cantabais

Cantabais is a demonym used in various languages to refer to people from Cantabria, a historical region and the present-day autonomous community in northern Spain. The term derives from the ancient Cantabri, a group that inhabited the Cantabrian Mountains and the northern coast and which resisted Roman expansion. The Cantabrian Wars (29–19 BCE) ended with Roman subjugation of the Cantabri and their incorporation into the Roman Empire.

Today Cantabria is bordered by the Basque Country to the east, Castile and León to the south, and the Bay of Biscay to the north. Its capital and largest city is Santander. The landscape combines green mountains, coastal towns, and proximity to the Picos de Europa. The climate is temperate and oceanic, with mild summers and considerable rainfall.

The Cantabrians are primarily Spanish-speaking and maintain a distinct regional identity reflected in folklore, festivals, and culinary traditions. Local cuisine features cocido montañés (mountain stew), sobaos and quesadas pasiegas, and seafood such as anchoas de Santoña. The region also hosts important archaeological and cultural sites, including the Cave of Altamira near Santillana del Mar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its Paleolithic paintings.

Economically, Cantabria relies on services, industry, tourism, and agriculture. The Cantabians have contributed to Spanish culture through regional music, crafts, and a preserved rural heritage, while also participating in the broader economy of modern Spain.