Julio Iglesias has been spending his retirement in the idyllic settings of the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas. However, the thousands of kilometers separating him from Spain haven’t dulled his concern for the catastrophic events occurring in his homeland, particularly the raging forest fires in Galicia and Castilla y León. Reports from Vanitatis indicate that the legendary singer is profoundly alarmed by the destruction, particularly because one of his properties is under threat.
Iglesias, who shares a long history with Galicia, finds himself particularly anxious as Orense—which has been ravaged by fire—is home to a house he acquired recently in spring. His residence is located in Villarino, a small village near A Perox, the birthplace of his father, Dr. Iglesias Puga. This connection to the land amplifies his concern during such devastating times.
The emotional ties to this property run deep for the iconic performer. Julio expressed his wish to “recover lost time and return to his origins”, a sentiment beautifully encapsulated in his song “A Song to Galicia.” In a gesture of goodwill following the tragic accident of the Prestige oil tanker in 2002, he surrendered the rights to this song. His desire to purchase property in Galicia goes back to 1981 when he hoped to gift a home to his father.
While searching for his dream property, Iglesias, accompanied by Dr. Iglesias Puga and his then-partner Natalie, toured various pazos and estates with the intention of finalizing a purchase. Unfortunately, circumstances at the time did not permit it. The recent acquisition in Villarino finally fulfilled a dream he has held for decades.
Despite the current crisis, neither Iglesias nor his wife, Miranda Rijnsburger, have yet visited the Villarino home. The region is on high alert due to the ongoing wildfire threats, particularly around Piñor, which encompasses six areas, including Villarino. Julio remains informed about the fire’s progress and its potential impact on the area, maintaining a friendship with Alberto Núñez Feijóo, President of the Popular Party and former President of the Xunta de Galicia for 13 years.
Feijóo recently shared in an interview with El Hormiguero that he has regular monthly conversations with Iglesias. They frequently discuss issues critical to the region, such as “territorial unity” and drought. Lately, however, the predominant topic of their conversations has shifted dramatically to the devastating fires in Galicia.
Sources close to Iglesias conveyed to Vanitatis that he is closely monitoring the situation in Orense, particularly fires that are dangerously near Villarino and Piñor, located just 25 kilometers away in Ribadavia. The risk fluctuates based on changing winds, which have historically influenced the trajectory of wildfires.
This isn’t the first time Iglesias has experienced such worry over wildfires. Back in 2011, he faced a similar situation, though without severe consequences. However, in 2012, a massive fire devastated part of his estate in Malaga. This fire destroyed a multitude of trees brought from various countries and ruined significant sections of his garden. Tragically, his family also lost a beloved pet during this disaster. The fire consumed more than 8,000 hectares across Coín, Alhaurín, Marbella, and Monda, leaving a substantial mark on his life.
Following these events, Iglesias proposed a project to the Junta de Andalucía’s Ministry of Public Works aimed at preventing future incidents, though it was ultimately rejected. He expressed his frustration regarding the lack of institutional support, saying, “I have been warning the responsible authorities about the serious risk of what has now transpired, yet nobody has taken it seriously. Sometimes, they even dismissed our environmental concerns.”