Castro Urdiales, Spain

Castro Urdiales, Spain

Castro Urdiales Spain

Castro Urdiales is on the easternmost coast of Cantabria, surrounded by spectacular scenery with steep cliffs and beautiful beaches. Although there are prehistoric remains of great interest, the town’s most notable history spans two thousand years and is closely linked to the Roman Empire, when what is now Castro was the colony of Flavióbriga. A fishing, whaling and trading port, the fishing village of Castro has survived to the present day as one of the most dynamic towns in Cantabria. The sea may play a smaller role in Castro’s economy today than it did in the past, but its maritime character is still the town’s most distinctive feature. In its streets, especially near the port, you can still sense this seafaring atmosphere and sample many of its local specialities, all sourced from the sea. Over the course of its history as an important summer destination since the late nineteenth century, Castro Urdiales has developed modern infrastructure that blends perfectly with the charm of the old town and its historic Puebla, with its attractive promenades, arcades lined with traditional bars, and noteworthy buildings standing like stately sentinels over the town. Castro Urdiales is home to the largest Gothic church in the region, the Church of Santa María, which dates from the thirteenth century and displays all the classic features of Gothic design. Inside, it contains magnificent sculptures from the thirteenth to the seventeenth centuries, an outstanding collection of late Gothic jewellery, and even a painting of the crucified Christ by Zurbarán. At the end of the headland, beside the church, stands the medieval castle, a massive fortress guarding the sea entrance, now converted into a lighthouse. The castle holds the lantern that was first lit in 1853 and has operated as a lighthouse ever since. In front of it, and connected by the so‑called medieval bridge, is the Hermitage of Santa Ana. Together, they form the last surviving elements of a larger complex that had to be altered when the breakwaters were built. Around the harbour basin, the Gothic church of Santa María and the lighthouse in the castle are the most iconic landmarks of this seaside town, a favourite meeting place for both visitors and locals. Among its civil heritage, the town hall building stands out, along with a collection of modernist buildings from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which make up the urban area declared a Historic Site in 1978.
Recommended airport
Bilbao (BIO)
Nearby destinations
  • Bilbao a 26.93 km
  • Bizkaia a 22.87 km
  • Cantabria a 49.88 km