English Version

COMILLAS Comillas, is also known as the Villa of the Arzobispos, it is one of the most beautiful and best known villages in

Cantabria. Santander is only 48 km. far and Comillas is sited between the Cantabrian Sea and the Picos de Europa

in a privileged environment due to its spectacular landscape.

Comillas would probably remain a small fishers village in the Cantabrian coast had it not been for Antonio Lopez and

his heirs. They were given the Marquisate of Comillas. They transformed the village completely and made of

Comillas host of one of the most significant group of modernist architecture. Antonio Lopez and his heirs enhanced

Comillas’ touristic tradition when in 1881 and 1882; they invited King Alfonso XII and his family to spend their

holidays in the village.

Nowadays, Comillas offers its visitors a wide range of architectonical and natural attractions, significant cultural

events, the possibility of enjoying beaches or golf courses, its gastronomy, pleasant walks along its cobbled streets,

and to sum up, its people’s good know-how.

Apart from the village, the municipality has five populations more: Ruiseñada, beginning of the Monte Corona

(Corona Wood) with interesting rural architecture; Trasvía, located in a nice natural point overlooking the estuary

of La Rabia and the dunes of Oyambre; Rubárcena with a nice walk with centenary trees, the small park “El Joyucu”;

La Rabia, next to the estuary of the same name, an ecosystem of great ecological value for its great variety of birds

and Rioturbio, the same as La Rabia, with a high ecological and landscape richness.

HOW TO GET TO COMILLAS

Comillas Comillas is connected by road with the

Cantabrian Motorway A8 which in turn connects

with the motorway of “La Meseta”. It has a bus

line that connects the village with San Vicente de

la Barquera on one side and with Santander on

the other. It connects San Vicente de la Barquera,

Comillas, Santillana del Mar, Torrelavega and

Santander.

The Parayas Airport (Santander) is 52 kilometers

far from Comillas. There are regular national

flights between Santander and Madrid,

Barcelona, Alicante, Las Palmas de Gran

Canaria, Palma de Mallorca, Malaga, Sevilla,

Valencia or Reus. There are also regular

international flights that connect Cantabria with

London, Frankfurt,

Rome, Milan, Dusseldorf, Dublin and Brussels.

There is a railway station (RENFE) 25 km far from

Comillas, there are daily departures

to Alicante,Valladolid and Madrid. FEVE (a

different railway net) runs along the Cantabrian

coast.

By sea there is a line of Ferries (Plymouth) that

sails between Cantabria and England..

Como How to get to Comillas from:

Santander: Go along the A8 Motorway (Autovía del

Cantábrico), heading to Oviedo till the way out 249 (to

Comillas and Cabezón de la Sal).

Asturias: Go along the A8 Motorway (Autovía del

Cantábrico), heading to Santander till the way out 249 (to

Comillas and Cabezón de la Sal).

Madrid, Bilbao, Burgos, Palencia, Valladolid: The easiest

way to arrive in Comillas is reaching Torrelavega and then

following the A8 Motorway (Autovía del Cantábrico), heading

to Oviedo till the way out 249 (to Comillas and Cabezón de la

Sal).

COMILLAS MONUMENTAL Y MODERNISTA

Visiting Comillas is entering a rich monumental patrimony. This patrimony is organized in two

main routes: The Modernist Route and the Monumental Route.

THE MODERNIST ROUTE. is closely linked with the

figure of Comillas´ 1st Marquis Antonio Lopez y Lopez

who made possible for great Catalan artists of the 19th

century, such as Joan Martorell, Luís Domenech

Montaner or Antonio Gaudi, to start working in Comillas

and consequently, leaving an unique manifestation of the

artistic movement known as Modernismo, at the same

time as it gave the Town a highly reputation in Art

productions. Many of the buildings display precious

sculptures and paintings. Some of them could be

considered the most valuable sculpture works of the

end of the 19th century.

El Capricho

Puerta de los Pájaros

Among the most important monuments we find: El Palacio

de Sobrellano. A majestic building that stands on a

hillside next to the Capilla- Panteón. It was designed by the

Catalán architect Joan Martorell. The Chapel houses some

beautiful pantheons that display some of the best sculptures

of the late 19th century in Europe. They are both open to the

public.

Palacio de Sobrellano

Capilla Panteón

El Capricho: It is one of the first architectural works by

Antonio Gaudi (1883-1885), a modernist and internationally

recognized building. Gaudi also designed La Puerta de los

pajaros, a door made out of stone remains with wavy

surfaces and roundy corners.

Fuente de Tres Caños

Universidad Pontificia

Asilo Hospital

Cementerio

Fuente de Tres Caños, a historic fountain that

incorporates a lamppost above it, work of Luis Domenech.

La Estatua del Marqués and the expansion of the

Graveyard, another two architectural works by Luis

Domenech. Angel Guardían, a sculpture of a Guardian

Angel situated on one of the walls that surrounded the

Cemetry. This work of art belongs to Josep Llimona.

La Universidad Pontifícia, a majestic building that is

preceded by a spectacular entrance. Although its exterior

may look quite austere, its interior is fully decorated with a

wide variety of art works, thanks to the architect Luis

Domenech.

Asilo Hospital de Comillas. It was built in 1888, and

presents similar architectural structure to el Palacio de

Sobrellano. This work was done by the architect Cristobal

Cascante.

Angel de Llimona

THE MONUMENTAL ROUTE, leads the visitor through

an immense variety of places and buildings such as the

port; it was the last Cantabrian port that kept its whaling

tradition. Different testimonies of religious architecture

such as the Parochial Church of San Cristobal, built and

funded by the town´s people. From the half of the 17th

Century, it houses in its interior El Cristo del Amparo

(Christ the Protector), the patron saint of local fishermen.

The Hermitage of Saint Lucia, very connected to the

sailors. And El Corazón de Jesús (Sacred Heart of

Jesus Christ), a monument which was entrusted the II

Marquis of Comillas, following the devotion from the

consecration of Spain to the Sacred Heart.

Ermita de Santa Lucía

Sagrado Corazón

El puerto

Iglesia Parroquial

Comillas also presents singular examples of civil

architecture such as; The Espolón, which construction was

ordered by archbishop of Lima, D. Juan Domingo González

de la Reguera, in the 17th Century as a school and chair of

Latin.

La Casa Ocejo (Ocejo house), indiano house. The I

Marquis of Comillas bought it for his mother. In 1881, it

became the summer residence of the King Alfonso XII.

El Espolón Casa Ocejo

La Carcel (The Jail), this building was built and financed by

several neighbours in the 18th Century in order to shelter

the prisoners of the villa. Nowadays, it is used as a pilgrims’

lodging.

The Duke, a beautiful construction of the 19th Century with

clear influence of English architecture style.

The ancient Town Hall: It possesses in his interior a

lounge for plenary sessions of modernista style. On the

outside the shields of the archbishops born in the villa are

shown.

The new Town Hall: The original building was constructed

at the end of the 19th Century, as a free school for infants.

Nowadays, it is the new headquarters of the Town hall.

Finally, Comillas counts with some other interesting outdoor

spaces such as the Corro San Pedro delimited by several

typical constructions of noble architectures of the 17th

Century, and the Corro Campíos, a place of leisure and

celebrations that as the years go by continues being the

meeting point of the villa.

The Duke

Corro Campíos

Ancient Town Hall

Corro San Pedro

New Town Hall

NATURAL HERITAGE

Comillas Town has a natural and exceptional

environment; there are plenty of zones where

you may enjoy walking through nature.

Comillas offers the opportunity to delight you

with all kinds of outdoor activities.

Its coast is outlined by rocky almost vertical

cliffs, formed by the strong erosion that on

them has exercised the Cantabrian Sea,

These cliffs alternate with beaches of thin and

golden sand and dunes that were generated

by the effect of the wind and tides. Between

all the beaches that can be found in this area,

Comillas beach stands out, with something

more than 500 m length, together with

Oyambre Sandbank.

Another natural element of interest is “La Ría

de la Rabia” constituted by the rivers Turbio

and Capitan in their river mouth. They both

are part of Oyambre Nature Reserve. It is an

excellent habitat for the numerous aquatic

birds that hibernates in the zone or rest

during the migrations.

Comillas is also surrounded by a large area of

forests with many autochthonous trees, most

of which are gathered in crowds in Monte

Corona.

HOTELS AND ACCOMMODATION

Comillas has a wide variety of lodgings, actually there are 1074 hotel rooms, apart from the 305 camping parcels.

3 four-star hotels, 2 three-star hotels, 4 two-star hotels, 1 hostel, 10

guest houses, 5 enterprises of touristic apartments, 6 rural

accommodations, 1 camping, 1 enterprise of active tourism

Apart from these accommodations, in Comillas there is a pilgrims’ hostel, ran by the municipality, with a capacity for

20 people. The building, a former prison with two dungeons and an interior patio was rebuilt with these objective not

many years ago. It will be opened from 1st April to the 30

th October.

TELEPHONE DIRECTORY

Town Hall 942 720033 Pharmacy 942

722240 Police 942 720006 / 609 446201 Guardia Civil 942

720035

Medical Center 942 722270 Taxis 942

720034

Post Office 942 720095 Parochial Church 942

720216

Tourist Information Office 942 722591 Sobrellano Palace 942

720339

Autobuses 942 720822 Polideportivo Municipal 942

722600

Route 8: Cycling in the mountain area.

GOLF AND OTHER ACTIVITIES

In Comillas, sports as Golf can be practiced. There is a

nine-hole golf club that was inaugurated in 2002. It is

100m over sea-level. Autochthonous natural species

make easy the integration of the golf course in the

landscape. It offers facilities such as a restaurant, a

hotel, practice course and equipment rental.

In Comillas, there is also the great chance of riding horses; it offers a unique way to enjoy the natural landscapes

and the contact with animals.

Hiking is another wonderful way to enjoy the area. There

are eight walking and cycling tours. There is a guide at

your disposal at the Tourist Information Office.

Route 1: Comillas' coastal spots and monuments

Route 2: Cycle path from Comillas to La Rabia

Route 3: From Comillas to Rioturbio

Route 4: From Comillas to Ruiseñada

Route 5: From the hermitage of San Esteban to Valle del

Río del Mato

Route 6: Monte Corona

Route 7: The hermitages in Monte Corona

CELEBRATIONS AND TRADITIONS

The most important traditional celebration in Comillas is

on 16th July, El Cristo del Amparo’s day (Christ the

Protector’s day), patron saint of the local fishermen. It is

a celebration of the people whose lives are connected

to the sea. There is a mass, dances, and picayo’s

songs.

This fiesta of the Christ still has the solemnity of the old

days; religious celebrations are eventually followed by

more and more people who are curious for knowing his

hymn and his devotional dancers (picayos), as well as

his sea procession.

Religious celebrations to honour the Cristo del Amparo begin with nine masses that start nine days before the 16th July. On

the 15th of July, the eve of the great celebration day, some processions honouring the Patron Saint start. A sculpture of the

Christ is taken to the fish market in the port where it will spend the night; it is accompanied by a bugle band and the

picayos from Comillas.

The following day in the morning, the statue is taken in a sea procession. After it, a mass is celebrated, that is when

the Christ’s hymn is sang and when it is finished the picayos perform their song and dance in front of the altar and at

the door of the church. Apart from religious celebrations, there are open-air dances in the evening and at night,

brass bands, sport activities and, of course, traditional bowling, games at the port and fireworks the eve of the 16th.

Fiestas en Comillas

In Comillas, San Pedro is also celebrated on 29th

June, there are dances. Trasvia has recovered the

celebration of San Andrés. Celebrations in Comillas:

9th February, Santa Apolonia in Ruiseñada

15

th May, San Isidro Labrador in Ruiseñada

29

th June, San Pedro

16th June, San Adrián in Ruiseñada

16th

July, Santo Cristo del Amparo

Last weekend in August, cattle exposition.

30

th November, San Andrés in Trasvía

Fiestas en Trasvía

Feria de Ganado

CULTURAL SUMMER IN COMILLAS

Comillas becomes each year a place of cultural reference

in the summer of Cantabria.

Los Caprichos Musicales (Musical Whims) are set as a

cultural referent; important groups and solos take part on

these programs. Concerts are held at the Palacio de

Sobrellano (Palace of Sobrellano), in the Constitution

Square and the parochial church of the town, and they

include from classical music to Jazz and Theatre music;

prestigious internationally known artists participate in these

programs.

This is joined by Folk Music Concerts in Palacio de

Sobrellano (Palace of Sobrellano). There are also

Painting competitions for children and adults, choral

concerts..., these are some of the proposals performed

in summer.

It is also worth pointing out the high quality exhibitions

that are held in the Town Hall.

There is also a Cattle contest and a traditional pull of

weight carried out by cows or oxen.

All these initiatives are intended to promote the taking

part of both residents and the hundreds of tourists

visiting the village.

CONTACT

Oficina Municipal de Turismo Plaza

Joaquín del Piélago nº 1 - Bajo

Teléfono: 942 72 25 91 Fax: 942 72 00 37

www.comillas.es

oficinadeturismo@comillas.es

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