Day 13 – Catalan Architecture in Cantabria

Santillana del Mar to Comillas, 24Km

Fine weather returned today for a pleasant walk across the coastal landscape of Cantabria. There was lots of mixed agriculture with fields ploughed for the next crop and a variety of livestock including alpacas. All the animals are in fields where they belong and the pilgrims walk happily on paths where we belong.

I’m passing quite a few new housing developments in Cantabria. Some are typically modern while others are the result of impressive modern architecture. I’ll take some pictures if I see some more.

Spain has always been a step ahead when it comes to architecture. Antoni Gaudi left a great legacy in Barcelona but he also designed a villa here in Comillas. The town is graced with extraordinary 19th century architecture as a result of a fortune made in the Americas which was used to commission a group of Catalan architects to produce some extraordinary buildings.

Comillas is another popular coastal resort which means pilgrims are secondary to holiday makers. But there are many restaurants in the old town by the church so I secured lunch once again.