In 1908, the local government of Santander initiated the construction of a seasonal residence for the Spanish royal family. The funding for the project was provided via a popular subscription of the local populace. Architects Javier González de Riancho and Gonzalo Bringas Vega oversaw the design and construction, which was completed by 1912.
The building is located on the Magdalena Peninsula, on the site of the old Fort of San Salvador de Hano, which previously protected the entrance to the bay. It features an eclectic style that combines English, French, and regional architectural styles. The exterior is covered with stone masonry slate, and the interior reception rooms hold notable paintings by artists such as Luis Benedito and Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida.
King Alfonso XIII and his family first arrived at the palace in August 1913 and used it as a summer base for recreational activities and sporting events through 1930, occasionally holding government meetings there. Following the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931, the palace began hosting summer courses for the Menéndez Pelayo International University in 1932. The stables, designed to emulate a medieval English village, were later converted into student dormitories.
In 1977, the Count of Barcelona sold the palace and the peninsula back to the city of Santander for 150 million pesetas. The palace was declared a historical monument in 1982 and underwent renovation between 1993 and 1995. Today, it remains the most visited place in Santander and continues to serve as a conference and meeting hall.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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