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Torrelavega
«Torrelavega es un importante centro industrial y comercial de Cantabria.»Torrelavega is an important industrial and commercial centre of Cantabria.
Torrelavega is the second city of Cantabria and is located in the Besaya valley, twenty kilometres from Santander. It has lived on the chemical industry since the twentieth century, and its livestock market, granted in 1394 and held every Thursday without interruption, is the largest in northern Spain.
Did you know
José María de Pereda was born here.
The illustrious Spanish writer and poet José María de Pereda was born here.
How they talk in Torrelavega
«Toreraveguense» is the formal demonym, while «La Montaña» is a traditional way of referring to Cantabria. The diminutive «-uco/-uca» is typical of regional speech.
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 Torrelavega
The «Mercado Nacional de Ganados»
For decades, the city has had one of the largest livestock markets in Spain, and it is the trading hub of the Cantabrian countryside: on Wednesdays, the bars in the centre talk about cows.
«Los miércoles se habla de vacas.» — On Wednesdays people talk about cows.
«Sniace» has left its mark on families
The large fibre factory on the river Saja has been the workplace of generations, with its crises and closures: chemistry has made and unmade the city several times.
The «Besaya» divides it in two
The river crosses the city and separates its neighbourhoods: people cross the bridges every day, and the upper and lower parts have different lives and shops.
What to eat in Torrelavega
Sobaos pasiegos
Squares of buttery sponge cake, tall and soft, baked inside a paper tray.
Quesada pasiega
Dense cake made of curdled milk, butter and lemon, baked in a low tin and cut into squares.
Anchoas de Santoña
Salted anchovies, cleaned by hand one by one, preserved in oil.
Festivals in Torrelavega
Fiestas de la Virgen Grande
around 15 August
The Gala Floral brings floats covered in flowers through the centre, and the giants lead the way.
What to see in Torrelavega
Mercado Nacional de Ganados
The largest livestock market in the north of Spain, which has been held here since 1394.
Iglesia de la Asunción
The neoclassical church in the centre, with the tower that closes the square.
Parque Manuel Barquín
The city park, with large trees and the music kiosk.
Where Torrelavega comes from
The largest livestock market in the north
Middle Ages
The tower
It was born around the tower of the de la Vega family, from which the name comes.
1394
The market
The market privilege is granted: since then it has been held every Thursday, without interruption.
20th century
Industry
Solvay and the chemical factories make the city the industrial centre of the region.
Today
The second city
It is the second largest municipality in Cantabria by population, after Santander.
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