A Cuban couple living in Miami fell in love with a property in Caldas de Reis in Galicia and invested 750,000 euros in it, later converting it into a holiday home.
Maggie and Jorge Villacampa, bank managers in the United States, acquired the Pazo (Palace) of Reirís, a 19th-century residence that they discovered on a post-pandemic trip, in May 2022.
In statements to La Voz de Galicia, they said they decided to enter the region in 2013 to get closer to their Galician roots. At that time they even received an offer to buy and sell a house in Cenlle, which they ultimately rejected.
Maggie and Jorge Villacampa. The voice of Galicia
“Things always happen because they are convenient. We had viewed a property in Cenlle but due to the circumstances the business was not closed. Fate wanted us to come to Reirís,” explained Jorge.
For her part, Maggie said she rejected an initial offer for the residence and then sent a letter to the owners telling them she would “preserve the core of the house.”
Court. The voice of Galicia
Then they saw that the Pazo de Reirís was on the market for 750,000 euros.
The property, which had been unoccupied for seven years, required a major renovation, which they carried out from Miami and monitored through video calls and visits every four months.
Reisis Palace. The voice of Galicia
The purchase agreement was concluded through the Lucas Fox real estate agency and the Cubans oversaw the reform with the help of local companies.
The manor house has 1.5 hectares of land and a three-bedroom guest house with a chapel and two sheds converted into verandas with a kitchen.
Chapel. The voice of Galicia
Like the Villacampas, several The Cubans wanted to invest in Galicia and other regions of Spain since the pandemic.
Chapel. The voice of Galicia
Likewise, the European country serves as a refuge for thousands of immigrants every year. According to the Asylum and Refugees Office (OAR) of the Spanish Interior Ministry, a total of 2,430 Cubans applied for asylum in Spain in the first nine months of 2023.