Comillas is one of many small townships we visited as we travelled across northern Spain from La Coruña to Lourdes, France. Located in the autonomous community of Cantabria, Comillas is a charming and beautiful town most noted for its cemetery, old university, palace, monuments, and Gaudi’s summer home.
Here are the best of my Comillas photos:
This is the Cemetery of Comillas. We saw this style of burial in several areas in Spain. The coffin is inserted into a recess that is rented for a pre-determined number of years. Later the coffin is moved to a common burial ground.
The Angel by Llimona (1895) towers above the cemetery.
The archway supporting the angel is part of an old 15th-century church that the cemetery was built over many years ago.
Another area of the cemetery.
This is the old entrance gate to Pontifical University (now in Madrid).
Random shot in Comillas.
Capilla-Panteon
Palace of Sobrellano where the marquis of Comillas holds a ceremonial office.
Clock on Iglesia de San Cristobal
Unfortunately, by the time we arrived at Gaudi’s summer home, it was too late to go in. We couldn’t even see the house from the locked gate. This image is from creative commons:
El Capricho, Fuente Real, Comillas(Cantabria), Antoni Gaudí. At least we went on a tour of Gaudí architecture when we were in Barcelona.
Photo Credit: Creative Commons
Read Next: Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires: Artistic or Eerie?
To explore Cantabria we stayed in the colourful village of Santillana Del Mar (a village that is not actually at the sea, despite its name). From here we made day trips to Comillas, Santander, Altamira, and we went inside El Castillo in Puente Viesgo where we saw cave drawings estimated to be 40,000 years old.
Have you been to Comillas? Which is your favourite region of Spain?
If you enjoyed this article please share it on social media, including Pinterest:
Here's the secret to packing light:
Download our free packing light checklist when you sign up for our newsletter.
I’ve seen cemeteries like that somewhere too. Can’t remember if it was France, Italy, or Germany. Obviously, I didn’t pay too much attention to the style, otherwise, I probably would remember where I saw it. Nevertheless, it is interesting how different countries handle death and space. Obviously, if you don’t have room to spread out, up is the next best thing. Thanks for sharing the beautiful cemetery and cute town of Comillas. Looks lovely!
I don’t remember seeing them anywhere else, but you are not the first commenter who has.
So totally different from what we have here 🙂 #wkendtravelinspiration
Different from what we have in New Zealand as well.
Never been to this part of Spain. What an unusual and interesting subject to feature in your post. I love it however. The architecture and style certainly reflect that of Spain.
We seek out the unusual and interesting. Glad you enjoyed it.
If you went there three years ago, how the hell can you remember all the names of the places ha!? Unless it’s just me and my memory that can’t keep anything in longer that a few days. Love the captures by the way! I lived in Spain for a year and a half and had no idea about their burial traditions. Thanks for sharing!
I upload the day’s photos each evening when we travel. Using my notes from the day, I tag and caption them all at the time. Otherwise, there would be no chance I would remember the name of some of these small towns, let alone the buildings.
I’m one of those who enjoy visiting cemeteries and would love too visit this one!
I think it is the angel that makes this one so special.
I like to visit cemeteries when we travel it’s interesting to see how different cultures deal with their dead. This one in Cormillas reminds me of Italian cemeteries. Thanks for sharing your photos.
I am with you on this. I like to see the everyday parts of life rather than just the tourist spots.
I have not been to this town in Spain. There always seems to be another quaint one to explore. It’s on my list.
It’s like anywhere, the longer you stay the more you find to explore.
Wow, this is interesting because this is somewhat the same with the cemeteries we have in my country which is the Philippines. Thank you for sharing! cheers to you!
Interesting. According to an earlier commenter, the Filipino culture has deep roots in Spain. I am guessing this cemetery culture is part of that.
Beautiful photos! I’m so glad you found them and published! I’ve heard about the pre-renting cemetery space: I’ve always found it such a strange concept!
Discovering cultural differences is one of my favourite things about travel.
Wow, that cemetery really is unique. Thank you for sharing, amazing photos as always. =-)
Thanks Emilyann.
I just got Lightroom too so I feel I will be doing the same as you soon. Great photos, I’ve yet to get here.
Are you loving Lightroom as much as I am? Best photographic investment I have made.
Great shots! You sure found some interesting places!
We do seek them out. So do you 🙂
I’ve only been to Southern Spain. This seems more austere, less warm. Still interesting though. I’d like to explore more regions of Spain.
We have traveled through much of the country and find each of the regions to be quite different from eachother.
One of the countries I’m really excited to visit – Spain. The Spanish root is very deep in Filipino culture so I feel like traveling back in time when I visit Spain. The cemetery looks like a beautiful place, overlooking the sea and with a beautiful statue of an angel looking over everyone.
I would love to visit your country someday too.
That cemetery is so unique it kind of makes it not such a sad place 🙂
True. I never really thought about it being a sad place.
A very unusual cemetery but eerie and beautiful in a way. When I go I will have my ashes placed in a box that looks like an angel ( my wife laughed at and asked the man if they have one like a devil . Funny,funny,funny ) MY wife likes to joke.
Have a beautiful Sunday Rhonda. See ya.
Cruisin Paul
LOL – you two are so funny. I’ll bet you are a blast to travel with.
Gaudi’s summer home sure looks like a place that must be visited. Lovely photos!
Next time 🙂
I have seen photos of that cemetery before, but never knew where it was. I have heard of places where you ‘rent’ space and then move to a community site after a period of time. I guess when space is at a premium it makes sense, but not our custom to move once at rest. This is a place I’d love to visit, especially with Gaudis home there. I love your photos of the angel.
Not our custom either. We don’t disturb the dead.
I love that you are getting the “opportunity” to browse through 40,000 old photos! I’m glad that you are finding some great ones to share with us. These are beautiful!
LOL Jim, I love it too, and it will keep my blog busy until the next travels.
I’ve enjoyed everywhere that I’ve managed to get to in Spain; Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Granada, and various day trips to small towns. I would like to explore the northern part of the country. The architecture and the cemetery are appealing. It’s interesting that they rent a “coffin room” (for lack of a better word) for a given period and then are moved to a public grave. I wonder if that happens anywhere else in the world? Thanks for linking up this week. #TPThursday
They actually have a word for it in Spanish. It’s called Nichos.
I loved Spain and especially Gaudi. I would have loved to visit his summer home, with many of these places you almost have to map out your day by opening times to get it all in! #theweeklypostcard
Yes, we do know better about the times, but sometimes we are tired and just wandering
I wonder what it is about cemeteries which is so fascinating. I have a small mountain of photos taken in them around the world.
I don’t know, but it would make an interesting post.
We just spent a considerable amount of time in Spain, but I never saw a cemetery like that. It’s so interesting with all of the caskets in the wall like that. Awesome that you found your photos and can relive the mystique of that town.
We saw more than one like this, but maybe they were all in Cantabria.
It’s too bad you missed seeing Gaudi’s summer home. I bet the interior is quite interesting. Renting casket space is an intriguing idea. I suppose that after a few decades, some graves would no longer be visited, so it does seem to make sense to move them aside for a more frequented casket to be put in its place. I really like how they incorporated that arch with the angel statue into the cemetary.
I love the way the incorporated the angel. I think that was my favourite feature of this cemetery.
I love everywhere I’ve visited in Spain – and Gaudi is particularly special. That’s a really curious cemetery too. My own favourite part of Spain has to be Salamanca though
I agree on loving everywhere in Spain. I think my favourites region are Andalusia or Costa Brava (where our long-term home exchange is located).
That’s a really unusual cemetery. I’m used to the urns stacked on top of each other in ‘shelves’ for a lack of better word in Hong Kong, but have never seen ones where coffins are arranged like that. Thanks for sharing your photos! The Angel is very stunning.
I have not been to Hong Kong yet. Their cemeteries sound interesting also.
This is quite an unusual cemetery, Rhonda. I have never seen burial places piled up on top of each other like this. I visited quite a few interesting cemeteries over the years, but nothing like Comillas.
We saw a few other cemeteries like this in Spain. I am wondering now if they were all in Cantabria.
Interesting. I’ve never seen that kind of cemetery before. So the ones in the photos that are all stacked up on top of each other – is that the rental or the common place they’re moved to after their rental period is over?
It’s just so strange! It reminds me the catacombs, really.
That is the rental places, called “nichos”. This is how it was explained to us.
Seeing Gaudi’s summer house is reason enough to visit Comillas. That being said, the city’s architecture and cemetery look fascinating. I hope to visit Comillas when I return to Spain.
We would have seen it had we visited the city in the opposite order.
I’m sorry you were too late for Gaudi’s summer home, but it your photos around Comillas are beautiful. It looks like a really gorgeous place and so much History!
Thanks. Now we have a reason to go back.
Hi Rhonda,
What a beautiful part of Spain! The cemetery is fascinating and i’m sorry you couldn’t get a look inside Gaudi’s summer home.
Happy New Year!
LOL – It is the price we pay for being wanderers. We are often too early or too late. The cemetery was worth the visit.
Happy New Year to you too.
I’ve not been to this area but of the places we went in Spain I would choose Andalusia as my favourite. It is fair to say that I loved all the places we visited in Spain. Two we didn’t visit that I would visit next time would be Cadiz and Valencia as well as the area around your post and San Sebastian.
I would have to agree, Andalusia is quite magical with some of the most amazing architecture I have seen. We travelled around much of the country, but missed Valencia. Maybe next time.
Wow! I wonder how much it costs to have your coffin there and then removed to the common burial ground.
Fascinating post, as always. I’ve never heard of this region of Spain. Is it easily accessible from Barcelona? I’m going to Barcelona for a few days in May.
I was thinking the same thing when I first learned about it. But if it’s how it’s done, I guess it would seem normal and just be included in the price.
As for a day trip, the two cities are on different coasts. Barcelona is on the Mediterranean to the east, while Comillas is on the north (Atlantic) coast. They would be too far for a day trip. Plus there is plenty to do in Barcelona, and in the closer surrounding areas.
I love finding old photos and reliving the memories! Looks like a beautiful area of Spain.
Really that is the best part, reliving and sharing.
I’ve been in Comillas, but we didn’t visit the cemetery.
Is lightroom a good option to store/sort pictures?? I have to find a smarter way of archiving my pictures.
So far I am loving Lightroom. I bought it through Creative Cloud, so I will have to pay the monthly fee forever. That part worries me a bit, but for now, my only regret is not switching to it sooner.
I discovered El Capricho, Fuente Real via Pinterest a while ago and would love to see it one day! #Wkendtravelinspiration
I want to go back and see it too.
Hubby and I took care of all our funeral arrangements last year and they are paid for. We decided on cremation and a niche rather than being buried in the ground. Works for us. It’s interesting to see what others do in terms of their final resting place.
Have a fabulous day, Rhonda. ☺
I think we travel too much to pre-pay for funeral expenses. I don’t really like tot think about it, but if I were to pass in another country, I don’t think I would want to burden my family with bringing me back to New Zealand.
Love to start the year reading about Spain. I know I have to visit the northern part of the country. Yesterday, I was reading an interview made to a guy who wrote a book about Spain’s cuisine and he recommended going to the north to eat the best food. I think I should follow his advice. #TPThursday
We did a long term home exchange in Spain, and spent a fair bit of time exploring the country. Food was definitely on our list.
Oh, it’s so beautiful. A photographer’s dream.
Yes, you would love it here.
That is a beautiful cemetery. I especially love the church. I love old European architecture. #wkendtravelinspiration
Me too. I think it is one thing I miss in New Zealand. Here “old” is only 150 years old.
What a unique cemetery. It has so much personality.
It sure does.
I haven’t heard of Comillas before. But, now I want to visit especially to see Gaudi’s summer house. This looks like such an interesting city. Love your photos and glad you found these.
I want to go back and see Gaudi’s summer house. Funny, when i was staying only 30 minutes away we couldn’t be bothered to go back. Now, years later, I regret that decision.
It’s beautiful — even the cemetery! I love all the green grass and trees. It’s a little weird about only being in the mausoleum for a few years considering the marble covers are obviously carved with words for that person. They’ll go to waste later. Thanks for sharing the beautiful pics!
Hmmm. Now you have me wondering if they actually do this custom in this cemetery. Although every grave has flowers, suggesting that they are not that old. I am assuming the marble moves with the body.
Hi Rhonda – wonderful selection of photos for us of Comillas … beautiful place .. and that angel holding court … incredible buildings they have – pity about the Gaudi opening times … another day?! Cheers Hilary
It is a beautiful place and that angel is very alluring.
Haven’t heard of Comillas, but what a charming little find. I love these little towns.
I love driving slowly with plenty of time to explore the little township between the bigger, more visited spots.
oh my goodness, I love the photos. We’ve been travelling today by car around the Waikato through Rotorua, Putaruru and along the Kaimais 🙂
Thanks Amy. It was a fascinating and photographic township.