Rada: Holiday Apartment between Marshland and Cultural Heritage

Rada lies at the beginning of the Ría de Rada, which is formed by the mouth of the Clarín River. Before the formation of the Ría de Treto, the Ría de Rada joins the Ría de Limpias; the combined waters reach the Cantabrian Sea through the Bay of Santoña.

When comparing holiday apartments in Rada, travel dates, room category and cancellation policies can help structure the selection on the offer pages.

Landscape and Birdlife

The marshland along the Ría de Rada features typical rush and reed vegetation and provides a habitat for migratory and resident waterbirds. The Ría de Rada lies in the southern part of the Marismas de Santoña, Victoria y Joyel Nature Park.

The project to restore the Rada marsh could have affected the Marismas de Santoña, Victoria y Joyel Natura 2000 site, code ES1300007. The project to restore the Marisma de Rada in the municipality of Voto, Cantabria, could have affected the Marismas de Santoña, Victoria y Joyel Natura 2000 site, code ES1300007.

On the Natureando route along the Ría de Rada, visitors can observe, among others, grey herons, little egrets, common sandpipers, kingfishers, various duck species, black kites and marsh harriers. A route along the Ría de Rada leads to a birdwatching hide and then returns to Rada along the same path. Different routes and wildlife observations provide several specific points for your own planning.

Culture and History

The parish church of San Ginés de Rada was probably an earlier Gothic church whose construction began at the end of the 15th century; the present building dates from the late 16th century and contains a reredos from 1619.

Inside, San Ginés de Rada has a Latin-cross floor plan, two small chapels in the nave and two larger chapels beside the presbytery. The church also contains a portable altar from the 16th century, donated by the Rada family.

The surviving gateway of the Barons' Palace is a Baroque portal called La Giralda; it owes its popular name to the human figure above the keystone of the arch. La Giralda is also a 16th-century portal to the former home of the Baron of Rada.

La Giralda displays a coat of arms bearing the heraldic symbols of Alvarado and Tijera. In Rada, a traditional romería is celebrated for the festival of Nuestra Señora de la Merced.

Along the Ría

For your own planning, the routes can be distinguished by mode of transport and destination. A mountain-bike route begins at the Cristo de Carasa Bridge, which crosses the Ría de Rada. The mountain-bike route descends towards Rada.

Other Places

Escalante, Bárcena De Cicero, Cabezón De La Sal, Veguilla, Hermandad De Campoo De Suso, Rionansa, Guarnizo, Bostronizo

For the higher-level travel overview: Cantabria.