*** Welcome to piglix ***

Santander, Cantabria

Santander
Municipality
220px
Top left: Assumption of the Virgin Mary Cathedral, Top right: Santander City Hall in Calle de los Escalantes, Middle left: Palacete del Embarcadero, Middle right: View of Sardinero Beach and Magdalena Palace, Bottom left: Cape Mayor Lighthouse, Bottom right: View of a ferry leave from Santander in Magdalena Peninsula
Flag of Santander
Flag
Coat of arms of Santander
Coat of arms
Santander is located in Cantabria
Santander
Santander
Location of Santander within Cantabria
Coordinates: 43°27′46″N 3°48′18″W / 43.46278°N 3.80500°W / 43.46278; -3.80500Coordinates: 43°27′46″N 3°48′18″W / 43.46278°N 3.80500°W / 43.46278; -3.80500
Country  Spain
Autonomous community  Cantabria
Province Cantabria
Comarca Bay of Santander
Judicial district Santander
Founded 26 BC, as Portus Victoriae Iuliobrigensium 9 January 1755, granting the title of city
Capital Santander
Government
 • Alcalde Gema Igual (2016) (PP)
Area
 • Total 35 km2 (14 sq mi)
Elevation 15 m (49 ft)
Highest elevation 108 m (354 ft)
Lowest elevation 0 m (0 ft)
Population (2013)
 • Total 178,465
 • Density 5,100/km2 (13,000/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Santanderino/a, santanderense, pejino/a, chani
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 39001-39012
Official language(s) Spanish
Website Official website

The port city of Santander (UK /ˌsæntənˈdɛər, -tæn-/, US /ˌsɑːntɑːnˈdɛər/;Spanish: [santanˈder]) is the capital of the autonomous community and historical region of Cantabria situated on the north coast of Spain. Located east of Gijón and west of Bilbao, the city has a population of 178,465 (2013). Santander houses the headquarters of multinational bank Banco Santander, and is the location of the founding of the namesake company.

The origin of the earliest human settlements in the current Santander is not easy to establish because there are few written and archaeological data. However, there would appear to be good practical reasons for ancient settlers to have chosen the north side of the bay, sheltered from it and safer from the storms of the Bay of Biscay, on the north side of the promontory of Somorrostro and along the ancient Becedo estuary. Moreover, the hillside provided good visibility for spotting potential attackers, making this the ideal place for the foundation of a stable settlement, which was to evolve throughout the Middle Ages.


...
Wikipedia

...