Santander is not usually first on tourists' list of places to see when visiting Spain, which is unfortunate, since it offers a wide variety of cultural and culinary experiences for the adventurous traveler. In fact, many people feel that Santander is one of the most naturally beautiful cities in the country, and from the gorgeous golf courses to the sandy beaches to the Picos de Europa National Park, students would be hard pressed to find a more interesting and breathtaking city in which to study abroad.
Study Abroad Programs in Santander
The history of Santander goes back a long way - there is strong archaeological evidence that the Romans lived there. It has played a very important role in the cultural and military history of Spain for more than 1,000 years. Its most glorious moment likely came "[d]uring the Reconquista (Reconquest) when Spain fought to recapture the country from the Moors... Santander was involved in numerous naval battles, together with San Vicente de la Barquera, Laredo and Castro Urdiales, the four towns making up the so called Cuatro Villas del Mar (Four Towns on the Sea). In 1248 during the reign of Fernando III el Santo (The Saint) Santander took part in the battle for Seville, fighting under the command of Admiral Boniface. In recognition of its contribution, the King granted Santander a coat of arms boasting a golden tower, a chain over the Guadalquivir river and a ship" (www.santandersp.ags.myareaguide.com).
Today, Santander is popular among a wide variety of domestic vacacioners, but less so among international tourists. As a result, Santander is a wonderful place to study abroad, as immersion in the local culture and learning the language is much more easily facilitated when there is not the crutch of the familiar, as there is with some of the more popular study-abroad destinations. Santander is popular with Spaniards for the same reason Cannes is with the French or Positano is with the Italians: Because it is a beautiful seaside town with first-rate cultural offerings, world-class cuisine, and fascinating attractions.
Among the most popular is the bay, whose waters, ordinarily calm, change "color depending on the wind, creating a kind of magical element. A walk along the bay takes visitors to the Barrio Pesquero, a fisherman's area lined with gritty taverns and earthy restaurants. Farther along is a street called the Paseo de Pereda, locale of Pereda Gardens, known as the "lungs of the city." Although the buildings along the coast vary, there is a strange architectural unity-they all feature balconies made of wood and glass. Along the bay front is the International Festival Hall of Santander, a modern, box-like building that has the capacity to drop a wall and open itself to the bay for performances held under the stars" (www.emcoinc.com).
Students will find themselves immersed in the beauty and excitement of traditional Spanish culture and society. At the same time, they will also find themselves living and studying in a town both forward-looking and cosmopolitan. In that sense, Santander offers the best of both the old and the new. Santander truly is the perfect place to spend a semester or year abroad.
