Historical region, autonomous community (pop., 2001: 535,131), and province, northern Spain.
It borders the Bay of Biscay and covers an area of 2,054 sq mi (5,321 sq km); its coastal hills rise gradually into the Cantabrian Mountains . Its capital is Santander . The Cantabri, an Iberian tribe, dominated the region until 19 BC, when they were subdued by the Romans. Because of its isolation, the area was little affected by the Iberian Moorish invasions ( 0441; 8th11th centuries). In the Middle Ages, Cantabria came under Castilian influence. The region itself was formerly known as Santander, and much of its population is centred on the city of the same name. Mining is an important part of the economy.