In a bid to revitalise its rural areas and combat depopulation, Galicia is opening its doors to digital nomads, freelancers, and creative professionals. The regional government is targeting locals returning home, as well as foreign residents, to fill empty homes and breathe new life into the countryside.
With innovative co-living and co-working spaces, Galicia aims to merge modern work with rural living.
The co-living revolution in rural Galicia
At the forefront of this initiative is Sende, a co-living hub in Senderiz, a tiny village in Lobeira, Ourense, just 35 kilometres from the Portuguese border. Founded in 2013 by María Rodríguez, a Galician social educator, and Edo Sadikovic, a Serbian promoter, Sende transformed two abandoned stone houses into a global creative space. Since then, nearly 5,000 people from 60 countries have visited the village, using it as a base for remote work, creative projects, and community living.
Sende’s secret? Simple village homes converted into connected, modern workspaces equipped with fibre-optic internet. These houses attract digital nomads and entrepreneurs looking for a unique setting to work and live. For Galicia’s government, this co-living model is a vital tool in combating the rapid ageing and depopulation of its rural areas. The initiative, called Fixar, launched this summer in collaboration with the Cultural Association Sende, offering a new way to revalue rural spaces.
Bringing new life to forgotten villages
This summer, Fixar selected 60 participants from nearly 200 applications for two-week immersive experiences in Galicia’s rural co-living spaces. Three locations were chosen: Sende in Ourense, Anceu in Ponte Caldelas (Pontevedra), and iSlow in Laxe, on the Costa da Morte. These digital nomads, ranging from engineers to illustrators, came to live, work, and share ideas in villages where the population had dwindled to just a few dozen residents.
“People come here to create—draw comics, make videos, write books,” explains María Rodríguez. Sende has hosted everyone from Netflix and Google executives to creators from Marvel, all looking for inspiration in Galicia’s remote beauty. The hub has even pioneered projects like Bitsommar, a video game initiative, and Bosquexo, a festival dedicated to natural drawing in the Xurés Natural Park.
A growing trend of co-living spaces
Galicia’s co-living scene has grown significantly since Sende’s founding. From just one house in 2014, there are now 14 across the region, with 10 in rural areas. Anceu opened its doors in 2020, offering minimum stays of four weeks, while the latest addition, iSlow in Laxe, is the first to welcome professionals with children.
Some participants of Fixar have even decided to make rural Galicia their permanent home. Take Yliana, a Cuban returnee who plans to open a rural play centre, or Bea, who aims to connect urban centres with artisans like blacksmiths and stonemasons—the last of their kind. Another participant, Pilar, is searching for the perfect spot to open a gourmet restaurant in her new village home.
A future rooted in rural Galicia
For Galicia, the focus on attracting remote workers and digital nomads is more than just a trend; it’s a long-term strategy to revitalise rural life and reverse decades of depopulation. With projects like Fixar, the region hopes to blend modern innovation with rural tradition, creating a sustainable future for its villages.
Digital Nomad Visa
Spain has become an increasingly attractive destination for digital nomads, thanks to special rules and incentives introduced under the Digital Nomad Visa, part of the new Startup Act launched in January 2023. This visa allows remote workers to stay in Spain for an initial 12 months, with the option to renew for up to five years.
To qualify, applicants must show a minimum monthly income of €2,650 and can benefit from a reduced tax rate of 24% on income up to €600,000 per year. Additionally, nomads can bring their spouse and children, provided they can demonstrate sufficient income to support them. Health insurance, either private or public, is required, and applicants must also prove their professional credentials or have at least three years of experience in their field.
Also read: Spain’s digital nomads could rescue Spain’s dying villages