The best MTB trails around Polanco

Quiet place, interesting views.

This simple but atmospheric statue of Francis of Assisi stands along the Camino del Norte in Viveda. In 1214, St Francis of Assisi slept in Viveda on his pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.

The San Andrés Bridge is in Somahoz (Los Corrales de Buelna) over the Besaya River, which gives access to the San Andrés neighbourhood. It is divided into a narrow lane for vehicles and a pedestrian crossing, and from it we see a railway bridge that we have to go under to enter the neighbourhood. And that railway bridge (or overpass) that we crossed is part of the historic "Ferro-carril de Isabel II" (Isabel II Railway) that began to be built in the mid-19th century with the project of joining the towns of Alar del Rey with Santander and whose section from Bárcena de Pie de Concha to the Cantabrian capital must have been finished in 1858.

The Casa Palacio that the Ceballos had in Barros is today owned by Mr. Herrero and Mr. Martínez de Azcoitia. It is a beautiful mountain architectural complex with a portal between cylindrical cubes, a typical mansion and a chapel. It was restored a few years ago by the current owners who have managed to give its interior a stately and period atmosphere. It dates back to the beginning of the 18th century.

At the beginning of the San Andrés neighbourhood, in Somahoz, the views upstream from the Besaya are beautiful. This is the starting point for several routes.

The spa is located in Las Caldas de Besaya, which belongs to Los Corrales de Buelna, and this name is thanks to the spring of thermal waters that flows nearby, already known since Roman times (warm waters). On November 15, 1753, the old "Wool Road" or "Flour Road" that ran through this point and along the Besaya, achieved the rank of "Royal Road", notably improving the transport conditions of Castilian products destined for our coastal ports, for export overseas. The building is located next to the train stop across the old donkey-back bridge. Years later, the main road passed by, and all of this contributed to facilitating the communications of the Spa, although currently they are all out of use, but this has not caused the number of travelers to decrease and they remain very popular. The spa was built in the mid-19th century next to the hotel, the inn, and the casino, which was formerly an annex building. Today it is restored, being considered the oldest in the region and continues to receive those who wish to benefit from its mineral-medicinal waters.

The monument is the work of the sculptor Mercedes Rodríguez Elvira from Torrelave and is modeled in bronze. His weight is 500 kilos and he is 2.50 meters tall. It represents a young San Francisco pilgrim in a place where legend and historical chronicles place him on his way to Santiago.

The pre-Roman stelae of Barros and Lombera stand out, as well as the manor houses that can be found in the Rasilla park area, such as the palace of the Counts of Mansilla, Bustamante and Quijano. One of the main attractions are the Cantabrian Wars festivities, which are held on the last weekend of August and the first of September, recreating the wars between the Romans and the Cantabrians.