Magdalena Palace

Santander raised money by public subscription and built this palace between 1908 and 1912 as a gift to Alfonso XIII and Victoria Eugenia, hoping to secure the court's summer presence and the trade that came with it, which worked: the royal family spent summers here until 1930 and the city prospered accordingly. The building is an eclectic mix of English and French country house styles on a headland with sea on three sides. The peninsula around it is a public park of about twenty-five hectares with a small zoo of seals and penguins, replicas of the galleons of the Spanish expeditions, and beaches on either side. Since 1932 the palace has housed the Menendez Pelayo International University for summer courses.

What you actually see

• The palace - an eclectic English and French country house on a headland.
• The peninsula park - twenty-five hectares of public grounds with sea views.
• The galleon replicas - ships from Spanish exploration expeditions.
• The small zoo - seals and penguins in enclosures on the point.

When to go

April to June and September to October; the park is free and open year-round, while palace tours run on a restricted schedule and stop during summer university terms. Santander is wet in every season.

Honest expectations

Palace interior access is limited and closed during university courses, so many visitors see only the exterior and the park. The zoo is small and dated. Rain is frequent.

Nearby

El Sardinero beaches are alongside; Santander's centre and the Centro Botin lie west.