“Le plus joli village d’Espagne” – Jean Paul Sartre
In my last post as I left Trujillo in Extremadura I made reference to my favourite places in Spain so I thought I might take some time to share these with you. I begin with Santillana del Mar in Cantabria, almost four hundred miles north of Trujillo and in a very different part of Spain.
Santillana del Mar is a most picturesque town and often appears in any top ten of best villages in Spain. This may of course have something to do with the fact that the French writer, philosopher and all-round clever dick, Jean Paul Sartre declared it to be the prettiest village in Spain, although I am not absolutely sure just how much of Spain he visited and just what he was comparing it with or how he came to this rather sweeping judgment. Perhaps it was just a lucky guess!
Click on an image to scroll through the gallery…
There is apparently an old saying that Santillana del Mar is The Town of Three Lies, since it is neither a Saint (Santo), nor flat (llana) and has no sea (Mar) as implied by the town’s name. However, the name actually derives from Santa Juliana (or Santa Illana) whose remains are in the kept in the Colegiata, a Romanesque church and former Benedictine monastery.
Have Bag, Will Travel 
When can we expect your favourite places in Australia posts Andrew?????
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I have to there first Brian, maybe next year!
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!!!
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I have a feeling you would not like it Andrew
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Well, I won’t know until I try.
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I suppose we’ll let you in
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It looks abandoned . . . my kind of town!
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That was a winter visit so I guess you can expect more people in the summer but like you I prefer it without the crowds.
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Looks a nice kind of place, Andrew. Love that balcony! Never read much Sartre though 🙂 🙂
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It is delightful Jo, so different to the South.
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been there my best friend still is from there, and we had jorge martinez “Santillana” Real Madrid CF! but the French do not know Spain lol!!!
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Looks my kind of place, Andrew!
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It is delightful Sue!
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😀
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Your pictures reflect the charm and beauty of the place.
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It is a wonderful village, have you been there?
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Splendid, enticing, gallery
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Love the images 💞
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We spent 3 days there in the early sixties when a tremendous storm flooded the town and we were marooned in the Parador. I presume it’s still the same, a convent which would have been delightful on warm days with cool, whitewashed walls and spartan furniture, but was a nightmare in a cold, damp, October. We couldn’t even leave the place to wander around as everywhere was knee deep in water, so sadly, I missed the beauty that you found. Maybe one day I’ll go back!
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It rained a lot when we were there but nothing as bad as you describe. Thanks for your contribution to the post, I appreciate it!
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Also looks like it would have good food….
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Yes, good restaurants and bars as well! Thanks for stopping by!
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I think I stayed here on my st jacques de compostella northern route hike.. great photos..
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There are always plenty of pilgrims in Santillana el Mar.
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The top middle shot on your gallery, Andrew, looks like it would make a good setting for a horror movie! –Curt
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The deserted streets were rather spooky Curt. I gather it gets busier during the summer!
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I with you when it comes to liking deserted streets, however, Andrew. What’s a ghost or two? 🙂
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It looks quite old. We don’t have much in the way of properly aged edifices around here!
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four of five hundred years at least I would say!
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