The Prado de San José Mansion, which is its original name, was commissioned in 1896 by Juan Manuel Sánchez y Gutiérrez de Castro, Duke of Almodóvar del Río, a native of Jerez de la Frontera, who was attracted by the boom in Comillas with the arrival of King Alfonso XII. The construction work lasted four years and was carried out by the architect Francisco Hernández Rubio.
The building is inspired by English rustic architecture, made of stone, brick, and wood. During the guided visit, we'll see the rooms on the main floor: the hall, the living room, the dining room, among others, and a fantastic Art Nouveau-style staircase made of wood from the Fernando Póo colony in Equatorial Guinea.
The appeal and charm of this mansion, which retains its original furniture, objects, and decor, has made it the setting for several film productions, such as Al ponerse el sol (1967), La herencia Valdemar (2010), and La sombra prohibida (2011).
After the tour of the mansion, you can choose to combine it with a stroll through the main squares and streets of Comillas, the greatest example of Art Nouveau in Cantabria, discovering places such as Plaza de los 3 Caños, Plaza del Antiguo Ayuntamiento, Palacio de Sobrellano, and the Chapel-Mausoleum, among others.
And if you want a comprehensive tour, you can include the famous Capricho de Gaudí, an Art Nouveau building designed by the renowned architect at the request of the Indiano Máximo Díaz de Quijano, noted for its ceramic decoration, its striking minaret, and the prominence of greenery and music.
