The medieval
town of Santillana del Mar has kept much of its original
character. It is renowned in literature as the hometown of the main character
of Lesage's picaresque novel Gil Blas de Santillane. Today's visitor, walking
the narrow cobblestoned streets, can easily imagine what life must have been like hundreds of
years ago.
The
panoramic image below shows the town square, which looks much as it did in the time of Columbus.
Spaniards say that the city's name
contains three lies: it is neither saintly (sant'), nor level (llana)
nor by the sea (mar). But it sure is picturesque!
--Robert
Jeantet
