Santoña is divided into two
areas: the town centre, which sits on a plain, and
a mountainous area on the slopes of El Brusco and
El Buciero. The history of the town is linked to the
Monastery of Santa María del Puerto, which
later gave rise to the Romanesque church of Santa
María del Puerto. It was built between the
13th and 17th centuries and houses a reredos of San
Bartolomé with Flemish paintings from the 15th
century. Equally significant are its military fortifications,
grouped around the mountain of Buciero, which is evidence
of the strategic importance of the port. Still in
good condition are the forts of San Martín,
San Carlos and Mazo or Napoleon.
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