get warmer than 30 ºC. Humidity is quite high all year round, at times exceeding 90%.
The current city name, Santander, originates from the Latin name of Saint Emeterius: Sancti Emeterii, patron saint of the city.
The legend says that the decapitated heads of Saint Emeterius and Saint Celedonius came from Calahorra, avoiding Moslem advance. They were then kept in Somrrostro Hill (current location of the Cathedral)
Cueto, Monte, San Román de la Llanilla and Peñacastillo. Half of the population of all Cantabrialive in Santander and its surroundings nowadays.
As a service center at the regional level, Santander contains important public institutions and private organizations with a large number of employees, including Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, the University of Cantabria and Grupo Santander. Activities related to culture, leisure, and tourism are an important part of the city's economy, and the regional and municipal authorities look to augment the summer tourist trade with additional offerings, including conventions, conferences, cultural festivals and cruises.
In fact, it has a great tradition and cultural activity, with events that play an important role in the cultural and social life of the city. UIMP is a major international summer university and organizes large festivals of music and dance " The Festival Internacional de Santander (FIS)", the "Festival Internacional de Música de Órgano" (FiMÓC), Encuentro de Música
