Monday 2nd June 2014
Santillana del Mar is a small historic town with a population of about 4000 dating back to the 18th century. An old saying says that Santillana del Mar is the Town With Three Lies - since it is neither a Saint ( Santo), nor flat or a plain (llana) nor is it by the sea (Mar). Its name is derived from Santa Juliana( or Santa Iillana) who remains are kept in the Collegiata, a Romanesque church and former Benedicitine monastery.
The town is easily explored on foot - largely made up of 2 or 3 streets lined by medeival buildings which have now been converted into cafes, bars, ciderias, hotels and museums. This village would be a photographer's delight.
Satre, in his philosophical novel "Le Nausee" described Santillana as the prettiest village in Spain.
above are views of the town taken from the front balcony of our hotel
a huge villa like this with a large garden planted with palm trees
denotes that the ancestors of the owner of this village would have been an Indiano.
An Indiano is a Spanish who have gone on the journeys with Columbus
to explore and discover the New Americas and
come back rich with gold and precious stones.
They would build big villas like this to make them identifiable as an Indiano
.
could not wait for the next meal!
a cider bar
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