Santander, a picturesque city in northern Spain, houses one of the most fascinating maritime museums: the Cantabrian Maritime Museum (MMC). This place takes you on an incredible journey through the mysterious depths of the Cantabrian Sea, which surrounds this part of the Iberian Peninsula.
This extraordinary adventure, designed by the creators of the Santander Maritime Museum, will immerse you in the ocean’s depths, where you’ll encounter fascinating and often unfamiliar marine creatures. It also allows you to trace the footsteps of the brave souls from the past who boldly charted the furthest maritime routes for our civilization.
The History of the Cantabrian Maritime Museum MMC
What to do and see in Santander and how much it costs
- City Cruise Around the Bay; Relax onboard and discover Santander from the sea. Learn about all the main highlights and cultural places of interest from your guide.
- Soplao Cave Excursion; Discover the natural wonder of El Soplao Cave, with its unusual geological formations. Then, admire the views of the Cantabrian Sea from the Tina Menor viewpoint.
- Comillas, modernist architecture & Gaudi; Visit Comillas, the only modernist city in Cantabria. Discover the Capricho de Gaudi building and awesome old Seminary and take a scenic drive around this small and elegant town.
- Book a hotel at a good price and enjoy the beauty of Santander.
- Rent a car; The rented car will help you realize travel plans faster and more efficiently.
The history of this museum dates back to the beginnings of the Marine Experimental Zoology and Botany Station in Santander, founded in 1886 by Augusto González de Linares, who became its first director.
Augusto and his friends erected a modest building adjacent to the zoological station, where they collected the first exhibits related to marine research. In 1907, they began exhibiting specimens from the marine depths and inhabitants of the sea, which garnered immense interest from the local community.
A few years later, thanks to the involvement of Santander’s residents, the museum introduced an aquarium with live marine creatures. The collection gradually grew to include ship models, underwater equipment, maps, and documents.
In 1948, the Royal Shipyard Naval Museum in Guarnizo was established, but it survived only for a few decades. Some of its funds were transferred to other military museums, while the rest found its way to the coast of Santander at the Oceanographic Laboratory. Rafael González Echegaray, the director of the Oceanographic Laboratory, dreamt of creating the Santander Maritime Museum and, after years of efforts, convinced the Santander Provincial Council of the need for such an institution.
In 1972, the construction of two buildings overlooking Santander Bay began, one intended as the museum’s headquarters and the other as a modern oceanographic laboratory.
The official opening of the Santander Maritime Museum took place in 1981, with José Luís Casado Soto as its first director. In 2000, the museum’s building underwent a major renovation and expansion.
Exploring the Santander Maritime Museum MMC
The main entrance to the museum is on the east side, at Plaza de Los Calafates. After purchasing your ticket, start your adventure by visiting captivating marine aquariums located below ground level. These spaces are unique thanks to skylights in the roof that allow for natural light to illuminate the water tanks, creating a beautiful and beneficial environment for the marine creatures within.
The entrance and museum foyer retain remnants of the original construction, giving the building of a unique character. The building has four levels and occupies an area of over 8,500 square meters, promising an exciting stroll filled with extraordinary discoveries. In addition to museum exhibitions, you’ll find technical rooms, laboratories, a library, and workshops. Some of these areas are open to visitors, allowing you to observe the work of scientists and technicians.
Exhibits at the Santander Maritime Museum
The Santander Maritime Museum is divided into four floors, each dedicated to various themes.
Floor -1 (basement): The lowest level
The lowest level features three fascinating exhibitions
- Live Marine Fauna and Flora: Aquariums showcase various underwater environments, from coastal areas to depths exceeding 100 meters, with over 20 tanks containing more than a million litres of seawater.
- Marine Biology: This area displays the first artefacts from the old Zoological Experimental Marine Station, including scientific instruments, research materials, documents, and maps from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Augusto González de Linares Room: This is the last room on this level, containing personal items, notes, and interesting facts about the life of Augusto González de Linares, the visionary behind the museum’s creation and a researcher of the Cantabrian Sea.
Ground Floor: On the ground floor
You’ll find the skeletons of enormous marine animals, navigational instruments, ship models, and fragments of archaeological finds. It’s also where you can learn more about current temporary exhibitions and visit the souvenir shop.
Floor 1: The first floor houses two exhibitions:
- Fishermen and Fishing in the Cantabrian Sea: This exhibition is dedicated to people involved in fishing and the extraction of biological resources from the sea. It transports you back to the time when people first ventured onto the sea and encountered its riches. You’ll learn about fishing craftsmanship, tools, the lives of fishermen, and techniques for preserving seafood.
- The Cantabrian Sea and Its History of Exploration: This exhibition tells the story of human activity in the Cantabrian Sea over nearly two thousand years. It presents the organization of Spanish maritime ports, ships, trade, naval warfare, and the results of scientific research conducted in the sea and along its coasts.
Floor 2: Restaurant and an observation terrace
The highest floor features a cosy restaurant and an observation terrace, from which you can admire the beautiful Santander port.
Collections at the Santander Maritime Museum
The oldest part of the museum’s collections comes from the Marine Experimental Zoology and Botany Station. Although most of the exhibits and artefacts are related to the Cantabrian Sea and its coasts, the museum also explores other seas and oceans worldwide. However, the primary focus remains on exploring and documenting the Cantabrian Sea.
During your visit to the Santander Maritime Museum, you can admire a miniature replica of the interior of the Santa Maria caravel, which Christopher Columbus used during his journey to the New World. This fascinating collection of exhibits showcases the life of the inhabitants of northern Spain and the history of maritime expeditions.
Summary and Practical Information
The Santander Maritime Museum is a captivating place that invites you on an extraordinary journey through the history and secrets of the Cantabrian Sea. The duration of your visit can vary from an hour to several, depending on your interests. It’s the perfect opportunity to delve into the mysteries of the sea and its history. We highly recommend visiting this place and discovering the fascinating world hidden within the Cantabrian Sea.
- The museum was established in 1981, and in the year 2000, it underwent a major renovation, taking on the shape you can see today.
- Slightly over 50 percent of the building is dedicated to the museum. The remaining space houses laboratories, a library, warehouses, and many other technical and scientific facilities.
- Virtual tours of the museum are available on the official MMC website.
- The museum is open from 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM during summer and until 6:00 PM during the rest of the year.
- The museum is open every day of the week except for Mondays.
- Ticket prices were 8 euros when we visited, but currently, prices change frequently, so I recommend checking the official museum website for exact cost details.
- On our website you will find more articles in which we talk about the attractions of Spain.
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