Santillana del mar is a fantastic medieval town and the parador hotel is right in the heart of it, with a building matching the sUrroundings inside and out. We loved the rooms with balconies overlooking the coirtyard and huge shuttered windows. A wonderful place to explore on foot, and the nearby altamira caves. We also visited comillas- another great place to explore, with a whimsical house designed by anton gaudi.