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Astillero
is a good starting point for exploring Trasmiera. Its name in Spanish
is taken from the traditional shipbuilding activity of this town set
deep in the Bay of Santander.
Back in the sixteenth century galleons were being made for the
Invincible Armada. From here we can get a good idea of the size of the
bay with the city of Santander at one side.
Pedreña is a busy seaside town known for its Real Club de Golf, one of the oldest golf clubs in Spain
where Severiano Ballesteros cut his teeth. The town also has a busy
marina and is an ideal place for enjoying the local cuisine and also
for trying the local tapas. After the Cubas
estuary we come to Somo, with its long sandy beach known as El Puntal
opposite the famous Playa de la Magdalena. Somo is an ideal spot for
enjoying such seaside activities as surfing. It is in Langre where the
coastline starts to become more rugged and the scenery more impressive,
making it one of the loveliest parts of the whole Cantabrian coast.
Here there is more one kilometre of beach, sheltered from the wind by
high cliffs. Even more rugged, if anything, is the Playa La Canal,
where horses graze on the cliff edge among the whimsical forms sculpted
out by the sea over centuries, very close to the tiny village of Galizano.
Ajo is famous as Cantabrias most northerly cape. Its lighthouse looms
up from the Ajo estuary close to the nature reserve called Reserva
Natural de las Marismas de Noja y Santoña. The town is only 3 kilometres
from the coast and contains some examples of fortified mansions. Close
by we will see the notable Romanesque church of Santa María de Bareyo.
Five
kilometres away is Arnuero with its outstanding Flamboyant Gothic
church and the Palacio de los Marqueses de Buelnes. Isla is a good
place for trying out the seafood-based cuisine. As well as its parish
church there are notable mansions bearing eye-catching shields,
allegedly to flaunt the owners noble lineage in an attempt to avoid
paying taxes to the crown: Palacio de los Condes de Isla and the Torre
de Cabrahigo and Torre de Jado are good examples. Along the coastline
the imposing cape Cabo de Ajo looms over several beaches: Arnadal, El
Sable and La Cava, for instance. Finally, Noja is notable for its
mansions with great escutcheons and the sweeping beach of Trengandín.
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