Santander, the attractive regional capital, is a port and commercial centre, with covered markets, museums, parks and beaches. To the south is the Cabárceno nature reserve, designed with an emphasis on animal and plant conservation, and to the west is the Sobrellano Palace and Gaudí’s “El Capricho” mansion. A host of coastal villages and ports make delightful and contrasting visits offering an insight into the traditional Cantabrian way of life.