Discover Mar: Sculpture, Heritage and the Way of St. James

When considering Mar as a destination, different aspects of the place come together: a sculpture at a roundabout, historic buildings, archaeological finds and the Coastal Route of the Way of St. James. This may appeal to travellers who take culture and landscape into account when choosing a destination. To get your bearings, it is worth distinguishing between these connections: some named sights are in Mar, while the route reaches the edge of the settlement and the finds come from terraces of the estuary.

Art and buildings in Mar

The history of the settlement is reflected not only in historic buildings. La Sirena de Ojos Turquesa is a stone sculpture by Salvador García Ceballos, unveiled in 2002 at the CA-232 roundabout where it meets the CA-322. The material, artist, year and location by the road provide a clear point of reference within the description of the settlement.

The Casona de Díaz Cacho is located in Mar and has a style of construction typical of the 17th and 18th centuries. This dates its architectural style; in the case of the Chapel of San Miguel, the issue is a heritage-protection classification. It is classified in the “Ambiental” protection category. If you are planning to visit the chapel, check its protection status and public access locally.

The Coastal Route of the Way of St. James

The Coastal Route of the Way of St. James (Camino de Santiago) is designated a Bien de Interés Cultural and reaches the edge of the settlement of Mar. From there, it continues northwest towards the industrial area of Cudón (Miengo). These are two distinct pieces of information for choosing your destination: the route’s location at the edge of the settlement describes its geographical connection to Mar, while the designation indicates the route’s heritage status.

Archaeological finds and landscape

An archaeological perspective on Mar leads to the Regato de las Anguilas site. Several chopping tools, flakes and cores were found on the estuary terraces cut through by the motorway. These different groups of finds form part of the archaeological context and broaden the picture beyond the visible buildings. The settlement of Mar faces the estuary of the Saja-Besaya. The archaeological history of the place and the settlement’s orientation towards the landscape can therefore be seen as distinct connections to the estuary.

Travel information

For practical guidance, there is the “apeadero de Mar” passenger stop and the Regato de las Anguilas pilgrims’ hostel at Bº Mar A-10 in Mar (Polanco). If you are travelling by train, check the timetable for your specific journey. Check whether the hostel will be open before you travel. The stop and address help with different aspects of planning: the train connection and finding the pilgrims’ accommodation.

Traditional patron-saint celebrations in honour of Saint Michael the Archangel were announced in Mar for 28 and 29 September 2025. The programme included a procession carrying the image of Saint Michael the Archangel through several streets. If events are important to your travel dates, check the announcements for the relevant year; the dates and programme details given here refer to 2025.

For the broader travel overview: Polanco.