El Capricho Museum
Gaudí-designed modernist villa in Comillas, ornate facade
In Comillas, Gaudí's El Capricho showcases colorful ceramic tiles, curved brickwork, and a towered summer villa-an early Antoni Gaudí commission. Visitors photograph the polychrome facade, tour interior rooms, and learn about 19th-century regional patrons.
El Capricho at a Glance#
Address: El Capricho (Comillas), Comillas, Cantabria, Spain
Admission: Admission to house museum varies (check local museum listings)
About El Capricho#
El Capricho is a villa in Comillas, Cantabria, designed and built by Antoni Gaudí in the 1880s as a summer residence. It is among Gaudí’s early secular works and features his characteristic use of ceramics, wrought iron and organic forms.
The building is compact and highly decorative, with a distinctive cylindrical tower, polychrome tile patterns and a loggia. The composition combines local building traditions with Gaudí’s early Modernisme vocabulary, making it a specific architectural highlight rather than a large estate.
Commissioned in the early 1880s, construction took place in the mid-1880s and the house reflects Gaudí’s work before his major projects in Barcelona. The villa has been restored and is maintained as a historic house open to the public.
El Capricho stands in the coastal town of Comillas in Cantabria, in northern Spain, a short walk from the town centre and coastal landscape.
- Architect: One of Antoni Gaudí’s few works outside Catalonia, completed between 1883 and 1885 and notable for its colourful ceramic decoration and distinctive tower.
How to Get to El Capricho#
El Capricho is in Comillas, Cantabria. Reach Comillas by car from Santander (about 50 km west) or by regional bus services; the villa is a short walk from Comillas town center.
Tips for Visiting El Capricho#
- Check opening days for interior tours - the house museum is often open limited hours, while the gardens are more accessible.
- Look for Gaudí's polychrome ceramic work and the playful ironwork on balconies - details are concentrated at eye level.
- Combine the visit with a walk around Comillas to see modernist architecture and coastal views.
Best Time to Visit El Capricho#
Best in spring through early autumn for access to interior tours and comfortable coastal weather.
Weather & Climate near El Capricho#
El Capricho's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 3°C to 24°C. Moderate rainfall (905 mm/year).
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Acceptable | 3° - 13° | 6° | 87 mm | overcast | 78% | 3.3 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.2h |
| February | Acceptable | 4° - 14° | 7° | 78 mm | overcast | 76% | 3.2 m/s | 0.3 low | 10.3h |
| March | Good | 6° - 16° | 11° | 68 mm | overcast | 76% | 3.3 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Good | 7° - 16° | 12° | 92 mm | overcast | 77% | 3.5 m/s | 1.1 high | 13.3h |
| May | Good | 10° - 19° | 14° | 75 mm | overcast | 77% | 3.1 m/s | 1.5 high | 14.5h |
| June | Good | 13° - 21° | 17° | 46 mm | overcast | 77% | 2.9 m/s | 1.7 very high | 15.2h |
| July | Excellent | 15° - 23° | 19° | 44 mm | partly cloudy | 75% | 2.9 m/s | 1.7 very high | 14.9h |
| August | Very Good | 15° - 24° | 19° | 50 mm | partly cloudy | 72% | 2.7 m/s | 1.5 high | 13.8h |
| September | Very Good | 13° - 22° | 18° | 63 mm | partly cloudy | 72% | 2.6 m/s | 1.1 high | 12.4h |
| October | Good | 10° - 19° | 15° | 97 mm | overcast | 72% | 2.9 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 10.9h |
| November | Good | 7° - 16° | 11° | 109 mm | overcast | 76% | 3.1 m/s | 0.3 low | 9.5h |
| December | Acceptable | 5° - 13° | 7° | 96 mm | overcast | 76% | 3.3 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.8h |