The town hall of Santoña has unveiled a new cultural and tourism project titled “Fuerte de San Martín: Fuera de Costera”, aimed at revitalising local heritage and diversifying the town's tourism offerings throughout the autumn and winter months.
Inspired by local maritime jargon, the initiative highlights that even after the peak tourist season, the history, canning culture, and innovative experiences remain vibrant within the fort. The opening days will coincide with major public holidays: the Pillar Weekend (10th, 11th, and 12th October), All Saints’ Weekend (31st October and 1st November), and the Constitution and Immaculate Weekend (5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th December).
During these periods, the exhibition space at the Fort of San Martín will be open continuously from 10:00 to 14:00, providing free access until capacity is reached.
The comprehensive creation and equipping of this exhibition space, which includes the Museum of Canning History of Santoña and the Immersive VR Experience Room, have been financed through the Tourism Sustainability Plan (PSTD) of Santoña, supported by European funds from the NextGenerationEU programme as part of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan.
This plan has transformed the historic building into a cultural landmark of regional and national significance, merging history, maritime identity, and cutting-edge technology.
Visitors to the Fort of San Martín during these events will be able to enjoy two main attractions:
- Museum of Canning History of Santoña: A mixed reality space where technological solutions coexist with historical artefacts. Highlights include the interactive touchscreen “From Yesterday to Today: A Panoramic View”, the video game “From Sea to Table”, interactive avatars “Conversing with History” featuring real testimonies from women in the canning industry, and projections of historical catalogues of cans and lithographs. Additionally, immersive 360° experiences will transport visitors to a Roman port, an Italian salting factory, an auction at the fish market, or a panoramic flight over the bay.
- Immersive Virtual Reality Experience Room: Equipped with the latest technology (Meta Quest 3), offering acclaimed virtual recreations of the descent to the Faro del Caballo (every 15 minutes) and the historical navigation of Juan de la Cosa (every 30 minutes).
As a complement to the exhibition visit, each opening weekend will feature a thematic meeting at 12:00:
- On Saturday, 10th October: Inauguration with the talk “The Vella Family: Their Legacy”, presented by Juan Vella, exploring the family's impact on the anchovy industry.
- On Saturday, 31st October: Practical workshop “How to Taste an Anchovy”, led by Pedro Benavent, a member of the Cantabria Anchovy Brotherhood.
- On Saturday, 5th December: Live meeting “The Hands of the Sea”, featuring net makers, women working in the industry, and local agents who have shaped the history.
For further information or inquiries regarding group visits, interested parties can contact the Santoña Municipal Tourist Office.
