Santoña: The Anchovy and the Marsh
Cantabria, Spain
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Anchoa de Santoña
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250
XP
+100 Spain
= 350 total
1 day
Santoña: The Anchovy and the Marsh
250 + 100 XP
Cantabria is the anchovy-curing region of Spain and Santoña is its centre. Locally the fish is a bocarte when it is fresh, an anchoa once it is salt-cured and a boquerón when it goes into vinegar — three names for one fish, depending entirely on what you do to it. Salting anchovies is an idea the Phoenicians had first and the Greeks spread across Europe. Behind the town the Santoña, Victoria and Joyel marshes are a nature reserve, a Ramsar site since 4 October 1994 and a special protection area for birds.
Required Activities
1
of 5
Go round a curing house and watch anchovies being filleted by hand, which is the part no machine does
2
of 5
Learn the three names — bocarte fresh, anchoa salted, boquerón in vinegar — and taste all three
3
of 5
Work out how old the technique is: salting anchovies started with the Phoenicians and the Greeks took it across Europe
4
of 5
Walk the marshes behind the town, a Ramsar site since 4 October 1994 and one of the best bird reserves on this coast
5
of 5
Climb Monte Buciero above the harbour for the view over the bay and the Asón estuary
Go round a curing house and watch anchovies being filleted by hand, which is the part no machine does
Learn the three names — bocarte fresh, anchoa salted, boquerón in vinegar — and taste all three
Work out how old the technique is: salting anchovies started with the Phoenicians and the Greeks took it across Europe
Walk the marshes behind the town, a Ramsar site since 4 October 1994 and one of the best bird reserves on this coast
Climb Monte Buciero above the harbour for the view over the bay and the Asón estuary
Before you go
The anchovy season is roughly the spring, when the curing houses are busiest.
The anchovy season is roughly spring; curing houses are busiest and most interesting then.
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About Cantabria
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Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
250 XP
Spain country bonus
+100 XP
Potential total
350 XP
Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in Spain.
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