From Barcelona to Comillas

Gaudí’s Legacy in the Cantabria Brand

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62161/sauc.v12.6161

Keywords:

Place Brand, Place Identity, Iconic Architecture, UGC, Architectural heritage, Comillas, Gaudí

Abstract

Gaudí’s 2026 Centenary offers an opportunity to reconsider the territorial reach of his legacy. Although public, academic and cultural narratives construct a Barcelona-centred canon that often eclipses his works outside Catalonia, this study examines how Gaudí’s non-Barcelona architecture, particularly El Capricho and Gaudi’s footprint in Comillas, contributes to territorial identity through user-generated content (UGC). Using over 500 TripAdvisor reviews, the analysis shows that UGC positions Gaudí as an identity reference in Comillas, extending his cultural reception beyond Barcelona and demonstrating how non-central locations actively participate in shaping the contemporary meaning of his legacy.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Global Statistics ℹ️

Cumulative totals since publication
0
Views
0
Downloads
0
Total
Downloads by format:
PDF (Español (España)) 0 PDF 0

References

Al-Betawi, Y. N., & Abu Ehmaid, H. B. (2025). The branding of cities through architecture: Identifying, formulating and communicating the image of Amman, Jordan. Architecture, 5(3), 50. https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture5030050

Anholt, S. (2007). Competitive identity: The new brand management for nations, cities and regions. Palgrave Macmillan. http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/9780230627727

Ashworth, G., & Graham, B. (2005). Senses of place: Place, culture and identity. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315243467

Ayeh, J. K., Au, N., & Law, R. (2013). “Do we believe in TripAdvisor?” Examining credibility perceptions and online travelers’ behavior. Tourism Management, 35, 37-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2012.06.010

Ayuntamiento de Comillas. (s.f.). Historia de Comillas. https://aytocomillas.es/comillas/opencms/contenido/Comillas/Historia

Baloglu, S., & McCleary, K. W. (1999). A model of destination image formation. Annals of Tourism Research, 26(4), 868-897. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0160-7383(99)00030-4

Barcelona.com. (s.f.). ¿Quién es Antoni Gaudí? https://www.barcelona.com/es/monumentos/antoni-gaudi-barcelona

Basílica de la Sagrada Familia. (2024, 17 de enero). https://sagradafamilia.org

Bassegoda Nonell, J. (1989). Gaudí o espacio, luz y equilibrio. Universidad de Barcelona.

Belando, M. V. S., Ulldemolins, J. R., & Zarlenga, M. I. (2012). ¿Ciudad creativa y ciudad sostenible?: Un análisis crítico del “modelo Barcelona” de políticas culturales. Revista Crítica de Ciências Sociais, (99), 31-50. https://doi.org/10.4000/rccs.5101

Bellesguard Gaudí. (s.f.). https://shorturl.at/eMrsJ

Casa Vicens. (s.f.). El Capricho. https://casavicens.org/es/gaudi/obras/el-capricho

Castillo-Villar, FR. (2016). Urban icons and city branding development. Journal of Place Management and Development, 9(3), 255-268. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMD-03-2016-0013

Chemin, M., Silva, R., & Vikou, G. (2025). User‐generated content (UGC) in tourist attractions and destinations: systematic literature review and perspectives for management. http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/41998

Ciuculescu, E. L., & Luca, F. A. (2024). How can cities build their brand through arts and culture? An analysis of ECoC bidbooks from 2020 to 2026. Sustainability, 16(8), 3377. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083377

Dioko L, Harrill R, María Munar A (2011). Tourist‐created content: rethinking destination branding. International Journal of Culture Tourism and Hospitality Research, 5(3) 291-305.https://doi.org/10.1108/17506181111156989

Dinnie, K. (2011). City branding: Theory and cases. Palgrave Macmillan.

Eshuis, J., Braun, E., & Klijn, E. (2013). Place marketing as governance strategy: An assessment of obstacles in place marketing and their effects on attracting target groups. Public Administration Review, 73(3), 507-516. https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.12044

Evans, G. (2003). Hard‐branding the cultural city-From Prado to Prada. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 27(2), 417-440. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2427.00455

Filieri, R. (2015). What makes online reviews helpful? A diagnosticity-adoption framework to explain informational and normative influences in e-WOM, Journal of Business Research, 68(6), 1261-1270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2014.11.006

Gospodini, A. (2004). Urban morphology and place identity in European cities: built heritage and innovative design. J. Urban Design 9, 225-248. https://doi.org/10.1080/1357480042000227834

Govers, R., & Go, F. M. (2009). Place Branding: Glocal, Virtual and Physical Identities, Constructed, Imagined and Experienced. Palgrave Macmillan.

Gobierno de Cantabria. (s.f.). https://www.cantabria.es

Green, A., Grace, D., & Perkins, H. (2016). City branding research and practice: An integrative review. Journal of Brand Management, 23(3), 252-272. http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/bm.2016.8

Greenberg, M. (2008). Branding New York: How a city in crisis was sold to the world. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203931974

Gretzel, U., & Yoo, K. (2008) Use and Impact of Online Travel Reviews. En O’Connor, P., Hopken, W. and Gretzel, U (Eds.), Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2008, Springer Vienna, 35-46. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-77280-5_4

Guest, G., Bunce, A., & Johnson, L. (2006). How many interviews are enough? An Experiment with Data Saturation and Variability. Field Methods, 18(1), 59-82. https://doi.org/10.1177/1525822X05279

Hatch, M. J., & Schultz, M. (2002). The dynamics of organizational identity. Human Relations, 55(8), 989-1018. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726702055008181

Illas, E. (2014). Thinking Barcelona: Ideologies of a global city. Liverpool University Press.

Jencks, C. (2006). The iconic building is here to stay. City, 10(1), 3-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/13604810600594605

Kalandides, A. (2011). The problem with spatial identity: Revisiting the “sense of place”. Journal of Place Management and Development, 4(1), 28-39. https://doi.org(10.1108/17538331111117142

Kaplan, A. M., & Haenlein, M. (2010). Users of the world, unite! Business Horizons, 53(1), 59-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2009.09.003

Kavaratzis, M. (2004). From city marketing to city branding: Towards a Theoretical Framework for Developing City Brands. Place Branding, 1(1), 58-73. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.pb.5990005

Kavaratzis, M. (2005). Place branding: A review of trends and conceptual models. The marketing review, 5(4), 329-342. https://doi.org/10.1362/146934705775186854

Kavaratzis, M., & Ashworth, G. J. (2005). City branding: An effective assertion of identity or a transitory marketing trick? Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie 96(5), 506-514. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9663.2005.00482.x

Kavaratzis, M., & Hatch, M. J. (2013). The dynamics of place brands: An identity-based approach to place branding theory. Marketing Theory, 13(1), 69-86. https://doi.org/10.1177/1470593112467268

Koens, K., Postma, A., & Papp, B. (2018). Is overtourism overused? Understanding the impact of tourism in a city context. Sustainability, 10(12), 4384. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124384

Lahuerta, J.J. (2003). Antoni Gaudí 1852-1926: Architecture, Ideology, and Politics. Milan: Electaarchitecture / Phaidon.

Leask, A., & Fyall, A. (2006). Managing world heritage sites. Butterworth-Heinemann.

Lucarelli, A., & Berg, P. O. (2011). City branding: a state‐of‐the‐art review of the research domain. Journal of Place Management and Development, 4(1), 9-27. https://doi.org/10.1108/17538331111117133

Mariani, M., Di Felice, M., & Mura, M. (2016). Facebook as a destination marketing tool: Evidence from Italian regional Destination Management Organizations. Tourism Management, 54, 321-243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2015.12.008

Marine-Roig, E. (2015). Identity and authenticity in destination image construction. Anatolia, 26(4), 574-587. https://doi.org/10.1080/13032917.2015.1040814

Marine-Roig, E. (2017). Measuring destination image through travel reviews in search engines. Sustainability, 9(8), 1425. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9081425

Martin, E., & Capelli, S. (2018). Place brand communities: from terminal to instrumental values. Journal of Product & Brand Management, 27(7), 793-806. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBM-10-2017-1654

McKercher, B., Ho, P. S., & Du Cros, H. (2005). Relationship between tourism and cultural heritage management: Evidence from Hong Kong. Tourism management, 26(4), 539-548. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2004.02.018

McNeill, D. (2009). The global architect: Firms, fame and urban form. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203894743

Milano, C., Novelli, M., & Cheer, J. M. (2019). Overtourism and tourismphobia: A journey through four decades of tourism development, planning and local concerns. Tourism Planning & Development, 16(4), 353-357. https://doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2019.1599604

Muratovski, G. (2012). The role of architecture and integrated design in city branding. Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, 8(3), 195-207. https://doi.org/10.1057/pb.2012.12

Munar, A. M., & Jacobsen, J. (2014). Motivations for sharing tourism experiences. Tourism Management, 43, 46-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2014.01.012

Neuendorf, K. A. (2017). The content analysis guidebook (2nd ed). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Pike, S. (2002). Destination image analysis-a review of 142 papers from 1973 to 2000. Tourism Management, 23(5), 541-549. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0261-5177(02)00005-5

Poria, Y., Biran, A., & Reichel, A. (2009). Visitors’ Preferences for Interpretation at Heritage Sites. Journal of Travel Research, 48(1), 92-105.https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287508328657

Sepe, M. (2013). Planning and place in the city. Mapping Place Identity. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203076149

Sklair, L. (2017). The icon project: Architecture, cities, and capitalist globalization. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190464189.001.0001

Smith, L. (2006). Uses of heritage. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203602263

Timothy, D. J., & Boyd, S. W. (2003). Heritage tourism. Prentice Hall.

Tussyadiah, I., & Fesenmaier, D. (2009). Mediating tourist experiences through technology: Access to Places via Shared Videos. Annals of Tourism Research, 36(1), 24-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2008.10.001

UNESCO. (s. f.). Works of Antoni Gaudí. Centro del Patrimonio Mundial de la UNESCO. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/320

Urry, J., & Larsen, J. (2011). The tourist gaze 3.0. Sage. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446251904

Vuignier, R. (2017). Place branding & place marketing 1976–2016: A multidisciplinary literature review. International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, 14(4), 447-473. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12208-017-0181-3

Xiang, Z., Du, Q., Ma, Y., & Fan, W. (2017). A comparative analysis of online review platforms: Implications for social media analytics in hospitality and tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 66, 98-109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2016.10.001

Xiang, Z., & Gretzel, U. (2010). Role of social media in travel information search. Tourism Management, 31(2), 179-188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2009.02.016

Zenker, S., & Braun, E. (2017). Questioning “one-size-fits-all” city branding: Developing a branded house strategy for place brand management. Journal of Place Management and development, 10, 270-287. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMD-04-2016-0018

Zenker, S., & Rütter, N. (2014). Is satisfaction the key? The role of citizen satisfaction, place attachment and place brand attitude on positive citizenship behavior. Cities, 38, 11-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2013.12.009

Downloads

Published

2026-04-24

How to Cite

Rodriguez Cánovas, B., & Guzmán Rincón, A. (2026). From Barcelona to Comillas: Gaudí’s Legacy in the Cantabria Brand. Street Art & Urban Creativity, 12(2), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.62161/sauc.v12.6161

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 2 (2026): Antoni Gaudí – The Gaudí Year 2026

Section

Special Issue Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Authors retain copyright and transfer to the journal the right of first publication and publishing rights

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Those authors who publish in this journal accept the following terms:

  1. Authors retain copyright.

  2. Authors transfer to the journal the right of first publication. The journal also owns the publishing rights.

  3. All published contents are governed by an Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
    Access the informative version and legal text of the license. By virtue of this, third parties are allowed to use what is published as long as they mention the authorship of the work and the first publication in this journal. If you transform the material, you may not distribute the modified work.

  4. Authors may make other independent and additional contractual arrangements for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the article published in this journal (e.g., inclusion in an institutional repository or publication in a book) as long as they clearly indicate that the work was first published in this journal.

  5. Authors are allowed and recommended to publish their work on the Internet (for example on institutional and personal websites), following the publication of, and referencing the journal, as this could lead to constructive exchanges and a more extensive and quick circulation of published works (see The Effect of Open Access).