The Royal Palace of La Magdalena is the most emblematic building of Santander, does not have a definite style, but a mixture of English and French styles with incorporation of typical elements of the highland architecture. One finds placed in the peninsula of the same name, which has an extension of 28 hectares.
Built at the beginning of the 19th century in a charming area, the Real Palace of Magdalena had integrated with the natural landscape and had converted into the symbol of the city. Originally used as summer residence of the kings, at present it hosts the academic activities of the International University Menéndez y Pelayo.
The works started in 1909 and finished in 1911, but the interior was finished only in 1913. Between this year and 1930 the palace was used as summer residence of the Real Family.
The building has a rectangular plan, with a part which tends to the North. The monument is constituted by a basement, a ground floor, a second floor and an attic.
In the ground floor there were a pavilion for guests, bedrooms, servants’ rooms, a big terrace, a ballroom, dining rooms and a room for the audience with His Majesty.
In the second floor, you could find some bedrooms with studies and lounges, the real bedrooms and the bedrooms for the king’s personal servants as well as the king’s study.
This complex includes also the stables, created in the low part of the peninsula in 1918, because of the strong interest of the king in horse riding.