Laredo

Laredo is a town and municipality in Cantabria, situated on the eastern shore of the Asón estuary where it meets the Bay of Biscay. The town has a medieval historic centre enclosed by partial walls on a headland, with the Gothic church of Santa María de la Asunción at its heart and a network of narrow lanes in the old quarter below.

Laredo is perhaps best known for its Playa de la Salvé, a long sandy beach stretching along the bay south of the medieval headland. The town has a significant history as a Castilian port and was one of the most important towns on the Cantabrian coast in the medieval period.

For pilgrims on the Camino del Norte, Laredo is a major crossing point. A ferry connects the town to Santoña across the estuary, allowing pilgrims to avoid the long inland detour around the Asón river mouth.