Monumento a La Sardinera

Monumento a La Sardinera is a bronze statue standing on a roundabout in the Puertochico district of Santander — a small monument, but one of the most recognizable in the city. It shows a woman carrying a basket of sardines on her head, honoring generations of fish sellers who once made their living in this exact spot.

What does the statue actually show?

The figure depicts one of the so-called sardineras — women who sold fish, balancing a heavy basket full of sardines on their heads. It isn't a portrait of one particular person, but a collective symbol: hundreds of Santander women who, around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, collected freshly caught fish from the boats each morning and carried it through the city to sell. The work was physically demanding — a full basket could weigh well over ten kilograms, and the walk to market was often long.

Why is it standing in Puertochico?

The monument was created by Spanish sculptor Ramón Ruiz Lloreda (1926–2002). Its location is deliberate: the roundabout where the statue stands sits right at the heart of Puertochico, once Santander's working fishing dock. This is where fishing boats tied up and unloaded their catch, and the quay was effectively the starting point of the city's entire fish trade. As Santander grew, fishing activity moved elsewhere in the city, and Puertochico turned into a quieter area with a marina and cafés — the statue remains as a reminder of what the neighborhood used to be.

Where exactly is it located?

The statue stands on the roundabout at the junction of Calle Tetuán, Calle del Sol (also known as Calle Carmen) and Calle Casimiro Saínz, right by the southern entrance to the Tetuán tunnel and close to the Doctor Madrazo Cultural Centre. It's easy to find on a walk along the Puertochico waterfront — just head toward the marina from the city centre.

Is it worth a stop?

The statue itself takes only a couple of minutes to see, but it sits within a pleasant stretch of Puertochico — a district with a marina, seafood restaurants and views over the bay. It makes a natural pause between exploring Santander's old town and heading to the Sardinero beaches, and it's a quick way to learn how central fishing once was to daily life in the city.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who sculpted the Monumento a La Sardinera? The statue was made by sculptor Ramón Ruiz Lloreda (1926–2002).

What does the woman with the basket on her head represent? She represents the sardineras — women who, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, sold fish unloaded at Puertochico, carrying baskets of the catch through the city on their heads.

Where in Santander is the monument? On the roundabout in Puertochico, at the junction of Calle Tetuán, Calle del Sol and Calle Casimiro Saínz, near the southern mouth of the Tetuán tunnel.

Is Puertochico still a fishing district today? No — fishing activity relocated to another part of the city long ago, and Puertochico is now a quiet part of Santander with a marina, cafés and restaurants, where the statue serves as a reminder of the area's fishing past.