The Casa Barnuevo in Santiago de la Ribera

One of the first houses in Santiago de la Ribera was built by the couple credited with founding the town

The Casa Barnuevo or Chalet Barnuevo is an eclectic building dating from the early 20th century and is considered to form part of the foundation of Santiago de la Ribera in 1888 by its owners, José María Barnuevo y Rodrigo de Villamayor and María Teresa Sandoval y Mena.

They initially inhabited the Torre Mínguez but later order the construction of this building as one of the first which were built by the landed gentry along the inland shore of the Mar Menor in the late 19^th century and early 20^th. In 1992 it was awarded Item of Cultural Interest status.

Teresa Sandoval and José María Barnuevo initially made plans to bnuild a hotel on the shore of the Mar Menor to provide comfortable accommodation for wealthy visitors from Madrid and Murcia spending the summer here, and it was in the early 20^th century that they built the Chalet Barnuevo, set in lush gardens. They were also responsible for the church of Santiago Apóstol and for the initial growth of the seaside resort, providing custom for the hotel which they ran for the most part of the 20^th century.

By the early 21st century, though, major repairs and renovation were needed, and the Town Hall of San Javier attempted to purchase it for a price of 906,000 euros in 2022. However, the plans failed when it proved impossible to locate all of the owners, the descendants of JHosé María Barnuevo.

The building stands alongside the Playa Barnuevo in Santiago de la Ribera (click for map).

For more local information visit the tourist offices of San Javier or go to the home page of San Javier Today.