Santillana del Mar

Santillana del Mar
Instituto de Turismo de España (TURESPAÑA)
Join THE REAL THING and visit Santillana del Mar, one of Spain’s most charming towns in an unparalleled natural setting. A timeless view and place where it’s easy to shut out the world and come face-to-face with ancient history, wandering past medieval and Renaissance palaces and ancestral homes which transport us to a different time.

In the heart of Santillana del Mar is the Collegiate Church of Saint Juliana, a large Romanesque building which dates back to the 8th century, when a group of pilgrim monks arrived with the relics of Saint Juliana of Nicomedia, who was condemned by her own father and martyred in Turkey because she refused to marry a Roman prefect, a pagan, no less.

Nothing remains of the chapel that was originally built to hold her remains. A large monastery was built in her honor which later, in the 11th century, was classified as a collegiate church and a mandatory stop for pilgrims on their way to Santiago via the St. James’ Way. It is an impressive church with international Romanesque features and whose solid architecture contrasts with the peace and spirituality found inside.

Instituto de Turismo de España (TURESPAÑA)