Cantabria also has a town called Carmona.
Cantabria is one of the greenest destinations in the entire Spanish geography: from its Cabárceno Natural Park to the mythical Covachos beach , all are landscapes of extraordinary beauty.
To know her from the roots, you have to travel to their villages , where the customs and traditions that make them unique are still rooted.
Recently, the Association of the Most Beautiful Towns in Spain, with 79 towns in 2019, has added 5 new Cantabrian towns to its list: Liérganes, Santillana del Mar, Bárcena Mayor, Potes and Carmona . A compelling reason to learn a little more about them, and why not plan a visit soon.
Let's travel to Cantabria!
Santillana del Mar, the town of the three lies.
SANTILLANA OF THE SEA
It is popularly known by the "Village of the Three Lies" because It is not Santa, nor is it flat, nor does it have a sea , but, yes, nobody beats Bella.
Santillana del Mar is known for hosting the Altamira Cave , considered as the Sistine Chapel of the rock art , which gave value to this town of 4,000 inhabitants at the end of the 19th century. to protect her a replica was created which is the one that can be visited today , as well as a museum dedicated to rock art.
But this municipality has many more attractions besides the Cave, such as its medieval streets , the artisan workshops and its star snack, the milk with biscuits . It is also recognized here, the Monastery of Santa Juliana and the towers of Merino and Don Borja.
The natural environment of Liérganes.
LIERGANES
This municipality of just over 2,000 inhabitants is full of surprises. The town center is located on two small elevations, Marimon and Cotillamon -which is known as "Liérganes tits"; and was declared set of national historical-artistic interest in 1978.
The reason is that it lovingly preserves buildings from the classicist style of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In its historic center are its popular mansions , the Palace of Rañada and Cuerta-Mercadillo , and the museum-palace of Elsedo , the most relevant in Liérganes .
Among its curiosities is the fish man legend , a story that is linked to that of the writer Francisco de la Vega . In 1660 he threw himself into the Miera River, never to return. Since then numerous stories have been told about his whereabouts.
You cannot leave Liérganes without trying its river fish and its pastries . They say that here the best churros with chocolate from Cantabria.
Major Barcena.
MAJOR BARCENA
In the Saja and Besaya Natural Park is, Bárcena Mayor, a cute town located between a valley and several hills. Its picturesque beauty is due to its typical farmhouses of the Fernandina period.
These are houses oriented to the south, with windbreaks and two floors, in the first one the portals stand out, and in the upper one, the masonry and wood balconies.
In addition to the town, what is worthwhile is the natural environment , such as the Waterfall of the Well of the Master a few km from the town.
Rural houses in Carmona.
CARMONA
In the Nansa Valley the Cantabrian town of Carmona is located, which shares a name with the Sevillian municipality, although they have little to do with it.
Here the mountains of Saja Natural Park , the green, the cows and the rural houses of the 17th and 18th centuries surround everything.
Carmona is known for the Palace of the Díaz Cossío and Mier of 1715, in addition to livestock and crafts. In fact it has a statue dedicated to the Tudanca cattle breed and some trade dedicated to Cantabrian albarcas.
It is also popular for its masonry balconies , always well cared for and flowered. To see them you can go to the neighborhoods of La Pesa and La Carpeza. If you want to see it from above, they recommend doing it from the Viewpoint of Asomada del Rivero.
Pots, Cantabria.
POTS
The municipality of Potes is one of the most visited in Cantabria. You want to know why? The reasons are various. The first of these is the landscape that surrounds it, in Potes four valleys converge and the Deva and Quiviesa rivers . And the second is because it is located in the southern part of the Picos de Europa National Park.
In addition to its history, it was already spoken of in the 9th century, it is also known as town of bridges and towers that stand out among the old farmhouses.
Gastronomy is very popular in Potes, especially considering the importance of livestock in the area. Here you have to eat meats, artisan cheeses, trout and Deva salmon.
Among its typical dishes, the lebanian stew , the frisuelos -very similar to crepes- and the rice pudding . You can accompany them with their orujo -to which, by the way, they have dedicated a popular festival in October-.