A privileged setting
Lying on the west coast of Cantabria, San Vicente de la Barquera is a historical town with a privileged setting in the heart of the Parque Natural de Oyambre ( Oyambre Nature Park).
With an essentially seafaring and fishing atmosphere, the town, whose port has, and still is, the focus of life for the barquereños (the inhabitants of San Vicente de la Barquera) also has some magnificent beaches, each with its own unique character; the expansive sands of Meron and Oyambre; small open coves beneath craggy cliffs, like Gerra; and others bathed by calm waters of the Ría de San Vicente estuary, such as El Tostadero and Fuentes.
However, there are some characteristics that they share, such as the transparent waters and the fact that they still remain in an almost natural state, surrounded by extensive meadows and, in some cases, by a farm or woodland.
THE KING´S CASTLE
Amongst San Vicente de la Barquera’s architectural Heritage, a highlight is its Puebla Vieja, (old town). This area was declared a Historical- Artist Site and contains important buildings such as the Castillo del Rey (King’s Castle) which dates back to the thirteen century and is one of the few preserved on the Cantabrian Coast.
THE GOTHIC CHURCH
The Gothic church of Santa María de los Ángeles, located in the highest part of the town. The church dates back to the thirteenth century and was declared a National Monument in 1929.
SAN LUIS CONVENT AND THE BRIDGE
Also worthy of mention are the remains of the late fifteenth century San Luis convent and church built next to the estuary and at one end of the Puente de la Maza (bridge), which boasts 32 spans, making it one of the longest in Spain at the time it was built in the late fifteenth century.
LA BARQUERA AND LA FOLIA
San Vicente’s most popular fiestas are centred around maritime and Marian aspects: The Virgen del Carmen, the fiesta of La Barquera and, especially, La Folia, which traditionally takes places on the first or second Sunday after Easter with a spectacular march starting on- land and ending far out to sea.
INTERNATIONAL CONTEST OF SEAFARING SONGS
San Vicente also hosts the old Certamen Internacional de la Canción Marinera (International Contest of Seafaring Songs, annually transforming the town into the capital of coral music for the month of July.
Like all seafaring towns, San Vicente has a great gastronomic tradition based on the fresh produce from the sea, which can be sampled in any of the numerous restaurants and inns found in the area.
The town’s most famous dish is the “sorroputún” a stew made of fresh tuna, potatoes and onions cooked by fisherman when they go out to fish.
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