Located close to the coast in the autonomous community of Cantabria, Comillas is a small town in northern Spain. From the second half of the 19th century, Comillas used to be the summer residence of the royal family as well as a large part of the Spanish nobility. As a result, Comillas is distinguished by an important monumental and architectural heritage.The historical center of Comillas is characterized by many mansions of the noble families that used to live, as well as medieval and baroque buildings such as The town hall, the 17th-century church of San Cristóbal, and the impressive Pontifical University, one of the most outstanding buildings that face the town. Many Art Nouveau buildings represent the finest architecture in Cantabria, being El Capricho Antoni Gaudí the town's icon and one of the first works of the Catalan architect.