Centro Botín

The Centro Botín is an arts centre on the waterfront of Santander, built out over the Bay of Santander from the Jardines de Pereda. It opened in 2017 and was designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano, a Pritzker Prize-winning architect and also designed the Pompidou Centre in Paris. It is run by the Fundación Botín, a foundation created by the family of the banker Emilio Botín, the former chairman of Banco Santander, and it is intended to bring art, education and culture to the city. Its position is unusual: two volumes stand on slender pillars above the garden and the edge of the harbour, so that the building appears to float, and the structure reads almost like a pier or a ship moored beside the city.

The two buildings are connected by walkways and are clad in a large number of circular ceramic and glass pieces that catch the sky and the light off the water. One volume holds exhibition galleries and the other a large hall and spaces for performances, workshops and educational work. A public plaza beneath the building lets people pass through the structure on the way to the sea. Large windows frame views over the bay towards the Cantabrian hills, and the terraces give views of the city’s shoreline.

The programme covers visual art, music, film, theatre, literature and creative workshops, with a strong emphasis on contemporary exhibitions and on the work of local and international artists. The centre also has a long-term interest in the cave art of Cantabria, linking the region’s prehistoric heritage to modern creativity. Education programmes for children and adults run throughout the year, and there is a shop and a café, so a visit can be a short stop or a longer outing.

The centre sits next to the Paseo de Pereda, the main promenade, and a short walk from the Palacio de la Magdalena and the beaches of Playa de la Concha and El Sardinero. The Mercado de la Esperanza and the cathedral are in the old town nearby, so it fits easily into a walk around the centre.

It appeals to people interested in modern architecture as much as to those who come for the exhibitions. Even a visit just to walk around the exterior and the gardens gives a feel for the design. Opening hours and ticket prices are on the official website, and booking online avoids queues in busy periods.