Mies de Villa, thanks to its exceptional position, allows one to relax in the peace and quiet of country and coastal life, encouraging one to stroll along the four miles of golden beach or round the numerous country lanes. Sport lovers have not been forgotten as swimming, surfing, sailing and scuba diving are key attractions in the village. Golf lovers can play a round on the internationally famous Pedreña golf course which is 2.5 miles away, horse riding can be enjoyed at the nearby riding schools and cyclists have miles of open countryside and coastline to explore.
A pleasant boat ride across the peaceful waters of the bay takes one to the elegant city of Santander where any kind of entertainment can be found. The Festival Hall, presenting a wide range of international music, theatre and ballet, the Royal Palace where the courses of the International Summer University are held, the Museums, the Casino and last but not least the extraordinary Nightlife where one can dance until dawn and finish with a typical Spanish breakfast of hot chocolate and “churros”.
Many coastal villages, with their delightful coves and golden sand, offer an amazing variety of fish and sea-food and within half and hour one can be touring round the beautiful unspoilt mountains and fascinating valleys, visiting the typical villages and testing the traditional regional dishes.
Venturing a little further one reaching the “Picos de Europa”, where Skiing and Quad-biking are popular sports. This breathtaking area of National Park land protects the gradually decreasing wildlife such a deer, wild boar, wolves, bears and birds.
After an exhausting day in this incredible part of the world there is nothing better than returning to the warmth and comfort of Mies De Villa where Antonio and Dorothy, an English speaking family, are ready to do their best to make your stay comfortable.
Santander Nightlife
Santander's nightlife is quintessentially Spanish with everything from traditional fiestas and bull fighting to late night music and tapas bars. You'll find plenty of bars and nightclubs here but without the Geman-British international flavour of the big Mediterranean resorts such as Ibiza, Benidorm and the Costa del Sol.
Calle del Puerto Chico, 39004 Santander, Spain
+34 942 361 606
http://www.palaciofestivales.com
The controversial modern building known as “Festival Palace” hosts sophisticated classical productions from concerts and theatre to ballet and dance performances. Shows include Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, Spanish theatre and rec itals such as “El LEBRIJANO”, dedicated to the Latin American writer Gabriel García Márquez. The theatre is also the coordinator of Santander’s annual festival and organises a superb drama school for students of music and drama.
The famous gardens of Magdalena are located in the bay of Santander in a peninsula also known as "La Magdalena", beside the beaches of Sardinero. The Royal Palace of la Magdalena was once a residence for kings and queens who came to the city for their beach holiday. It was built by González de Riancho and Gonzalo Bringas with a mixture of British and French styles. This is a privileged area for relaxation and contact with nature. During the summer the palace houses the famous summer courses of the International University Menéndez Pelayo, a forum for students and outstanding specialists in the most varied fields of knowledge.
http://www.realgolfdepedreña.com
The Real Golf de Pedreña 18 hole golf course is located in the crux of the Santander bay, reachable by road from Somo (1500m) or a scenic 15 minutes boat trip from Somo or Santander (high season boats leave every 15 mins, low season every 30mins). Open since 1928, the picturesque Pedreña golf course runs through pine groves and overlooks the bay, being one of the best settings for golf on the Cantabrian coast. The club offers a wide variety of services including a creche, tennis courts and paddle.
Mies de Villa hosts a small museum of historical agricultural artefacts from the region, including ploughs, troughs, blacksmith goods and farming tools from the 17-20th centuries. The artefacts are displayed in cabinets in the Mies de Villa courtyard.
Moto Somo
Moto Somo is a motorbike accessories shop located next door to Mies de Villa, offering biking accessories, leathers and information on biking routes across the Cantabrian region. Moto Somo sells mens’ and women’s leathers, from jackets to helmets and boots. Moto Somo’s unique brand means they can offer top quality equipment for a fraction of ordinary prices. Bikers are welcome to stop for a friendly chat, a complimentary drink and information about motor-biking rallies and events across Spain. Bikers are also more than welcome at Mies de Villa.
Surfing
Escuela Cantabra de Surf, Playa de Somo
+34 942 510 615
http://www.escuelacantabradesurf.com
900 metres from Mies de Villa, the Escuela Cantabra de Surf School, located on Somo beach, offers surf and body boarding classes from hourly lessons to weekly courses. Sponsored by Roxy and Quicksilver and open since 1991, the school offers superb experience and expertise for beginners and experienced surfers of all ages. The school’s position in Somo offers perfect surfing conditions, with decent waves all year round.
Poblado Cantabro
Argueso, Cantabria
http://www.pobladocantabro.com
The Poblado Cantabro in Argueso, located around 50km from Santander and 9km from the beautiful lake town of Reinosa, is a historical and archaeological site in the heart of the Cantabrian Mountains. Here, the reconstructed village takes you back to life in the Iberian Peninsular over 2000 years ago, with the thatched shacks, ancient farm tools and weapons which were excavated by Italian archaeologist Vitrubio.
Jaire Adventure Centre
Avda. Covadonga, 14 Canga de Onis
+34 985 84 14 64
http://www.jairecanoas.com
Also in the mountain range (“Picos de Europa”), the Jaire outdoor adventure sport centre offers activities all year round. Located around 80km from Santander, the Mountain town offers an ideal setting for canoeing, quad-biking, abseiling, caving and paintballing.
Votoaventura, located around 30km from Somo in San Miguel de Aras (close to Laredo - exit 177 of the Santander-Bilbao motorway), offers Quad bike adventure tours. The adventurous and scenic tours are ideal for groups, young and old, and in particular for sporting holidays, stag weekends or hen parties.
http://www.picos-accommodation.co.uk
The Picos de Europa mountain range also offers skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing from around November/December to April/May.
Santillana del Mar Zoo
http://www.zoosantillanadelmar.com
Santillana Zoo, located about 20km away from Somo in the direction of Torrelavega, is set within the Cuaternario wildlife park and hosts more than 2000 animal species.