Comillas | |
|---|---|
 Aerial view of Comillas | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
_Mapa.svg) Location in Cantabria | |
  Comillas Location in Spain | |
| Coordinates: 43°23′13″N 4°17′22″W / 43.38694°N 4.28944°W | |
| Country |  Spain |
| Autonomous community |  Cantabria |
| Province | Cantabria |
| Comarca | Western coast of Cantabria |
| Judicial district | San Vicente de la Barquera |
| Capital | Comillas |
| Government | |
| • Alcaldesa | María Teresa Noceda Llano (2007) (PRC) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 18.61 km2 (7.19 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 23 m (75 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 210 m (690 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (2018)[1] | |
| • Total | 2,156 |
| • Density | 120/km2 (300/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Comillano, na |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Website | Official website |
Comillas is a small township and municipality in the northern reaches of Spain, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. The Marquessate of Comillas, a fiefdom of Spanish nobility, holds ceremonial office in the seat of power at a small castle which overlooks the town. The Comillas Pontifical University was housed here before it moved to Madrid, and the old university buildings are among the finest examples of architecture in the town. Besides this, there are many notable medieval and baroque buildings.
From the second half of the 19th century, the Spanish royal family started spending their summers in Comillas, and so did a large part of the Spanish nobility, whose many descendants still frequent the town every summer.[2][3] As a result, Comillas left an imprint of architectural relics such as palaces and monuments designed by renowned Catalan artists in particular, i.e. Gaudí or Doménech i Montaner.[4] From the second half of the 20th century however, southern Spain and the islands became more popular due to an increasing inclination towards sunnier destinations, and so places like Marbella, Sotogrande or Mallorca became attractive prospects for the rich and famous.[5][6] Although the town has seen an upsurge in the last years, it still maintains its character as "the haven for the decadent and discreet aristocracy".[7][8]
Comillas was the capital of Spain for one day, on 6 August 1881, following an agreement between king Alfonso XII and the Minister's Council to gather at a formal meeting in town.[9] It also became the first place in Spain to use Edison's electric light bulbs, in 1880.[10]
- ^ Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
- ^ Visit Spain: Comillas[permanent dead link]
- ^ Martínez Tato, Marta: Verano de estilo - Como pasar por un veraneante más de Comillas - 22 July 2018
- ^ Gistau, David: Comillas - la playa de los "papardos" - 25 July 2013 - ABC.es
- ^ El Mundo: El turismo en España
- ^ Diputación de Málaga: Historia de Marbella
- ^ Ruisanchez, Guillem: Agosto en Comillas - Del marqués al IBEX 35 - 22 July 2018
- ^ Vanity Fair: Guía de Comillas, el veraneo más elegante - 22 July 2018
- ^ "Town Hall of Comillas".
- ^ "El Diario Montañés: El legado del marqués".