Lorraine Williamson
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, millions of Spaniards left their homeland to escape poverty and instability. Many of them set sail for Latin America, hoping to build better lives across the Atlantic.
While most faced hardship, a small number returned home with wealth—and used it to transform the communities they had once left behind.
Migration fuelled by economic struggle
Between 1830 and 1936, Spain saw a major wave of emigration. Political unrest, unemployment, and limited opportunities pushed people to seek fortunes abroad. Northern regions such as Galicia, Asturias, and the Basque Country saw significant departures, with many migrants heading to Argentina, Uruguay, and Mexico. Meanwhile, Andalucians often looked toward Cuba and Venezuela.
The phenomenon became known as hacer las Américas, a term still used in Spain to describe the act of going abroad to seek success.
Latin American fortunes, Spanish foundations
While the majority of emigrants struggled, a few built prosperous businesses and returned with substantial wealth. Known as Indianos, these returnees to Spain brought not only money but also a new aesthetic and cultural influence shaped by their time overseas.
They often built elaborate villas in their hometowns, blending European modernist design with tropical features inspired by Latin America. These houses remain visible in towns like Llanes, Somado, and Colombres in Asturias, where their ornate facades still stand out.
Indianos and the transformation of rural Spain
Beyond homes, Indianos invested in public works. Their philanthropy helped fund roads, schools, and community buildings. They were also instrumental in introducing modern services like electricity and plumbing to rural towns, decades before such amenities became widespread. Some became caciques, wielding influence through local patronage networks.
One influential Indiano was Iñigo Noriega, born in Colombres in 1853. After making a fortune in Mexico through shipping, mining, and land, he returned and constructed the Quinta de Guadalupe villa, now the Archivo de Indianos museum. The archive preserves letters, documents, and personal histories that reflect a wider migration movement.
Homes, infrastructure, and influence
These acts of generosity were often driven by more than nostalgia. Building grand homes and funding local improvements served as proof of their success, and perhaps as justification for their long absence. It also cemented their status in the community, sometimes earning them official honours.
This legacy is particularly strong in parts of Asturias, where the influence of Indianos is most visible. Their impact on education, architecture, and civic life helped many communities move into the modern era.
Honours and historical recognition
Today, several towns that owe much of their infrastructure and identity to returning Indianos have been recognised with the Pueblo Ejemplar de Asturias award. This honour, granted by the Fundación Princesa de Asturias, is awarded annually to towns that exemplify social unity, historical preservation, and civic pride.
In 2023, for example, the award went to the town of Cadavéu, while in previous years, places like Colombres and Somado—both transformed by Indiano returnees—have also been recognised. The award includes a visit by the Spanish royal family. Furthermore, it has helped shine a light on communities that might otherwise be overlooked.
Other tributes also help keep the story alive. Colombres holds the Feria de los Indianos, an annual event celebrating those who emigrated to Latin America and returned home enriched.
Further south, in the Andalucian town of Cómpeta, the story repeats. Adriano Ortiz Ortiz, nicknamed El Chileno, made his fortune in Chile after founding a biscuit company named after his hometown. When he returned in the 1950s, he built a villa so modern that it included running water—a luxury at the time.
A legacy that endures
The story of the Indianos in Spain remains largely unknown outside the communities they helped transform. Yet their legacy is embedded in buildings, festivals, and local infrastructure across Spain. Though only a fraction returned wealthy, their success—and their contributions—continue to shape the towns they once left behind.