This morning in Santander, the celebration of the 39th RETE Meeting began. César Díaz, President of the Port Authority of Santander (APS), presented the event alongside RETE President and President of the Port Authority of the Bay of Cádiz, Teófila Martínez, and the Mayor of Huelva, Pilar Miranda. The 39th annual meeting of the Association for Collaboration between Ports and Cities (RETE)—organized by RETE itself and the Port Authority of Santander—will take place over the next two days in Santander.

The aim of this event—open to public participation—is to reflect on the maritime culture and identity of the port city, which, beyond serving as a key node in global transport and trade networks, fosters a distinctive lifestyle and a rich cultural heritage.

Díaz emphasized that, in port-city integration, beyond urban planning, “the social component—especially cultural life—has been fundamental to building the city”.

“This is one of the pillars of our Strategic Plan that we are most proud of, as we have led its development. For forty years, we have offered high-quality programming to citizens and invested in significant cultural facilities along our entire waterfront—facilities that are integrated into the city alongside others, not managed by the APS but closely tied to maritime life”, he explained.

The APS President also highlighted “the quality of the experts” who tomorrow will discuss the maritime and port influence on various artistic expressions—including literature, cinema, music, theater, visual arts, architecture, urban planning, gastronomy, costume, science, and technology.

For her part, Teófila Martínez, President of RETE and of the Port Authority of the Bay of Cádiz, noted that RETE’s goal as an association is “to be of service to both ports and cities—whether they’re members or not—seeking out successful integration projects that are underway or completed”. What matters is “achieving a balance between both administrations so that they can meet their needs while benefiting the citizen”, she added.

Martínez also stressed that “this integration is not only physical but also social, economic, and cultural—and it is culture that drives the use of the port-city interface land, since it brings it to life”.

The Mayor of Huelva, Pilar Miranda, outlined the urban transformation underway in her city and stated that “the RETE sessions are an opportunity to learn from cities already advanced in this regard, such as Santander, Málaga, or Cádiz”, emphasizing that the transformation “must be not only urban but also social”.

The RETE Meeting will be divided into two sessions tomorrow, both focused on the port city and its relationship with culture.

In the first session, a series of lectures will analyze the impact of ports on the artistic makeup of their host cities through unique cultural expressions. The second session will debate the role of culture along port waterfronts—promoting cultural activities through the construction of modern architecture and the rehabilitation of old maritime buildings and facilities to house museums, cultural centers, auditoriums…

As Díaz pointed out, “Santander’s port waterfront is a paradigm of this process: over forty years, it has continually enhanced its heritage, transforming it into a variety of cultural venues and becoming a key player in offering an attractive cultural scene for residents and visitors alike”.

The RETE day—with a distinguished lineup of professionals—will conclude with a guided tour of the cultural projects implemented along Santander’s waterfront, with technical stops at the Reina Sofía Associated Center and the Santander Lighthouse.

This evening, RETE will host a panel discussion at the Real Club de Regatas de Santander on life and coexistence in a port city, featuring the Mayors of Santander and Huelva, Gema Igual and Pilar Miranda, respectively, alongside RETE President and Port Authority of the Bay of Cádiz President Teófila Martínez.

RETE Board and General Council Meetings

Additionally, earlier today, the Association for Collaboration between Ports and Cities convened its Board of Directors and its General Council in the capital of Cantabria.