SANTA MARINA PROMENADE – THE INDIANOS’ MANSIONSPaseo de la playa.(Arquitectura de Indianos)
Description
At the beginning of 20th century the western side of Ribadesella became one of the principal tourism destinations in Spain for nobility families. In the first decades of the century, the Marquise of Argüelles came to be a pioneer tourism promoter of this beach area, just a sandy wetland with no constructions at all until then. Her distinguished clients were mostly the Indianos: local emigrants, rich entrepreneurs and classy lineages who came back from America with big fortunes. They became the usual owners of these mansions by the sea.
Most of the houses in this marvellous beach promenade present a country flavoured style, with big eaves and traditional balconies. But other eclectic architectural influences of that time are visible all over: towers, bow-windows, French attics, colonial verandas... Among these splendid villas, the Marquise of Argüelles’ mansion -at the eastern end of the beach-, the Uría-Aza villa -with its romantic garden-, and the fantasy modern style Villa Rosario mansion, are probably the most remarkable examples.
Today some of these exquisite constructions have become exclusive privileged hotels.
Santa Marina promenade ends in the isolated and romantic Punta’l Pozu viewpoint: a round platform, at the bottom of the cliffs, built ‘to honour those who stay far away and miss this country’.
Beautiful promenade by the sea at Santa Marina beach, with colonial and regional style villas from the beginning of 20th century.
At the beginning of 20th century the western side of Ribadesella became one of the principal tourism destinations in Spain for nobility families. In the first decades of the century, the Marquise of Argüelles came to be a pioneer tourism promoter of this beach area, just a sandy wetland with no constructions at all until then. Her distinguished clients were mostly the Indianos: local emigrants, rich entrepreneurs and classy lineages who came back from America with big fortunes. They became the usual owners of these mansions by the sea.
Most of the houses in this marvellous beach promenade present a country flavoured style, with big eaves and traditional balconies. But other eclectic architectural influences of that time are visible all over: towers, bow-windows, French attics, colonial verandas... Among these splendid villas, the Marquise of Argüelles’ mansion -at the eastern end of the beach-, the Uría-Aza villa -with its romantic garden-, and the fantasy modern style Villa Rosario mansion, are probably the most remarkable examples.
Today some of these exquisite constructions have become exclusive privileged hotels.
Santa Marina promenade ends in the isolated and romantic Punta’l Pozu viewpoint: a round platform, at the bottom of the cliffs, built ‘to honour those who stay far away and miss this country’.