Cantabria is a historical region and province autonomous region of Spain. Bordered on the east by the Basque Country (province of Biscay), on the south by Castilla y Leon (provinces of Leon, Palencia and Burgos), on the west by the Principality of Asturias and the north by the Bay of Biscay. The city of Santander is the capital

Cantabria belongs to the Cantabrian Coast, the name given to the strip of land between the Cantabrian Sea and the Cantabrian mountains in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. It has a moist ocean climate and moderate temperatures, strongly influenced by the winds from the Atlantic Ocean to collide against the mountain. The average rainfall is 1,200 mm, which allows the growth of lush vegetation.

Cantabria region is the world's richest archaeological sites in the Upper Paleolithic. The first signs of human occupation dating back to the Lower Paleolithic, although this period is not so well represented in the region. They note in this regard the cave paintings of Altamira, dated between 16,000 and 9,000 a. de C. C. And declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Modern province of Cantabria was incorporated on July 28, 1778. The Organic Law of the Statute of Autonomy of Cantabria was adopted on December 30, 1981, thus providing the Autonomous Region of agencies and institutions of self-government.

Toponymy.

Several have been authors who have sought the etymological origin of the name of Cantabria (Saint Isidore of Seville, Julio Caro Baroja, Aureliano War Fernandez, Joaquin Gonzalez Echegaray, Adolf Schulten, etc..).

Although it is not sure where they came from, the view accepted by most experts is that derives from the root-cannot, Celtic or Ligurian and that means' rock 'or' stone ', and the suffix-April, often in regions Celts. From this it follows that "Cantabrian" would mean "the people inhabiting the rocks' or "mountain", in clear reference to the rugged and mountainous territory of Cantabria.

Municipalities.

At present the number of municipalities in Cantabria stands at 102. Usually these have several locations and several of these neighborhoods. Some municipalities have the name of one of its sites (whether or not its capital) and other name is not shared with any of its locations.

Each municipality is governed by its own council and two of whom Tresviso and Fisheries, through a council Open to be less than 250 inhabitants.

Transport and communications.

At present the number of municipalities in Cantabria stands at 102. Usually these have several locations and several of these neighborhoods. Some municipalities have the name of one of its sites (whether or not its capital) and other name is not shared with any of its locations.

The inadequacies in the provision of transport infrastructure of state competition, in particular as it relates to communication with the plateau by road and rail, and the high cost per kilometre linear construction due to its difficult terrain, is a significant deficit Cantabria in communications with the outside world.

According to the Ministry of Development, Cantabria has 2,393 km of roads and 206 km of conventional highways or freeways.

The airport of Santander, the only airfield in the region designed to regulate passenger traffic, has experienced a dramatic growth in the volume of passengers who have used their facilities as a result of which in 2003 began to operate on him the low-cost airline Ryanair. At present from the airport you can fly to 11 domestic and seven international destinations. Parayas airport, located 5 km from Santander, in the town of Camargo.

Overall the main communication infrastructures in the region are:

• Santander Airport (Parayas)
• Autovía del Cantabrico (A-8, European road E-70)
• Highway of the Plateau (A-67) (under completion)
• Rail narrow gauge Santander-Oviedo (FEVE)
• Rail narrow gauge Santander-Bilbao (FEVE)
• Rail track broad-Santander-Valladolid-Palencia-Avila-Madrid (RENFE)
• Line Ferry Santander Plymouth
• Port of Santander

Official map of roads in the autonomous community of Cantabria

Cantabria in images.

You can access our gallery of images of Cantabria to hear some of its natural landscapes, parks, rivers, festivals of cultural interest. View Gallery [+]