The Curious Modernist Building Of El Capricho By Gaudí
The best way to meet a genius is to admire his works. A good example of the wonderful mind of Gaudí is the modernist building of El Capricho, located in Comillas. A great place to spend the day with the family and contemplate the work of one of the most famous Spanish architects. Do you want to know what awaits you in this place?
What is the modernist building at El Capricho like?
The first thing that catches the attention of this building are its colors. Green, yellow and reddish tones, an unusual color for a 19th century building. And another highlight is the cylindrical tower that presides over it. The building seen from afar is already a beautiful postcard for which it is worth approaching.
El Capricho is built with bricks in the upper part and stone in the lower part, highlighting the ceramic ornaments. Sunflowers adorn the building and make it the most original in the area. And all, despite being more than a century old, since it was built between 1883 and 1885.
Each facade is different. Therefore, depending on which position you look at it, you will be able to capture a lot of different details. And it is that the different materials and the way of using them, adapting to the terrain and dispensing with the most typical forms, make this building very special.
‘Capricho’, in the musical world, means that the piece is freestyle. And this construction plays with that conception in some of its parts, such as the windows on the main façade, which have musical tubes that emit sounds when manipulated.
Within the artistic representations, they also stand out in this sense in the stained glass windows. In one of them you can see the representation of a bird playing the piano.
The visit to the building
El Capricho de Gaudí can be visited individually, letting your imagination fly in each of its corners. Some people prefer to discover for themselves the secrets of the museums and monuments they visit. Something possible in the modernist building of El Capricho.
But whoever wants to know first-hand what the building is like and what its history is, can also enjoy the guided tours. Special visits are even organized for groups, schools or families.
The price of the ticket is 5 euros in the case of adults and 2.5 for children between 7 and 14 years old and the disabled. Children under 7 years old enter free.
The history of El Capricho
El Capricho, whose original name is Villa Quijano, was designed by Gaudí commissioned by Máximo Díaz de Quijano. Although it was one of the first works of the architect, he was not present during its construction, since then he was simultaneously working on another project in Catalonia.
The person in charge was then Cristóbal Cascante. However, there is some theory that defends that Gaudí made some covert visit during the construction to verify that everything was going according to plan.
It shows characteristics that would later be seen in the rest of his works. For example, the fact that the requirements of the original order are strictly met. Or the resemblance to cubism more than two decades before its appearance.
On the other hand, El Capricho is one of the few works that the architect carried out outside of Catalonia. In his memory and as a tribute, on the outside of this magnificent construction we can see a statue of Antoni Gaudí himself.
Take advantage of the visit to Comillas
The modernist building of El Capricho can be visited in the morning. Thus, you will have time in the afternoon to walk through Comillas, the Cantabrian town where it is located. In addition to its magnificent beaches, there are other places worth seeing there.
The Pontifical University, the Palace of Sobrellano or the Pantheon are must-see points. Another well-known place that attracts the interest of many tourists is the cemetery. And it is also worth visiting the port, the Tres Caños fountain or the house of the Duke of Almodóvar del Río.
