Culture and Art
A clear example of the rich historical artistic heritage is the rock art of Cantabria. As well the renowned Cuevas de Altamira, in Santillana del Mar, there are 30 caves recorded in the region with paintings and engravings from different prehistoric ages amongst which those of Monte Castillo in Puente Viesgo are outstanding.
The collegiate churches of Santillana, Castañeda, Santa María de Piasca and the Monastery of Santo Toribio, in Liébana, where the main piece of the True Cross (Lignum Crucis), the wood on which Christ was crucified, is located: these are the most significant examples of the religious art characteristic of the Middle Ages.
Art galleries, theatres, cultural centres and institutions such as the Fundación Marcelino Botín, the Ateneo, the Fundación Santillana and the houses of culture of various city councils, run a full programme of activity throughout the year. Of particular significance is the programme of the Palace de Festivals which carries on throughout the year and the developments of the Social and Cultural Division of the Caja Cantabria bank. |
The art and culture of Santander are not, as is often incorrectly imagined,
exclusive to the summer. Between Altamira, the so-called "Sistine Chapel"
of Quaternary Art, and the UIMP, there is a whole universe of human works
which form one of the richest historical and cultural heritages in Spain.
Together with Menéndez Pelayo summer courses, the Santander International
Festival which takes place throughout the month of August, stands out, as
does the City of Santander International Piano Competition, directed by
Paloma O'Shea.
From primitive Cantabrian culture, the gigantic murals of Zurita, Lombera
and Barros deserve a special mention. The greatest part of this heritage
is on display in the Regional Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology. Outstanding
remains of the Roman presence in Cantabria were left at Julióbriga
(Reinosa), Portus Victoria (now the city of Santander) and Flavióbriga,
also known as Portus Amanus (Castro Urdiales).
Different museums house a big part of the regional heritage: the Museum
of Prehistory, the Museum of Fine Art in Santander, the Maritime Museum
of Cantabria, opened in 1981 and organised into four most interesting sections:
marine biology and aquariums, fishing ethnography, maritime history, and
traditional boats, and the Regina Coelli and Altamira, these last two situated
in Santillana del Mar. For library enthusiasts a suggested visit would be
round the Menéndez Pelayo Library in Santander.