Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Spain

Located in Santillana del Mar, Spain, Hotel Museo Los Infantes welcomes you to that rare place that is much like a home away from home. Surely it is a hotel, but it is more than a collection of rooms.

Facade of Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Facade of Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

This is a charming establishment with true character. The many gathering areas show a personal style as you see in the next several photos:

One of the lounges at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar.

One of the lounges at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar.

This is not just a corporate-type of place, but rather like the home of an uncle who wants you to be comfortable.

Upstairs gathering area at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Upstairs gathering area at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

After a day of seeing the sights you can take a break here and share the many stories with your traveling companions or new people you’ve met along the way.

Library at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Library at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

As for the rooms, I chose a junior suite, which consisted of this ante-room:

Ante-room in junior suite at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Ante-room in junior suite at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

The desk on the left gave me a convenient place to set up my electronics and do some work without disturbing the sleep in the adjacent bedroom that you see in the next photo:

Bedroom in junior suite at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Bedroom in junior suite at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

And the bathroom had all the conveniences you need as well:

Bathroom in junior suite at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Bathroom in junior suite at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

You might have noticed the door to the balcony in the photo of the bedroom. Well, here’s a look at the balcony itself:

Balcony at Hotel Museo Los   Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Balcony at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

You can step out there and get a deep breath of fresh air. Finally, here’s a look at the reception area:

Reception are at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Reception are at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

And the dining room where you can enjoy a local-style meal.

Dining room at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Dining room at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

And the bar on the first floor:

Bar on ground floor at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Bar on ground floor at Hotel Museo Los Infantes, Santillana del Mar, Spain.

There is convenient parking for a small fee immediately across the street from the hotel, or you can park a few hundred yards away in a municipal lot. Breakfast is served buffet style downstairs. The staff here are friendly and helpful. Simply ask them for information or help with your bags and you’re on your way to pleasant stay in this town, which serves as a good base to explore the Altamira Caves and many other attractions in this area of Spain.

 

 

Santillana del Mar (2014)

Santillana del Mar is a handsome town in the north of Spain where you’ll find a number of attractions. It’s a tourist spot to be sure, with the Altamira Caves, a zoo, and the Collegiate Church among the many attractions. Here’s a look at the plaza mayor:

Plaza Mayor of Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Plaza Mayor of Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Notice those flowers on the balcony. Some of the homes here have an almost Alpine quality to them. The winding streets lead past the gift shops to a number of very good restaurants and bars:

Streets of Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Streets of Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Everything is neat and tidy, amazingly clean for the number of people that pass through here. Don’t miss the views from the edge of town. As you see in the next photo, things are beautiful:

View from the edge of Santillana del Mar, Spain.

View from the edge of Santillana del Mar, Spain.

As many people visit the area, most are from Spain. Visitors from the USA often forgo a stop here for other destinations. However, if you’re looking to delve deeper in the culture, I suggest a jaunt through northern Spain to places like this where you’ll encounter a robust and welcoming culture all its own.

Collegiate Church of Santillana del Mar, Spain

The Collegiate Church of Santillana del Mar was built by the Augustinians who took over a former Benedictine monastery. In this first photo, you see the lines of the main structure built in the Romanesque style:

Collegiate Church of Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Collegiate Church of Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Surely in it’s time, it was an imposing building and it still dominates the town today. Going inside the grounds, you’ll find a very pleasant cloister.

View from inside the cloister at the Collegiate Church of Santillana del Mar, Spain.

View from inside the cloister at the Collegiate Church of Santillana del Mar, Spain.

The columns in this cloister are carved with various religious symbols.

Column detail at Collegiate Church of Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Column detail at Collegiate Church of Santillana del Mar, Spain.

And many are covered with vines.

Another view in the cloister of the Collegiate Church of Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Another view in the cloister of the Collegiate Church of Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Going into the church itself you find an impressive altar piece from the 15th century depicting the martyrdom of Saint Juliana.

15th Century altar piece at the Collegiate Church of Santillana del Mar, Spain.

15th Century altar piece at the Collegiate Church of Santillana del Mar, Spain.

As well as this stone tomb for the saint’s remains:

Saint Juliana at the Collegiate Church of Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Saint Juliana at the Collegiate Church of Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Not to mention a powerful set of pipes for the organ:

Organ pipes at the Collegiate Church of Santillana del Mar, Spain.

Organ pipes at the Collegiate Church of Santillana del Mar, Spain.

The walk through this church is a step back in time. Within its cool environs you’ll find a sense of dignity and piety that may be lacking at times in larger, busier cathedrals. As always, enter with respect and take your time to absorb the many details that fill this holy place.