Mirador de los Tranquilos, Scenic viewpoint in Ribamontán al Mar, Spain
Mirador de los Tranquilos is a scenic viewpoint set on a rocky outcrop above Playa de los Tranquilos, in the town of Ribamontán al Mar, Cantabria, Spain. From this spot, you can see Isla de Santa Marina, the Bay of Santander, the port with its Muelle Calderón pier, the Magdalena Peninsula, and the small rocky Isla de Mouro out at sea.
The Isla de Santa Marina, visible from the viewpoint, was once home to a small community of monks who built a modest monastery there. After they left, the island was abandoned, but a mausoleum with the tombstone of Pedro de Hoznayo, who lived there until his death, still stands on the island today.
You can drive close to the viewpoint, but there is no parking directly at the spot, so it is best to leave your car on the street just above and walk down a short distance. The view is at its best on clear days, so picking a day with good weather makes a real difference.
Although Isla de Santa Marina looks very close from the viewpoint, it is entirely uninhabited and holds only the remains of a medieval monastery and a mausoleum. This makes it a rare example of an abandoned island that can be clearly seen from a public viewpoint on the mainland coast.
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