Comillas
Member of Los Pueblos más Bonitos de España
When the Spanish royal family began spending summers here in the late 19th century, the shipping magnate Antonio López, first Marquess of Comillas, filled this small Cantabrian town with grand buildings. Gaudí's El Capricho, the neo-Gothic Palacio de Sobrellano and the old Pontifical University still rise above cobbled squares lined with noble houses. A sandy beach lies below the town.
Highlights
- El Capricho, Gaudí's summer villa of 1883 to 1885, now a museum
- Palacio de Sobrellano by Joan Martorell, with furniture by Gaudí
- Plaza del Corro de Campíos, ringed by mansions with family crests
- Cemetery built around a ruined church, with the Angel of Death sculpture
- The town beach, and the long Oyambre beach five kilometres west (ES)
Summary based on Wikipedia and Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA), written with AI assistance.
Population: 2,075
Things to see
Travel guide (Wikivoyage)
Comillas is a town in Cantabria on the north coast of Spain. It was an insignificant village until mid 19th century, when Spanish royalty began taking their summer holidays here, and local-boy-made-good Antonio Lopez y López embellished the place with his Cuban fortune. It therefore has a collection of fine buildings out of proportion to its size; in 2025 the population was just over 2000.
Events through the year
- Cabalgata de Reyes MagosFloats from local villages hand out bacon, chorizo and sweets
- Fiesta del erizo
- Fiesta de la caballa
- Noche de San JuanBonfires on the beach, main fire lit at midnight
- Fiestas de San PedroBonfire on the eve; picayos dance the saint up to his chapel
- FolkomillasFolk festival
- Feast of San Cristóbal
- Fiestas del Santo Cristo del AmparoCandlelit procession to the harbour, sea procession and fireworks
- Feria y Arrastre de ComillasCows and oxen drag concrete blocks on sledges
- Feast of San AndrésVisitors are offered bread, eggs and wine
Dates follow the traditional patterns described on Wikipedia and Wikivoyage: check locally before you travel.
Based on Wikipedia (Comillas (Cantabria), Comillas) (CC BY-SA).
Local food & wine
- Fish and seafood soupsDish
Based on Wikipedia (Comillas (Cantabria)) (CC BY-SA).
Where to sleep
21 places to stay within 3 km
- Hotels 11
- Hostels 4
- B&Bs and guest houses 2
- Apartments and chalets 2
- Campsites 2
Search for rooms:Booking.comAirbnbGoogle Maps
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Thermal baths nearby
- Hot spring: Pileta de captación del manantial · ~42 min by car
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Nearby member villages
- Santillana del Mar · 15 km
- Carmona · 16 km
- Bárcena Mayor · 28 km
- Potes · 37 km
- Mogrovejo · 43 km