Santillana del Mar

Santillana del Mar
Church of the Colegiata in Santillana
Church of the Colegiata in Santillana
Flag of Santillana del Mar
Coat of arms of Santillana del Mar
Location of Santillana del Mar
Location of Santillana del Mar
Santillana del Mar is located in Spain
Santillana del Mar
Santillana del Mar
Location in Spain
Coordinates: 43°23′36″N 4°6′17″W / 43.39333°N 4.10472°W / 43.39333; -4.10472
Country Spain
Autonomous community Cantabria
ProvinceCantabria
ComarcaWestern coast
Judicial districtTorrelavega
CapitalSantillana del Mar
Government
 • AlcaldeIsidro Rábago León (2007) (PSC-PSOE)
Area
 • Total28.46 km2 (10.99 sq mi)
Elevation
82 m (269 ft)
Highest elevation
275 m (902 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2018)[1]
 • Total4,172
 • Density150/km2 (380/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
39330
Official language(s)Spanish
TypeNon-movable
CriteriaHistoric ensemble
Designated27 July 1943
Reference no.RI-53-0000008

Santillana del Mar (Spanish pronunciation: [santiˈʎana ðel maɾ]) is a historic town situated in Cantabria, Spain. Its many historic buildings attract thousands of visitors every year.

There is an old saying that Santillana del Mar is The Town of Three Lies, since it is neither a Saint (Santo), nor flat (llana), nor is it by the sea (Mar) as implied by its name. However, the name actually derives from Santa Juliana (or Santa Illana) whose remains are kept in the Colegiata, a Romanesque church and former Benedictine monastery. The UNESCO World Heritage Site Cave of Altamira is nearby.[2]

  1. ^ Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  2. ^ http://en.museodealtamira.mcu.es/PreparaLaVisita/index.html