Velarde Palace

The Velarde Palace, also called Palacio de las Arenas, is a palatial manor house located in the Plaza de las Arenas in Santillana del Mar, next to the Collegiate Church, in Cantabria. It currently serves as a museum space and heritage tourist resource of the town, associated with the history of the Velarde family and the historic center of Santillana del Mar. It was built between the 15th and mid-16th centuries, with later alterations in the 17th century according to the sources consulted. It is a building of transition from Gothic to Renaissance, although the most reiterated characterization for its facade and composition is that of Renaissance or early Renaissance. The traditional attribution links the work to Alonso de Velarde. Among its most outstanding elements are the main façade, the stepped gable, the decorative pinnacles, the balconies, the supports and the coats of arms. Plateresque decoration is also mentioned in the main room, which reinforces its value as an example of noble architecture in the historic town. The palace is part of the monumental complex of Santillana del Mar, one of the most important heritage sites in Cantabria. Its interest lies both in its architecture and in its conservation and cultural reuse, which allow us to understand the social and artistic evolution of the town from the late Middle Ages to the Modern Age.