Marco Topo in Comillas

Discover Comillas by playing

Visiting Comillas as a family becomes a real adventure with Marco Topo. The game turns a walk through the town into an interactive experience where children and adults solve challenges, learn interesting facts and discover the history and heritage of one of Cantabria’s most emblematic towns. The route begins at the Three Spouts Fountain, a Modernista work designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner at the end of the 19th century. Here families discover, among other things, how a visit by King Alfonso XII helped Comillas become the first town in Spain with public electric street lighting, powered by a steam engine. From nearby Corro Campíos, players can see both the old and new town halls, identify the town coat of arms and learn curious anecdotes, such as the fact that Alfonso XII played skittles here during his 1881 visit. The Old Town Hall displays the colourful coats of arms of archbishops on its façade, recalling why Comillas was known as the “Town of the Archbishops”. Participants also discover that Comillas has appeared in films such as Cousinhood and Altamira. At the Church of San Cristóbal, younger visitors learn to identify the image of the saint, patron of travellers, and notice architectural details such as the round windows. Inside the church is the image of Cristo del Amparo, patron of the fishermen of Comillas. Walking through Corro de San Pedro, families enter the world of traditional Cantabrian architecture, with large houses such as Casa Cueto, decorated with a prominent coat of arms flanked by lions. They also learn about the local traditions celebrated here during the festival of Saint Peter on 29 June. The route continues to the unusual Bird Gate, entrance to Casa Moro, whose Modernista design recalls Gaudí’s work, especially the gate he designed for the Graner chalet in Barcelona. The Chapel of Santa Lucía combines popular architecture with a spectacular viewpoint over the coast of Comillas. Here children and adults learn about the importance of whaling in local history and how lighthouses helped sailors navigate at sea. In Prado San José stands the English-style house of the Duke of Almodóvar del Río, opposite the monument to the Marquis of Comillas, Antonio López y López. Younger visitors discover how this businessman, after making his fortune in the Americas, was made a marquis by King Alfonso XII. One of Comillas’ most distinctive places is its cemetery, redesigned by Lluís Domènech i Montaner to integrate the Gothic ruins of the former church with other elements, creating an artistic ensemble of great beauty. At the Pontifical University of Comillas, visitors can admire the majestic Neo-Mudéjar entrance decorated with brick, ceramics and plasterwork. Children discover papal symbols such as the crossed keys and learn about the Society of Jesus, which once ran the institution. Very close by is Sobrellano Palace, designed by Joan Martorell for the marquis. This grand Modernista building hosted Alfonso XII during his royal visits. Beside it stands the Chapel-Pantheon, designed like a miniature cathedral and built as the burial place of the marquis’s family. The route ends at one of the town’s great landmarks: Gaudí’s El Capricho. One of the architect’s few works outside Catalonia, it masterfully combines nature and architecture. Children discover why the house is decorated with sunflowers and learn about its owner, Máximo Díaz de Quijano, for whom Gaudí designed this original residence. Do not miss this Marco Topo route through Comillas.