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Discover the

LEGACY LEGACY

Discover the

LEGACY LEGACY

HISTORY

HISTORY

 

 

Limpias has a fascinating history that dates back to the Celtiberian period, before the 12th century, when it was known as Coabab. Over the years, two versions have emerged regarding the origin of its name.
According to one version, the Puerto del Rivero of Coabab used to be the arrival point for ships from Castile, where they would clean and prepare their goods before being exported abroad. Cantabria played the role of a gateway to the sea for Castile. Over time, for convenience, this place came to be simply called "Limpias".
Another version suggests that the population of Coabab was famous for its thermal waters, known for their healing properties for skin diseases. These waters came from three sources of drinking water and a mineral spring. The crystal-clear waters, possibly referred to as "limpias" (clean or clear), could have given rise to the name. It is suggested that the word originates from the Latin "limpidus", meaning "clear" or "transparent".
One of these springs, which still flows today, is the "Fuentenilla", located on the road leading to the village of Seña.

The coat of arms of Limpias is adorned with a helmet, with merchant and maritime attributes and a simple field representing what Limpias once was: a seaport with a three-masted ship docked, and in the foreground, cargo and merchandise. To the right, there is a tower.

Carlos V

The last journey

Carlos V

The last journey

Grandson of the Catholic Monarchs, son of Joanna the Mad and Philip the Handsome, he became King of Spain in 1520 at just 16 years old, and only four years later, he inherited from his grandfather, Maximilian I of Habsburg, the crown of the Holy Roman Empire, thus being known as Charles I of Spain and V of Germany.  

Under his reign, the Spanish Golden Age began, a period of artistic and literary flourishing. After abdicating in favour of his son Philip II, he retired to the Monastery of Yuste to live out his final years, passing away in 1558.  

This last journey gave him the opportunity to travel through Castile, crossing the Sierra de Gredos and reaching the La Vera region in Cáceres. The journey began with his landing in Laredo and passing through our municipality, Limpias.    

Today, this route is part of the various paths dedicated to the travels of Charles V, included in the “Iberian Routes” under the name “The Emperor's Last Journey”.

Itinerary

Time

Line

Time

line

PREHISTORY

PALEOLITHIC

Within Limpias and referring to this period, a series of artefacts were found by Father orenzo Sierra in the courtyard of the San Vicente de Paúl school, where they remained for years. Among them, a flint scraper, a natural-backed knife made from sandstone from the Castro del Retorín, and a scraper with a curved edge.    

Part of this collection was donated to the Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology of Cantabria (MUPAC), while another part was lost when the school was used as a hospital during the Spanish Civil War.  

EPIPALEOLITHIC – MESOLITHIC

Within the municipality of Limpias, the Cueva de San Ciruelo, located in Seña, contains a site from this period, which was discovered and researched by Sierra. Fragments of pottery, abundant marine shells, and deer bones were found.

The only open-air site was located near the Yelso de Hayas. A megalithic stone, the menhir del Yelso de Hayas  known as the "Mojón Alto" (or “High Landmark”), is still preserved. This sandstone stone, almost 4 metres tall, currently serves as a boundary marker between the municipalities of Ampuero, Limpias, and Liendo. The research on the site dated it to 8,440 years before the present.

IRON AGE

Regarding the Iron Age, in 2004, the Castro del Alto de Retorín was discovered in Seña. It is located on a small elevation, reaching a maximum height of 273m, on the border of the municipalities of Limpias and Laredo. The site is situated on this limestone elevation, which has steep slopes on its eastern side and, to a lesser extent, on the north. Access would have been via two platforms situated to the southeast. Notably, the area also contains karst depressions at Peñaflor and Tarrueza, which collect streams flowing at the base of the promontory.




ROMAN ERA

ROMAN AND VISIGOTHIC PERIODS

Despite the special conditions that the Limpias estuary offered for mooring vessels, the viability of which has been evident since the late Middle Ages to the present day, no evidence of Roman presence has been found.

10th – 14th C

MIDDLE AGES

he earliest reference to our town dates back to the year 718, where it appears under the name of Coabab. Before the 12th century, Coabab was part of a series of territories belonging to an ancient Celtiberian tribe.  

By 1201, King Alfonso VIII, through the charter granted to Laredo, included the population of Coabab, among others, in the vassalage of Laredo.

At the end of the 14th century, King Henry III of Castile, in order to finance part of his war with Portugal, sold Limpias, Colindres, and Valmaseda to his Chief Chamberlain, Don Juan de Velasco, in exchange for a loan of fifteen thousand florins. This was not a one-way sale. Although Limpias continued to belong to the Crown, Don J. Velasco bought the privilege of being subject to the Fuero de Vizcaya, which was never accepted by the General Assemblies of the Lordship of Vizcaya. However, this allowed the municipality to remain exempt from taxes for hundreds of years.

15th – 18th C

MODERN AGE

From an administrative perspective, the territory was part of the Corregimiento of the Four Villages of the Coast of the Sea, reaching its development during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs. The districts of Limpias were grouped into three "cuadrillas" (districts): The Rivero and El Rivero; Collado, Helguero, and La Dehesa; El Haro and Rucoba. The Rivero and El Riveroa de Collado, Helguero y la Dehesa; la de El Haro y Rucoba.

The Royal Road, which connected Laredo with Burgos since the Middle Ages, gained importance due to its category and significance as the main route linking the interior of the Kingdom of Castile with the Cantabrian coast. For centuries, it maintained an intense commercial traffic that facilitated the exchange of products, which, from the port of Laredo, connected via sea with the European Atlantic coast (French Atlantic coast, Flanders, English ports…). The Royal Road is also mentioned as the route taken by Emperor Charles V in 1556 on his way to Burgos when heading towards his retreat at the Monastery of Yuste in Cáceres.

In 1736, the Rivero dock was constructed by Pedro de Toca Solórzano, who was also responsible for many other constructions in the municipality. It was located on the right bank of the Limpias estuary, and from ancient times, it was one of the busiest docks in the eastern part of Cantabria. The port of Limpias saw large ships, patache boats, brigantines, small boats, and pinazas dock there... A wide variety of goods were loaded, transported, and unloaded. Thanks to the geographical location of the municipality and the progressive port activity, the town and population grew over several centuries. Gracias a la situación geográfica del municipio y la progresiva actividad portuaria, se propició el crecimiento del núcleo y de la población durante varios siglos.

19th – 20th C

CONTEMPORARY AGE

In the 19th century, a series of national conflicts reflected in the lives of the people of Limpias. The Peninsular War and the two Carlist Wars also negatively impacted the already difficult situation for the residents of the municipality of Limpias.  

At the beginning of the 20th century, with the construction of the Puente de Treto, Limpias entered a period of decline. At that time, small industries were established, bringing some relief to the local economy.

In 1919, the Events of the Santo Cristo, took place, making Limpias a place of pilgrimage. Services were adapted, and roads were improved. New taxes were imposed, and services for public attention were created.

Figures

Notable

Figures

Notable

EXCMO. DON MANUEL DE EGUILIOR Y LLAGUNO, COUNT OF ALBOX

Born in Limpias in 1842. A lawyer and economist, he was a deputy for the Liberal Party, Governor of the Bank of Spain, Minister of Finance in 1890, and Minister of Public Education and Fine Arts in 1905. He is largely credited for the urban improvements of the town. In 1905, he was granted the title of Count of Albox. He passed away in Madrid in 1930.

DON DIEGO DE LA PIEDRA BERNALES Y SECADURA

He was a Knight of Santiago, resided in Cádiz, and held the position of Deputy of Commerce and Consulate of Peru. He was the one who donated the Christ of Limpias, funded the Major Altarpiece of the Church of San Pedro in Limpias, and made various contributions to the church.

PEDRO DE TOCA SOLÓRZANO​

He was a great master stonemason who built the Casa Lonja, the Fluvial Port, and several notable houses including the Albo, Roque, Pereda, Bernales, and Diego houses. His father, Pedro de Toca Ano, was also an important stonemason in Limpias.

He was a distinguished religious figure, born in Ezcaray in 1872, who stood out in paleontology and history. After studying at the Seminary of the Paules in Madrid, he taught at the College of Limpias from 1894 to 1915. In 1915, he was appointed Provincial Advisor in the Central House in Madrid, a position he held until 1925. From then on, he moved to the small house of Lope de Vega as Deputy Director of the Daughters of Charity and later continued his work in research and history.

 He became internationally recognised for his Palaeolithic discoveries in Santander caves, corresponding with leading scientists in Europe and the United States.

Later, he focused on historical and religious works, leaving behind a legacy of important writings, including "Notas para el Mapa Paleoetnográfico de la Provincia de Santander" and "Les cavernes de la Région Cantabrique," in collaboration with other prominent scientists.

Later, he focused on historical and religious works, leaving behind a legacy of important writings, including "Notas para el Mapa Paleoetnográfico de la Provincia de Santander" and "Les cavernes de la Région Cantabrique," in collaboration with other prominent scientists. 

To ensure that his work would not be forgotten, a book was published about his life. It recounts the entire trajectory of his life and the discoveries he made during his research. 

LORENZO SIERRA RUBIO