Cemetery of Comillas, Gothic cemetery in Comillas, Spain
The Cemetery of Comillas is a burial ground built upon the ruins of a former church, with stone walls topped by crenellations and crosses that rise above the Cantabrian coast. The site contains stacked niches, stone tombs, and memorial markers arranged across sloping terrain.
The site served as a parish church in the 15th century until disputes between townspeople and the Duke of Infantado's representatives in the 16th century led to its closure. In the late 1890s, architect Luis Domenech i Montaner redesigned the church ruins as a cemetery and added new burial structures.
The burial ground reflects the community's connection to both faith and landscape, with graves positioned to overlook the coast and sea beyond. Families have chosen this location for centuries to honor their dead while maintaining views of the natural world around them.
Entry is through a rounded arch gateway with an iron door, from which narrow pathways wind between vertical niches and memorials. The ground is sloped and passages can be tight, so sturdy shoes are advisable and visitors should allow time to navigate the terrain carefully.
At the highest point of the cemetery stands the Angel Exterminador sculpture by Catalan artist Josep Llimona, an impressive work from the late 1800s. This life-size figure with outstretched wings was placed in 1895 and remains the focal point visible from across the entire burial ground.
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