Square of Ramón Pelayo, Living street and square in Santillana del Mar, Spain
The Place de Ramón Pelayo is the main square of Santillana del Mar, a medieval town in the region of Cantabria, northern Spain. It is lined with stone tower houses dating from the 14th to the 17th century, a town hall with arched arcades, and a former palace now operating as a parador.
The square grew in the Middle Ages as a trading center around the collegiate church of Santa Juliana, already surrounded by the mansions of local noble families. In the 20th century, one of the palaces on the square was converted into a state-run hotel, known as a parador.
The stone buildings around the square carry carved coats of arms on their facades, marking the noble families who once owned them. Some of these buildings now house small shops and cafes, while others are still used as homes.
The square is easy to reach on foot and sits at the center of the old town, close to most of the main sights. Visiting in the early morning or late afternoon allows you to see the stone facades in good light and with fewer people around.
One of the stone houses on the square displays an Aztec mask on its facade, an unexpected detail that speaks to the links between Cantabria and the Spanish colonies in the Americas. Such decorative elements were brought back by settlers who returned home and built or renovated their family houses.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
