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Santander - History |
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The
discovery of archaeological settlements especially in the area of the
Peninsula of the Magdalena proves the existence of a Roman population from
1 A.D. The city's excellent
harbour was possibly the site of the Roman colony of Portus Victoriae. Its
port has been along history, its raison d´être: its unsurpassable
conditions had turned it into the leaving point towards other seas, with
the Castilian army or the Hermandad.
In
1248 during the reign of Fernando III el Santo (The Saint) Santander took
part in the battle for Seville. 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. Tragedy
struck Santander at the end of the XIX century. In 1893 the freighter Cabo
Machichaco exploded in the harbour, resulting in the loss of more than
five hundred lives and severe structural damage. The
centre of the lower town was rebuilt after it was destroyed by fire spread
by a windstorm in 1941. Notable surviving buildings include the Magdalena
Palace, presented by the town to King Alfonso XIII; a Gothic cathedral;
the library of the contemporary writer and historian Marcelino Menéndez y
Pelayo; and the provincial museum, with a large collection of prehistoric
art from the locality. The economy is based on fishing, iron refining, and activities connected with the port (shipbuilding). Manufactures are varied. |
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At
the beginning of the middle Ages the settlement was concentrated in the
area surrounding the Cathedral. The San Emeterio and San Celedonio
Monasteries and the Castillo de San Felipe (San Felipe Castle) were also
in the vicinity.
