Cemetery of Comillas

The Cemetery of Comillas is one of the most unusual burial grounds in northern Spain — a necropolis built into the ruins of a medieval church and reshaped in the late 19th century into a work of modernist architecture. It sits on the highest point of the town of Comillas, in Cantabria, offering one of the finest panoramic views of the surrounding Atlantic coastline.

Why was the cemetery built inside a ruined church?

The burial ground was arranged around the remains of an old Gothic church, of which pointed arches and sections of ashlar wall still survive today. Rather than clearing these remnants away, the architect chose to weave them into the cemetery's design, giving the new necropolis a distinctive, half-romantic character — a deliberate contrast between the faded medieval ruins and a modern, Art Nouveau-inspired composition.

Who redesigned the cemetery?

The redesign, dated to 1893, was carried out by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, one of the leading figures of Catalan modernism, later famous for buildings such as the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona. In Comillas he designed the surrounding wall, decorated with motifs typical of the period: slender pinnacles, four-armed crosses, and a striking arched main entrance.

What is the Angel of Comillas?

The cemetery's best-known feature is the marble sculpture of a guardian angel, placed on a corner of the old church wall. The figure was created by the Catalan sculptor Josep Llimona. With its wings spread as if the angel were a bird about to take flight, the statue gazes out toward the sea — an effect through which Domènech sought to give the site a timeless, solemn calm that contrasts with the weathered ruins around it.

What other modernist details can visitors find here?

Beyond the perimeter wall and the angel sculpture, Domènech i Montaner also designed a family crypt for Joaquín del Piélago. It is here that the architect allowed himself the most expressive modernist touches: the surface of the tomb features a twisting, wave-like motif, echoing the Art Nouveau taste for organic, flowing forms. This detail sets the tomb clearly apart from the more rigid, symmetrical funerary designs typical of the 19th century.

Why is this cemetery worth a visit?

The Cemetery of Comillas brings together several layers of history in a single small site: medieval religious foundations, a 19th-century architectural vision by one of Catalan modernism's key figures, and a dramatic setting overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It is a rare example of funerary architecture treated as a genuine work of art rather than purely functional space. Walking among the old walls, the angel sculpture, and the tombs reveals how modernism — usually associated with the colourful facades of Barcelona — also found its way into cemetery architecture in a small coastal town.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Cemetery of Comillas located? On the highest part of the town of Comillas, in the region of Cantabria, on Spain's northern coast.

Who redesigned the cemetery? The Catalan architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, in 1893.

Who created the angel sculpture? The marble guardian angel was sculpted by Josep Llimona.

What makes the del Piélago family crypt special? Its surface features a modernist twisting, wave-like motif designed by Domènech i Montaner, unusual for funerary architecture of the period.