Aula· Spain, city by cityCantabria
San Vicente
«San Vicente de la Barquera tiene un gran puente medieval.»San Vicente de la Barquera has a large medieval bridge.
San Vicente de la Barquera is on the western coast of Cantabria, inside a ría enclosed between two strips of land. From its thirty-two-arched bridge, you can see the sea in front and the snow-capped Picos de Europa behind, about twenty kilometres away.
Did you know
The town of David Bustamante.
The famous Spanish singer David Bustamante was born and raised in this seaside town.
How they talk in San Vicente
«Sorropotún» is a very specific local word for the fishermen's dish. «Ría» is the essential geographical term to understand the town's landscape.
pindio / pindia
Very steep or inclined. Used especially for an ascent, a road, or terrain with a sharp incline: «una cuesta muy pindia».
Everyday life in San Vicente
The long bridge over the ría
The Maza crosses the estuary with thirty-two 16th-century arches, and you pass through there to enter the town: below, at low tide, the boats remain resting on the sand.
«El puente tiene treinta y dos arcos.» — The bridge has thirty-two arches.
The «Folía» after Easter
The boats go out in procession with the Virgin and the girls sing an ancient melody from the pier: it is the fishermen's festival, and it takes place on the Sunday after Easter.
«Las barcas salen con la Virgen.» — The boats go out with the Virgin.
The Picos can be seen from the port
On clear days the snow-capped peaks of the Picos de Europa are behind the town, forty kilometres away: sea in front and two thousand six hundred metres behind, in the same view.
What to eat in San Vicente
Cocido montañés
White beans and cabbage with chorizo, morcilla and bacon.
Rabas
Strips of squid, floured and fried, in a paper cone with lemon.
Marmita
Bonito soup with potatoes, onion and pepper, born on the boats.
Festivals in San Vicente
La Folía
the second Sunday after Easter
La Virgen de la Barquera goes out to sea on the fishermen's boats, and on the shore the women sing the picayos with panderetas.
What to see in San Vicente
Puente de la Maza
Thirty-two arches over the ría, and behind the town the Picos de Europa with snow on them.
Castillo de San Vicente
The 13th-century castle above the town, with walls that descend towards the ría.
Iglesia de Santa María de los Ángeles
Gothic church next to the castle, with Romanesque portals that remain from before.
La Folía
The boat procession on the Monday after Easter, with the Virgin carried on the water.
Where San Vicente comes from
The sea in front and the snow behind
Roman era
The port
A landing place in the ría, on the coastal road towards the west.
1210
The fuero
Alfonso VIII grants it the fuero: the maritime town is born, with walls and a castle.
15th century
The bridge
The Puente de la Maza is built, with thirty-two arches over the ría.
20th century → today
Fishing and tourism
The fleet is reduced, but the town remains one of the most visited on the coast.
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