Discover the beautiful town of Santoña on Spain's north coast on this guided tour. You'll learn all about the fascinating history of this town in Cantabria and visit highlights such as its fishing port and the fish auction room. You'll even get to do a tasting of Santoña's star product - the anchovy!
Tour Details
Our guided tour of Santoña begins next to the Monument to Juan de la Cosa. This navigator and cartographer was one of the most illustrious personalities to have come from the town. You will hear all about his fascinating background and his historic achievements as we stroll down the picturesque Paseo de Pereda, which runs parallel to the stunning Cantabrian coast. At one end of this elegant avenue, you will see the mighty Fort of San Martín, one of several bastions in the town that played an important role in the Napoleonic invasions of the 19th century.
Very close by, we'll find another sculpture erected as a tribute to the carnival in Santoña. It was declared a Fiesta of National Tourist Interest! After discovering this carnival, we'll tell you some interesting facts about the Torre de la Aguada, a former water reservoir used to supply steamships in the first half of the 20th century.
With the views of the sea, we'll learn about the maritime tradition of the villa with important expressions like secadero or tintero. You'll discover the history behind these words!
We'll also see the famous Plaza de Toros de Santoña, the bullring located very close to the port and the Lonja de Pescado. The last point of the tour will be the fishing port, where we'll learn all about the town's long-running fishing tradition and the importance of this sector in the local economy, whose most important product is the famous Cantabrian anchovy.
We'll enter the port to visit its auction room, where the fresh fish that enters directly from the port is traded.
Finally, we'll say our goodbyes at the shop of Conservas Nuevo Libe, winners of the 2025 best anchovy prize, where we'll taste an anchovy fillet.
