Capricho Gaudi Tour: Santillana Del Mar & Sequoia Forest

So, thinking of checking out northern Spain? Pretty great idea! It’s almost that, you know, everyone flocks to Barcelona, which is awesome, yet the northern coast offers a totally different vibe. Very picture-postcard scenery, yummy food, and, hey, it’s the home to some amazing architectural spots, too. We’re talking about Antoni Gaudí’s El Capricho, and also, as a little something extra, picture yourself wandering through Santillana Del Mar and getting lost amongst towering sequoias.

Experiencing Gaudí’s Whimsical Vision at El Capricho

El Capricho, that’s Gaudí’s villa located in Comillas, tends to be one of those structures that stops you in your tracks. Apparently, it’s not quite as famous as some of his Barcelona masterpieces, yet this building is absolutely special. Instead of the usual stone and concrete, there is quite a bit of bright, colorful ceramics and cast iron, which is, like your, creating almost a fairy-tale feel. One really distinctive element is this sunflower motif that appears all over the exterior, adding almost like a cheerful burst of color. Very eye-catching!

The building dates way back to the 1880s, really. The idea, as I was saying, it seems, was a summer house for Máximo Díaz de Quijano. A detail about this structure is that Máximo Díaz de Quijano passed away before its completion, and so it was never actually his. That would have been very annoying. As a matter of fact, what you will see inside El Capricho is almost a thoughtful design aimed to bring the outdoors inside, featuring very large windows that offer incredible views of the surrounding landscape. There is such emphasis placed on natural light.

You will want to get your tickets in advance because El Capricho is clearly one spot that gets quite a bit of foot traffic. And, still, try to allocate a chunk of your morning to have time to really wander the grounds, you know. Apparently, the building isn’t just something you rush through; that is, it’s a place that you savor. Really wander around and see every little thing. Don’t just go and see the architecture, check out the light at different points of the day.

Recommendations for Visiting El Capricho

• Ticket Booking: Try and make your reservation online; that is, it’s generally a more certain approach and will help prevent any hiccups at the entrance.
• Morning Visits: So, you might want to think about getting there when it opens, arguably; this gives you the chance to dodge the larger crowds and explore it at your speed.
• Guided Tours: Arguably, to make the most of the visit, getting involved in a guided tour means, pretty much, you’ll gather more about the history and inspiration behind Gaudí’s architectural decisions.
• Photography: It is almost, very easy to take amazing photographs given its aesthetic design. Very photographable from all sorts of angles.

Step Back in Time: Exploring Santillana Del Mar

Leaving El Capricho, in that case, the following visit takes you to Santillana Del Mar, you know, it’s sometimes known as the town of “three lies” because apparently it’s not saintly (“santa”), not flat (“llana”), and has no sea (“del mar”). It is a beautiful village with stone buildings, you know, as I was saying. It is often described as being well kept and it is. As a matter of fact, Santillana del Mar transports you straight to the Middle Ages. This well-preserved medieval town, too, with its cobbled streets and historic buildings, gives an amazing idea of what life may have seemed to be centuries before.

Really walk down the main streets and venture a bit off the more crowded routes to discover all of those less known spots that have even more to show. Take a visit to the Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana, the very structure from the 12th century. It’s still standing, yet I’m pretty sure the occupants aren’t. Santillana del Mar tends to be one of those towns in which just meandering its roads turns into one great journey. Each corner shows historical stories, from family crests on buildings to well-preserved architectural work.

Tips for your Santillana Del Mar Experience

• Morning Exploration: Get started with your tour early enough, might be, you know; in other words, the town seems to be quieter early, really. This also has benefits regarding photograph opportunities, you see.
• Local Cuisine: Think about giving yourself the pleasure of enjoying regional specialties at a local restaurant; you know, dishes include cocido montañés or cheeses native to the Cantabria area, actually. It’s very nice!
• Comfortable Footwear: The streets seem to be, basically, covered in cobblestones; comfortable shoes really do contribute so much to how you get around with pleasure. It seems, though, a pretty simple consideration, and still, so useful to feel all the more content with a place and make it, honestly, unforgettable.
• Souvenir Shopping: Santillana comes with small artisanal shops. Keep an eye out for handcrafted souvenirs; as a matter of fact, that’s how you find really specific reminders to take away.

Into the Giants: Sequoia Forest

Close to Cabezón de la Sal, quite a bit from Santillana, now; there sits, like, this forest that’s more than amazing. More or less, it involves the Sequoia Gigantea trees, growing pretty far from home. Very specifically, they have been planted in the early 1940s. The outcome? Apparently, there is an incredible natural setting that sort of takes you out of northern Spain and plants you right somewhere into, might be, Northern California.

Basically, wandering through this woodland offers almost a calm and really amazing experience. Given how towering the trees are, as a matter of fact, that light coming through creates pretty great photo spots. A walk through these gigantic trees creates all the more reverence towards wildlife and ecology in a quite stunning fashion.

Enjoying the Sequoia Forest Fully

• Wear Suitable Footwear: Try walking paths, even when, anyway, typically simple, yet could be, sometimes, damp, actually. Wearing appropriate shoes guarantees that you stay safe while moving around.
• Pack Water and Snacks: The hike usually takes time; you could be, pretty much, willing to pack food and hydrate; it’s, basically, vital, even though if short duration.
• Photography Gear: Given the light qualities coupled with such huge trees, for example, bringing your digital camera ensures the beautiful shots of the trek. Wide angle seems to be best in circumstances where getting that top-to-bottom of a tree is clearly on your mind.
• Respect the Environment: It’s extremely important that everybody visiting helps safeguard this forest. Try keeping only footprints, but leave absolutely nothing besides admiration.

So, to pull things together, a tour encompassing El Capricho of Gaudí, the pretty village located in Santillana Del Mar, in addition to the amazing Sequoia Forest delivers pretty much a balanced blend of nature, buildings, coupled with history and tradition. It is such a rewarding choice for families looking at experiencing something quite distinct across northern Spain; as a matter of fact, something anyone with an interest into heritage spots will find interesting, I suspect.