Torre de Don Borja, Santillana del Mar

The Tower of Don Borja is a building located in the old market square of the historic center of Santillana del Mar, declared a historic-artistic site in 1943. Of probable medieval origin, the current construction dates from the 15th century. It is named after Don Borja Barreda, owner of the estate in 1844. Historically it has received the nicknames of Torre de don Borja-Bracho, la Torrona and de la Infanta.

It forms a complex with another volume, separated from it by a 16th century courtyard, and is attached to other buildings. It has a square floor plan. It has three floors and a hipped roof. Part of the ground floor of the tower, on its façade on the square, is a porch whose entrance is a pointed arch, through which you can access the inside of the tower. The façade has two Gothic coats of arms with the arms of the Barreda family, protected by two protruding stones. The centuries have made several alterations to the tower. The most visible are the windows on the first floor, which were originally much smaller and have been enlarged downwards, and the battlements, which no longer exist.

The tower-house was owned at various times by the Barreda and Güell families. It then passed into the hands of the Infanta María de la Paz de Borbón, given by Juan Antonio Güell y López, Count of Güell and Marquis of Comillas, and then to the Princess of Bavaria and Spanish Infanta María de las Mercedes de Baviera y Borbón. It was restored in 1981 to become the headquarters of the Santillana Foundation.