Today We Discover Comillas

Comillas is a beautiful Cantabrian town with a very interesting historical center. In it you can find beautiful examples of popular architecture, but also magnificent modernist buildings from the 19th century. We are going to take a walk through Comillas , its mansions and palaces, its squares and its cobbled streets you will love.

The impressive town of Comillas

Comillas has a small group of 17th century mountain-style mansions and other old buildings of interest. Its square, surrounded by beautiful houses with viewpoints, is worth noting. You also have to stop to contemplate its town hall or the church of San Cristóbal, from the 18th century.

But undoubtedly the most relevant thing about Comillas, what has made it famous, is the collection of modernist buildings and constructions that it houses. Constructions made during a time when this municipality was a summer resort for the Spanish aristocracy.

Caprice

It is, without a doubt, one of the most representative and well-known buildings in the town. A fantastic modernist palace designed by the great Antoni Gaudí. It stands out for its elaborate decoration with ceramic stripes, its particular cylindrical tower, its portico with huge columns and its balconies. In addition, each facade is different, a true whim.

Sobrellano Palace

It is a very eclectic style building, in which neo-Gothic elements predominate, although Venetian details and Arabic architecture can also be seen.

The work of Martorell and Domenech i Muntaner and with an orthogonal plan, the façade of this building is simply magnificent. A part of the furniture was designed by Gaudí.

Pontifical University

The old building of the institution is in the Neo-Gothic style, with Mudejar decorative elements. The facades stand out precisely because of their wonderful decoration, full of symbols.

Other places of interest

Comillas still has much more to offer the visitor. From the monument to the Marqués de Comillas, with a very particular pedestal that resembles the prow of a ship, to the wonderful views that can be seen from Coteruca, a fantastic house adorned with a kind of battlements.

All this without forgetting the Tres Caños fountain, also modernist, or the Casa Ocejo, built in ashlar stone.

And, if you are not too superstitious, you should not miss the cemetery, in the ruins of an old Gothic church. Dominating the construction is the Angel of Llimona, a sculptural work that represents an angel with a sword in hand and looking out to sea.

Wonderful caves in Comillas

In the Comillas area there were already prehistoric settlements. The sites and cave paintings that have been found in some of its caves attest to this.

Cave of La Meaza

It is one of the treasures of Comillas. A cave inhabited in the Paleolithic in which paintings with a certain abstract air have been found. The central room has Magdalenian figures, typical of the Bronze Age, a true masterpiece.

Portillo Caves

What is surprising about this cave are its vast galleries that form a true artistic treasure.  The fishing activity that took place near the cave can be seen in the shells of Neolithic origin. In addition, remains of ceramics, flint and some prehistoric paintings have been found in them.

Numa Mine

Arrowheads, utensils and coins of Roman origin have been found in this ancient mine. The altar that was dedicated to the god Jupiter stands out above all.

Oyambre Natural Park

Located between Comillas and San Vicente de la Barquera, it is a place that offers wonderful landscapes of beaches, estuaries, dunes and sandy marshes on one side and the Picos de Europa in the background.

With almost 6,000 hectares, it has a great ecological value precisely because of the variety of ecosystems it houses. A perfect place to enjoy the sea on the Merón beach or birdwatching in its marshes.

The park also has a network of trails to enjoy all this wealth. Routes, some of them of little difficulty, so they can be done with the little ones in the house.

Comillas is a beautiful Cantabrian town that offers everything a traveler could wish for : history, architecture and impressive landscapes. Did you know it?