On the Cantabrian coast, surrounded by green hills, lies the picturesque town of Comillas (Comillas). Once a favorite retreat of the Spanish royal family, today it attracts visitors from Madrid, France, and the United Kingdom. Most come here to see El Capricho (El Capricho), one of the few works by Antoni Gaudí outside of Catalonia. However, beside this modernist masterpiece stands another impressive, yet often overlooked, architectural gem.
This is the Sobrellano Palace (Palacio de Sobrellano), a majestic neo-Gothic building rising in the midst of manicured gardens. The palace was constructed between 1881 and 1888, designed by Catalan architect Joan Martorell i Montells. The commission came from Antonio López y López, Marqués de Comillas, who planned to use it as a summer residence for his family and for entertaining members of the royal court.
The architectural appearance of the palace displays an eclectic mix of styles: hints of English civil Gothic, Venetian accents, and Mudejar elements are all present. For its time, the building was a true technological breakthrough. The Marqués ordered it to be fitted with electric lighting, making it one of the first electrified buildings in Spain. He hoped to impress King Alfonso XII with this innovation, but the monarch never had the chance to stay at the residence before its completion.
The palace’s interior impresses with its luxury and attention to detail. Visitors can see furniture crafted by the young Gaudí, as well as paintings and sculptures by renowned artists such as Joan Roig. Highlights include the Throne Room, its walls covered in gold leaf, the library, and the museum dedicated to the second marquis. Noble woods like ebony, oak, and walnut were used in the décor. The central feature of the vestibule is a monumental alabaster staircase illuminated by natural light streaming in through a vast stained-glass ceiling.
The building’s façade is made of local Carrejo stone, giving it a distinctive reddish hue. It is adorned with open galleries featuring trefoil arches and columns topped with decorative elements, including heraldic lilies and winged horses. The gardens, designed by a French landscape architect, hide another surprise: among the greenery, one can find archaeological fragments from the Roman era, such as sarcophagi and columns, bearing witness to the area’s ancient history.
Today, the Sobrellano Palace is open to visitors. Tours are held from Tuesday to Saturday. Tickets cost 7 euros for adults, and 5 euros for children aged 4 to 12 and concession categories. Children under 3 can enter free of charge. This is a unique opportunity to connect with history and admire an architectural masterpiece that remains unjustly overshadowed by its more famous ‘neighbor.’
