Most important Gothic church in Cantabria
The Gothic church of Santa Maria de la Asunción stands majestically in the Puebla Vieja (the old town of Castro Urdiales), overlooking the village and harbor from a prominent position.
This large church is considered the most important Gothic building in all of Cantabria. In the early 13th century, Alfonso VIII decided to give this coastal town a church of cathedral proportions and the result is this great three-chambered basilica.
If you look closely at the details, you can see certain similarities with the French Gothic movement which was underway in Normandy and some details similar to the Cathedral in Burgos.
It’s impressive to see how the flying buttresses of the church seem to blend in with the cliffs, as if they were real roots of stone. If you look at Puebla Vieja from the port, you'll see how the church seems to spring forth from the rock.
As a side note, I’ll say that the Church of Santa Maria de la Asunción was declared a Monument of Cultural Interest in 1931 and Castro Urdiales' Old Town was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1978.
You can also taste the best prawns in the world in the streets near the port. Seriously. You can't miss it. To do so would be to miss one of the greatest culinary pleasures in Cantabria.