{{Expand Spanish, Arquitectura de Cantabria, topic=culture, date=March 2009 The architecture of

Cantabria, Spain Cantabria (, also , , Cantabrian: ) is an autonomous community in northern Spain with Santander as its capital city. It is called a ''comunidad histórica'', a historic community, in its current Statute of Autonomy. It is bordered on the east ...

has developed over centuries from a medieval origin to a unique ensemble of numerous influences and civil works. Direct elements from Gothic Revival,

Plateresque Plateresque, meaning "in the manner of a silversmith" (''plata'' being silver in Spanish), was an artistic movement, especially architectural, developed in Spain and its territories, which appeared between the late Gothic and early Renaissance ...

, and

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass id ...

architecture are all consistent throughout. Building on the integration of culture and religion into physical structures to give them purpose.

Influences

People

From traditional culture to way of life, the people of Cantabria are the largest influences to the architectural style. Designed conducively with ancient practices in mind, small homes to palaces all retained that culture. Engraining religion, beliefs, and culture into the foundation of Cantabria's architectural style.

Climate

Being a mountainous region any structure had to withstand the extreme shifts. Applying materials to ensure the greatest longevity while also conserving to the highest degree. Promoting both the minimization of consumption and significance to architecture. This practice instilled a purpose to the structure itself that altered the view towards its design. Creating a form that meant something on a deeper cultural level working with the environment rather than against it. Costa de Cantabria 3

Melting Pot The melting pot is a monocultural metaphor for a heterogeneous society becoming more homogeneous, the different elements "melting together" with a common culture; an alternative being a homogeneous society becoming more heterogeneous throu ...
Style

Cantabria is a unique region in climate, culture, and location. Roman architecture was spread across Spain specifically after the

Cantabrian Wars The Cantabrian Wars (29–19 BC) (''Bellum Cantabricum''), sometimes also referred to as the Cantabrian and Asturian Wars (''Bellum Cantabricum et Asturicum''), were the final stage of the two-century long Roman conquest of Hispania, in what tod ...

when Roman occupation was secured.

Pre-Romanesque Pre-Romanesque art and architecture is the period in European art from either the emergence of the Merovingian kingdom in about 500 AD or from the Carolingian Renaissance in the late 8th century, to the beginning of the 11th century Romanesq ...

influences were most notable throughout the dark period of the ninth to tenth century in Cantabria. Also known as the repopulation period in which the isolated nature was broken as a population increase enhanced connectivity across Europe. This broke the seal on cultural influences as

Gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...

and Baroque architecture that was extremely prevalent in all other parts of Europe now made impacts to Cantabria.

Monasteries A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone ( hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer whic ...

During the Roman occupation of the Cantabrian region, religion was more centralized into the culture. While it had always been integral to the culture and architecture it wasn't until after the tenth century that pure Romanesque influences were developed. In the large and developing space of Cantabria there were few consolidated communities. Rather people opted for rural development which dynamically changed architecture as monasteries began to take on more uses. Instead of a singular functioning religious purpose they took on both cultural and agricultural responsibilities. Retaining the traditional combination of

ridge A ridge or a mountain ridge is a geographical feature consisting of a chain of mountains or hills that form a continuous elevated crest for an extended distance. The sides of the ridge slope away from the narrow top on either side. The line ...

and barrel vaulting within it structure to the buttressing meant for reinforcement. Use of depth exteriorly in brick, stone, and sculptural elements mirroring classical interior element design. Contained within supportive stone walls that were extensively designed to support the vaulting by being thicker and shorter. All the classical

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lett ...

elements of religious architecture adapted into a multifunctioning collaboration of community and culture. Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liebana demonstrates the traditional deep arching entrance portals through the thick stone carved exterior. With no access to additional washing or colorants the bare stone was only accented by the terracotta red shingled roof. Kept minimal following the Romanesque style of a sacred space free from any distractions of opulence.

References

# Centre, UNESCO World Heritage
Spain
''UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2023-12-01.'' # Centre, UNESCO World Heritage
Cave Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain
''UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2023-12-01.'' Culture of Cantabria Architecture in Spain Buildings and structures in Cantabria Monasteries Cantabria Cantabrian Mountains