Hello Pinmapple friends!
I return after the route through the Spanish city of Santander, on the north coast and capital of the beautiful region of Cantabria. I have also been lucky enough to be able to travel through the green fields of the mountains in front of that rough sea, through some of its most emblematic towns.
And as in many places there are always comparisons and towns known for their beauty or for inspiring views. And there are lists of the most beautiful villages, where the most recognized places in a country appear in a ranking of rural charm, we could say...
In Spain there is also one of these lists: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
and it is true that some are there, in fact I have seen some, but I think there are others that should be added and today I am going to start with one of those that is missing from the list, because it is my favorite of those that I have seen on my recent trip:
San Vicente de la Barquera
A name that we will remember mainly for the calm blue waters and the fishermen's boats sheltered from the winds and currents in the inner part of the bay. It is a mainly fishing town and in fact the first thing we come across is the fishermen's cooperative and some of those boats that go out early to fish.
From there we crossed the local bridge, the Puente de la Maza, long and impressive because it allows us to see those waters that almost blend with the blue of the sky itself, because they say the weather is bad but that day was magnificent and everything shone around. If we look and cross to the other side, more boats that are almost reflected in the water as if it were a magical mirror.
What a beautiful welcome before entering the historic area, where the stone of the main and steep street and of the walls becomes the protagonist. There we look at the map because we realize that the orography and layout of the place are strange, everything is placed in separate but connected areas. And we begin to go up that street that, without knowing where to go, leads us without problems, we shouldn't even think, just walk admiring the views as we go up, even in a corner from which we can see the sea again and some other boat.
We go in the direction of the castle Castillo del Rey and the church Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, running into arches with the views that we see to the sides, because to the other we see the roofs of the houses and beyond, an avenue of palm trees that seems to be from another place and to which we will go later. The city is at different levels, height and historic time.
We continue in the old part, perhaps medieval, passing in front of the Town Hall (Ayuntamiento or Casa Consistorial) and what is called the Provost Tower (although it doesn't look like a tower so much as a large fortified house.
Suddenly, a building with a large ship with iron sails on its wall announces that we are arriving, but it is not a museum, but a professional training center (for young students), who would have thought that it would be there. In an old enclave, in front of the remains of some buildings, where behind the arch there is now only vegetation and then the famous church.
We arrive at the church, the imposing tower stands out when looking towards the divine blue sky but there is a funeral taking place so no worries...
Then we go around the perimeter to discover more interesting things, the walls of the old castle, the ones that are still standing, various structures that are maintained with dignity along the time passed...
And we look far way and enjoy magnificent views of the essence of this land. Green meadows, small houses, cows in the distance, and further still some snow-capped mountains, which are the Peaks of Europe.
A unique and spectacular view that could well be the setting to shoot some epic moment of a movie for a big super production, right?
And with that image to remember, we set out on the road in the opposite direction, looking now at more panoramic views, at other details, of some of the houses built there, the fusion with the hundred-year-old stone, more arches now seen from a higher perspective, and once again we enjoy the views, because under the arch if we look beyond, again the sea, do you see it in the background?
We go down and go to the other side, where everything now seems more modern, although we find facades that continue to be maintained after a long time, streets where there is more life, a square that houses the open-air market that they are now collecting, and the park of palm trees that we saw before from the upper part. Everything looks pretty in the bright sunlight.
In a corner there is a sign that says that there is a nativity scene that can be visited, out of curiosity you have to go inside and it is certainly very well done and we approached to appreciate all the details, with the enthusiasm of the children, because it was still holidays in December.
But immediately we feel like moving on, to the liveliest area and again that intense blue sea flat as a plate and the boats stills and silent. There is the name of the town so that we never forget it, how can we forget that blue and all that wonderful stone?
We move away discovering one last area, a path that on the other hand takes us further, almost better by car, to reach the area of the lighthouse, there the winds blow stronger as they are not under the shelter of the bay but in front of open sea, from where we breathe the air loaded with saltpeter and from where we see the beach that many lucky people will enjoy in the summer months.
And the last surprise before saying goodbye, a relic that gives a different point of color to all that natural and historical scenery, some very old but cute SEAT 600 red cars that suddenly seem to fit well in that place, which give this whole excursion that fun touch.
While we think about what will be the next beautiful village we are going to visit next. I'll tell you in the next post!
Soon... more beautiful villages in Cantabria!
Thanks so much for reading! Have a nice and bright day!
The text is totally mine by ©Duvinca and the photos are mine too