Maritime history and religious heritage come together in Guarnizo. The town is also a stage of the Camino Norte, also known as the Camino de Santiago Coastal Route. When planning your visit, you can focus on the legacy of the Real Astillero, on churches and historic routes, or on a combination of these themes.

Maritime history and the shipyard

The “Real Astillero de Guarnizo” exhibition house contains numerous maritime ethnographic objects. Most come from the Colección Ramón Somoza, which was entrusted to the Ayuntamiento. The collection gives the maritime theme a specific focus.

The exhibition building can be accessed via a ramp from Calle Industria; a panoramic lift serves the two upper floors. As building arrangements may change, check these details before visiting.

In 1581, on the orders of Philip II, the Reales Astilleros were established in the municipality of El Astillero to build nine galleons, considered the first ocean-going warships. The cannons of Guarnizo also point to this shipbuilding history: they came from ships built at the Real Astillero de Guarnizo. A 17th-century defensive wall, which blocked the northern main entrance to the Astillero from the Marismas de Boo to Solía, is catalogued as a structure of historical significance.

Muslera and historic routes

Several building phases meet at the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Muslera. Its origins date back to 857; the church was built in the 15th century and extensively remodelled in the 17th century. The main chapel and sacristy date from the Gothic period. The 18th-century main altarpiece contains an image of the Virgen de Muslera, probably created in the 15th century.

The Muriedas variant of the Ajo–Santander stage of the Camino del Norte leads to the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Muslera. The historic walking route through Guarnizo also starts at this church. It continues to the Ermita de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios and ends at the “túmulo del vikingo”; the route conveys the town’s maritime and religious background. The two routes therefore have different points of reference: the Muriedas variant links the church to a Camino stage, while the walking route describes a series of stops in Guarnizo.

Churches and archaeological sites

The Ermita de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios is catalogued as a historic religious building under reference C1.18. The path to the hermitage is itself listed as archaeological site A3. The Montón de Guarnizo, also described as a tumuliform structure, lies on the slope of Monte Remedios-Muslera and is catalogued as site A2. The different references therefore apply to the religious building, its path and an archaeological structure.

The Iglesia del Pilar in Guarnizo offers another architectural landmark: it is rectangular and has a single nave, a tower attached to its south side and a covered entrance portico. Alongside the history of Muslera, the town also has other forms of church architecture.

Tomate de Guarnizo and route planning

The Tomate de Guarnizo is also part of the town’s history. Its cultivation is considered a tradition closely connected with the town’s history and vegetable gardens. This adds a local agricultural dimension to the historical themes.

For route planning, there is also a continuous greenway of almost 11 kilometres from Guarnizo to Villaescusa. If you plan to take this route, check the current trail conditions beforehand, as they may change.

Discover more destinations: Bárcena de Ebro, Selaya, Ormas, Barros, Guardamino, Miengo, Villabanez, Vega De Liébana

For the main travel overview: Cantabria.