Why stay here?
A historic stately home on Santillana del Mar’s main square, offering the more explicitly heritage-focused of the town’s two Parador stays.
Why it stands out
Choose Gil Blas when the historic house itself matters as much as the famous town around it.
How long to stay
Two nights gives the town, Altamira and the wider coast enough room without rushing.
Best route role
Use Gil Blas as the heritage-focused central Cantabria stop between eastern coast and Picos de Europa.
The Barreda-Bracho mansion
Santillana Gil Blas occupies the historic mansion of the Barreda-Bracho family, dating from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Wood floors, traditional furnishings and the noble-house layout give it a more authentically historic interior than the separate Santillana del Mar Parador nearby.
On the square in medieval Santillana
The property sits directly within the preserved town, with Altamira just outside Santillana and Comillas, Oyambre and the western coast within easy reach.
More about the stay
The Parador is in the lovely mansion of the Barreda-Bracho family, in the square of Santillana del Mar, a town declared a National Monument, whose origins go back to the 7th century. The grand entrance leads to open, welcoming public spaces, with wooden floors and traditional decoration and furniture.
The bedrooms are comfortable and in harmony with the overall look of the Parador. The dining room serves traditional stews, steaks, hake from the Cantabrian sea over green asparagus and quesada pasiega (cheesecake).
Is Parador de Santillana Gil Blas right for your trip?
Travelers who specifically prefer an authentic historic mansion.
Visitors focused on Santillana, Altamira and western Cantabria.
Road-trippers who want a walkable old-town stay rather than a remote landscape property.
Place this Parador in Cantabria
Cantabria’s Paradores pair naturally with Asturias, the Basque Country and Castile and León. Expect historic towns, mountain access and a slower northern-Spain pace.
Explore all Paradores in Cantabria →Start here. Then fan out.
Use the local map for geographic context, then compare the nearby Paradores below before deciding where the route should go next.
What to see nearby
- Santillana del Mar.
The whole town, old and well-preserved, is worth visiting. - Cuevas del Soplao caves (40 km.)
- Museum of Altamira (3 km.)
- Cares tour (60 km.)
- Santillana zoo (2 km.)
- Comillas (17 km.)
Sobrellano Palace, chapel-mausoleum of the Marquises of Comillas, the Pontifical University, the Capricho de Gaudí. - San Vicente de la Barquera (29 km.)
- Santa María de los Ángeles Church, Castillo del Rey castle.
- Oyambre (20 km.)
Oyambre Natural Park - Beaches
Urbiaco (5 km.)
Cobreces (10 km.)
Comillas (17 km.)
Oyambre (20 km.)
Suances (10 km.)
Activities and ways to spend your time
- Bungee Jumping
- Canoeing
- Canyoning
- Canyoning
- Climbing
- Diving
- Equestrian Trails
- Golf
- Horse Routes
- Micro-lights
- Paragliding
- Potholing
- Rafting
- Rafting
- 4x4 Vehicles
Regional flavor
We recommend you try cocido montañes (mountain stew): cabbage, beans, ribs, sausage, panceta, chorizo, black pudding all go into it. Enjoy too the grilled beef steak with Tresviso sauce, the hake in Cantabrian sauce, clams from Pedreña, the anchovy salad, the Cantabrian ventrisca (tuna) and quesada pasiega (cheesecake).
Before you build the stay into your route
Use the map for context
The Atlas map shows where this property sits relative to other Paradores. Actual road distance and driving time can differ substantially from straight-line distance.
Check the dates you need
Check live availability for your dates before fixing the surrounding route.
Allow time for the destination
Use the regional guide, nearby places and Journey links as planning context rather than treating the Parador only as a place to sleep between long driving days.
Planning a stay at Parador de Santillana Gil Blas
What is the difference between Santillana Gil Blas and Parador de Santillana del Mar?
Gil Blas occupies the historic Barreda-Bracho mansion, while the separate Santillana del Mar Parador is a newer manor house built in traditional local style.
Is Gil Blas in the historic center?
Yes. It sits directly on the central square of Santillana del Mar.
How many nights make sense?
Two nights works well for Santillana, Altamira and a nearby coast or Comillas outing.
Can I book Parador de Santillana Gil Blas through Paradores Atlas?
Paradores Atlas does not take the reservation itself. The Check availability link opens the verified external property availability page in a new tab, where booking and payment are completed.
