The Telegraph Shows Hotels in Cantabria
Here is the oppinion of The Telegraph about our inn or rural hotel in Santillana del Mar, Cantabria (Spain):
Behind a stone-clad façade, carpeted corridors and inviting wood-beamed, rustic-style rooms make this 18th-century-home conversion the perfect classic Cantabrian posada (inn). It offers a friendly, good-value set-up in an excellent location, plus some of Santillana del Mar’s finest vistas.
Location
Beautifully positioned on a quiet cobbled lane in the heart of Cantabria’s most sensationally preserved medieval town, Santillana del Mar, with views across fields to the fine Romanesque Colegiata de Santa Juliana. It’s a handy base for exploring both Santillana del Mar and the prehistoric paintings of the famous Altamira cave (just south), as well Cantabria’s west coast, along which you’ll find top-notch beaches, the fishing port of San Vicente de la Barquera and Modernista architecture in Comillas.
Style & character
The Colegiata’s organist called this place home for 60 years and its strong 18th-century character has been tastefully restored for your comfort. Traditional glassed-in balconies cling to stone walls and, inside, it’s all in the delicate detail: creaking staircases, oak-beamed ceilings, fuzzy carpets and plenty of antiques, set against rich yellows, deep crimsons and royal blues.
Service & Facilities
This is a small but wonderful and efficient operation, with extra facilities (understandably) limited to a café-bar, a sunny terrace, private parking and warm shared lounges. The welcoming English-speaking owners make you feel right at home and are full of Cantabria tips and recommendations.
- Parking
- Wi-Fi
Rooms
Take your pick of the 14 snug, homely rooms, each individually and impeccably dressed up with earthy tones, dark-wood furniture and open-stone alcoves. Bathrooms are straightforward but sparkling. I’m a huge fan of the top-level slanted-ceiling rooms, whose wooden balconies open up to Santillana’s rooftops. Others gaze out on the Colegiata or spill out into glassed-in timber balconies with wicker lounge chairs.
Food & Drinks
Delicious semi-buffet breakfasts of fresh orange juice, Cantabrian cheeses, cold meats and other local treats are happily served by the owners in a cosy lounge with a communal buzz. In warm weather, sip your morning coffee on the sweet front terrace overlooking the Colegiata. A quick stroll down evocative cobblestone streets takes you to a number of typically Cantabrian restaurants.
Value for money
Double rooms from £46 in low season; rising to £72 in high. Breakfast excluded – priced at £4.50. Free Wi-Fi. Good value for super-popular Santillana.
Access for guests with disabilities?
No; the 18th-century layout and style of the hotel mean stair-access only.
Family-friendly?
Not especially, though children are welcome.