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 19th century and early 20th. 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 20th 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 20th 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.
Oficina de Turismo de San Javier
The municipality of San Javier has three main offices giving tourist information to visitors, as well as two information points. The tourist offices are located in Santiago de la Ribera, on the ground floor of the town hall in San Javier and at the start of La Manga. There is also a summer tourist information point located on the seafront in Santiago de la Ribera as well as one at kilometre 12-13 of La Manga del Mar Menor next to Playa Mistral.
Due to its location on the fringes of the Mar Menor and Mediterranean, San Javier has a period of intense summer tourism activity during the peak summer months, although it is popular with retirees of all nationalities out of peak season.
Tickets for the annual San Javier Jazz Festival can be purchased at the Festival office in San Javier Town Hall, Plaza de España.
Timetables summer 2024:
Tourist office Santiago de la Ribera (Calle Padre Juan 30720, Santiago de la Ribera)
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00 and 18.00 to 21.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.00 to 13.00
Telephone: 661 572285
Email: turismo@sanjavier.es
La Manga del Mar Menor (Gran Vía Km. 0 30380, La Manga del Mar Menor):
May 1 to September 30:
Weekdays 10.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 19.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.30 to 13.00
Telephone 968 128955 ext. 2
Tourist information point of San Javier (Plaza de España, 30730 San Javier):
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00
968 573 700 ext #5351
Email: concejaliadeturismo@sanjavier.es
Tourist information point of Santiago de la Ribera (Paseo Colón on the seafront)
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00 and 18.00 to 21.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.00 to 13.00
Tourist information point of La Manga del Mar Menor (Playa Mistral, km 12)
Weekdays 11.00 to 18.00
Weekends and public holidays 11.00 to 14.00
