San Vicente de la Barquera, an old fishermen’s refuge that you cannot miss

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Are you thinking of touring the north of Spain this summer? Well, there is a place that you cannot miss. We are referring to San Vicente de la Barquera , an old fishermen’s refuge that represents one of the most picturesque patterns in Cantabria. And it is that here you can find from wonderful beaches to an exceptional background of snow-capped peaks, passing through Puebla Vieja, which was declared a Site of Cultural Interest of Cantabria in 1987.

Today at Vuela Viajes we want to move to this municipality in the western coastal region of Cantabria in order for you to get to know it more thoroughly. Would you like to join us?

Beaches

Undoubtedly, one of the main attractions of San Vicente de la Barquera are its beaches, which are characterized by their transparent waters and their almost virgin appearance. In addition, we are talking about sandy areas surrounded by meadows, farms and mountains, which makes them even more special. The Merón beach, which has the Blue Flag , and the Oyambre beach, which served as a landing strip for one of the first transoceanic flights, stand out. Of course, the protected beaches of Tostadero and La Maza are also worth it, as well as the small coves.

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Oyambre Natural Park

It is important to bear in mind that 80% of the municipality of San Vicente de la Barquera belongs to the Oyambre Natural Park, a landscape that combines coastline, valleys and mountains, formed by beaches, estuaries, cliffs, dunes and wide meadows, in addition to exceptional valleys and forests full of flora and fauna. In addition to San Vicente de la Barquera, the park is home to other small rural population centers, which contribute a deep agricultural and livestock character to the area.

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The Old Puebla

Taking into account that San Vicente de la Barquera was an important step on the Camino de Santiago, it will not surprise you that, as a result of that past, both the town and its towns have preserved an outstanding monumental heritage . Separate mention deserves the Puebla Vieja, which is located on the crest of a limestone rock, surrounded by a crenellated wall and several gates.

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In Puebla Vieja we can find two important buildings: the church-fortress of Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, from the 13th century; and the Castle, which was built between the 13th and 14th centuries. Unfortunately, this castle has recently been restored with inadequate criteria.

Monumental complex

In addition to the two buildings that we have just mentioned, the municipality has other monuments of interest such as, for example, the house of the inquisitor Corro, which is currently the seat of the City Council; or the Hospital de la Concepción, which is in ruins. We must also highlight the bridges , which are another of the town’s signs of identity.

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We cannot forget the ruins of the convent and church of San Luis, which was built at the end of the 15th century next to the estuary; and the hermitage of the Virgen de la Barquera, which is located in the neighborhood of the same name, next to the fish market and the fishing port. Other assets of interest are the Tower of the Provost, the Lazareto de Abaño, the Fort of Santa Cruz de Suaz and the Lighthouse "Punta de la Silla".

Gastronomy

We cannot say goodbye without first talking about the gastronomy of this municipality. If you have the possibility to visit it, you should not miss trying its excellent fish and seafood and, especially, the sorropotún or marmita barqueña, a stew prepared with potatoes and bonito. Then we leave you with our gallery , where you will find more images of San Vicente de la Barquera. Do not miss it!

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