This is a large nature space located about 15 min drive from downtown Santander. The peninsula…read morecovers about 62 acres and it offers a multitude of activities. There is a Tourist Train that takes you around the entire peninsula so you can check out the sights with minimal walking. There is a Marine Park, built outdoors, taking advantage of the cliff rock and the inlet of sea water, where you can see seals, sea lions and penguins. There is a Man and the Sea Museum where you will be able to see three old galleons used in journeys through the Atlantic Ocean Then, there's the jewel of the park: La Magdalena Palace Located at the top of the Magdalena Peninsula, is the former summer residence of Kings Alfonso XIII and Victoria Eugenia. It currently hosts the UIMP summer courses There are also a few beaches that dot the peninsula for those wanting some Sun Bathing. You can access this area with buses 1, 2 or 4 from the center of town.

This is the late 20th century opus of American architect Frank Gehry…read more As an architect, i am always amazed at what some architects can get build. Thus, this always perplexed me. However in situ, it makes total sense. At a human scale its underpinnings line up with the surrounding buildings and the river it sits upon. The curvilinear forms are symbolic of the ships once built on this ground in the early 20th century. As an icon and symbol of basque pride. Interestingly, it also plays homage to Frank Lloyd Wright's opus the original Guggenheim in NYC. The Art? The building is the art. I will let others comment on its success as a gallery. However, it is perhaps the one of the greatest pieces of architecture of our time. Post Modern deconstructionist Master Work

This museum was the main reason why I chose to visit Bilbao during my recent trip to Spain. It had…read morebeen on my bucket list for years! I've visited the Guggenheim museums in NYC and Venice and I have to say that this building had the most unique architecture of them all so far. Designed by Frank Gehry, the museum is a deconstructionist building with over 33,000 titanium plates. Located along the Nervion River, the industrial backdrop of Bilbao blends in with the metallic look of the museum. The interior seems a bit jumbled, which is a contrast to the sleekness of the exterior. Stairwells jut here and there, it didn't seem like there was a real flow. In terms of the collection, while I was here there was an exhibition of Jasper Johns, and while I'm not a huge fan but know his work, it was interesting. I found that the exhibits were on the niche side, albeit very comprehensive with retrospectives of their work. I really liked viewing the installation piece by Richard Serra, The Matter of Time. Also being a fan of Jeff Koons, the live Puppy outdoor sculpture is amazing to view. Honestly, I was more impressed with the architecture rather than the art here.

If you are fortunate enough to find yourself in the lovely city of Santander then you really should…read morenot pass up on the opportunity to visit this first class museum. Covering just about every imaginable topic in the area of marine studies, a wander through the museum will take you past a video and some brilliant exhibits about how the coast of Cantabria and northern Spain in general was formed, the importance of the sea in the original settling and continued inhabitance of this area, the state of the maritime industry today and how conservation is managed by the government. If this were not enough, it has a huge variety of marine biology on show, the highlights being a full-sized whale skeleton in the main hall and a pickled two-headed fish! It is not only the contents of this museum which deserve comment. The building itself is fantastically designed, being an instantly recognisable landmark. It is centred around a main hall, with galleries leading off from this on all floors. At the top of the building there is a restaurant and, even better, the roof is open to the public, so that you can go and admire the views across the bay and out to sea. They have also constructed an outdoor lecture theatre up on the roof if only all my school and university classes had been given in a setting like this! Adult tickets are EUR6, while concessions (including students) will pay EUR4. This is an absolutely top rate museum, and not to be missed.