Santander (EFE) related to the royal family.
The capital of Cantabria was the first city that in 1847 began these so-called “Wave or wave baths” on the first beach of El Sardinero, which became the precursor of what today are the summer resorts in the sandy areas of the Spanish coast. .
The people of Madrid attended that first summer, many of them nobles, to, years later, be Queen Elizabeth II who began the custom, advised by her doctors, of going to the beaches of Santander for the many therapeutic benefits of seawater.
The mayoress of Santander, Gema Igual, explains that at first these baths were something “therapeutic” for bronchial and skin problems, due to “the bravery” of the Cantabrian Sea, which she says cured many conditions.
Tourism in Santander all year round
“Then he returned to those real summer vacations that were for two or three months. Now in Santander you can no longer talk about high or low season, we are a tourist city throughout the year and that is why the Baños de Ola have a lot to do with tourism ”, adds the mayoress.
In addition to the ‘beauties’ of the beaches, in this century, to remember that coastal history, an artisan market, gastronomic stalls, children’s workshops, concerts and fireworks, which will be the focus of Baños de Ola 2023, which will bring that start closer of the summer to tourists and visitors.
Until this Sunday, the esplanade of the first beach of El Sardinero and the Piquio gardens become the epicenter of this event, in which for four days Santanderians dressed in period costumes walk along the coast of the Cantabrian capital.
These “characters” will join “El arriero de los juegos”, the ecological merry-go-round and a carousel, while the event stage will feature a selection of artists who, in afternoon and evening vermouth sessions, will provide the soundtrack to this holiday.
And as a curiosity, a ‘minutera’ camera will deal with 19th century artisan photography and distribute free images to visitors.
Celia Aguero Pereda