Palacio de la Magdalena

Palacio de la Magdalena - CaptureLight/iStock

In the city of Santander, capital of Cantabria, we can find the Palacio de la Magdalena, the most emblematic building in this city. This building was built between 1908 and 1912 by the architects Gonzalo Bringas and Javier Gozález de Riancho and is currently considered one of the most outstanding examples of civil architecture in the north of the peninsula.

The origin of Palacio de la Magdalena stems from an order from the city council that wanted to offer a summer residence for King Alfonso XIII and the rest of his family. For many years that was its mission, although with the passage of time it had other uses such as the headquarters of the International Summer University, a hospital or an event center as it is today.

The most emblematic building in Santander

Although many visitors are amazed to see the Magdalena Palace for its immensity, it also stands out for the architectural style that it has both inside and outside. This building belongs to the eclectic style that combines different English influences and fuses with contributions from the French style, such as the asymmetry of the building's bodies. Its architecture originated a new sub-style called eclectic-regionalist, of which it is to this day the greatest exponent.

Although this popular building is currently used to celebrate weddings, congresses and other types of events, it also has a visitor service for anyone who wants to discover it more thoroughly. Many people come each year to learn about the history of this Palace from the beginning of the 20th century, among which are a large number of pilgrims who come to Santander. This is because a stage of the Camino del Norte ends in this city and it is also one of the most popular starting points of this Jacobean route.