Page 119 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

ASTURIAS AND C ANT ABRIA  117

E Museo de Bellas Artes a Castro Urdiales
Calle Rubio 6. Tel 942 20 31 20. Cantabria. * 32,000. @ n Parque
Open Tue–Sun. 8
Amestoy Avda de la Constitución s/n,
E Museo de Prehistoria 942 87 15 12. ( Thu. _ San Pelayo
y Arqueología (26 Jun), Coso Blanco (1st Fri of Jul), San
Calle Bailén s/n. Tel 942 20 Andrés (30 Nov). Iglesia: Open daily.
99 22. Open Tue–Sun. 7 8
Castro Urdiales, a busy fishing
E Museo Marítimo town and popular holiday resort,
Calle Severiano Ballesteros s/n. is built around a picturesque
Tel 942 27 49 62. Open daily.
harbour. Above the port, on
a high promontory, stands the
p Laredo pinkish Gothic Iglesia de Santa
María, as big as a cathedral.
Cantabria. * 11,500. £ n Alameda Beside it the restored castle,
Miramar, 942 61 10 96. _ Batalla de
The Palacio de la Magdalena Flores (last Fri of Aug), Carlos V’s last said to have been built by the
in Santander Knights Templar, has been
landing (3rd week in Sep). converted into a lighthouse.
o Santander Its long, sandy beach has Handsome glass-fronted houses,
made Laredo one of Cantabria’s or galerías, line the promenade.
Cantabria. * 172,500. ~ £ @ g
n Jardines de Pereda s/n, 942 20 30 most popular bathing resorts. The small town beach often
00. ( Mon–Thu. _ Santiago (25 Jul). The attractive Old Town has becomes crowded, but there
∑ turismodecantabria.com narrow streets with balconied are bigger ones to the west,
houses leading up to the such as the Playa de Ostende.
Cantabria’s capital, a busy port, 13th-century Iglesia de Santa
enjoys a splendid site near the María de la Asunción, with Environs
mouth of a deep bay. The town its Flemish altar and bronze Near the village of Ramales
centre is modern – after being lecterns. One of the highlights de la Victoria, 40 km (25 miles)
ravaged by fire in 1941 it was of the year in Laredo is the south, are prehistoric caves
reconstructed. The cathedral colourful Battle of the Flowers, containing etchings and
was rebuilt in Gothic style, but which takes place in August engravings, reached by a
retains its 12th-century crypt. (see p114). very steep mountain road.
The Museo de Bellas Artes
houses work by Goya as well
as other artists of the 19th and
20th centuries. The town’s
Museo de Prehistoria y
Arqueología displays finds
from caves at Altamira and
Puente Viesgo (see opposite),
such as Neolithic axe heads,
and Roman coins, pottery and
figurines. The Museo Marítimo
has rare whale skeletons and
350 species of local fish.
The town extends along the
coast around the Península de
la Magdalena, a headland on
which there is a park, a small
zoo and the Palacio de la
Magdalena – a summer
palace built for Alfonso XIII
in 1912, reflecting the resort’s
popularity at the time with
the Royal Family.
The seaside suburb of El
Sardinero, north of the head-
land, is a smart resort with a
long graceful beach, backed
by gardens, elegant cafés and
a majestic white casino. In July
and August El Sardinero plays
host to a major theatre and
music festival. Small boats moored in the harbour at Castro Urdiales

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