The renowned New York filmmaker Woody Allen has been, on several occasions, the best ambassador for Oviedo, describing the Asturian capital as a place that transcends the conventional.
He has defined the city as "a paradise, a refuge for when the world gets dangerous" — words that resonate with international buyers seeking security and tranquillity in an increasingly uncertain world.
With its pedestrianised centre, historical charm and a character that feels "as if it did not belong to this world," Oviedo offers a lifestyle that is increasingly rare in European capitals.
For those seeking a residence in northern Spain, the words of Woody Allen take on a particular relevance. The director, who has filmed in Oviedo and visited the city multiple times, speaks of it not as a tourist destination but as a place with a distinctive character — one that stands apart from the conventional rhythms of urban life. His description of the city as "a paradise, a refuge for when the world gets dangerous" captures something that is increasingly difficult to quantify: a sense of safety, of calm, of a place that does not feel overwhelmed by the pressures of modernity.
Woody Allen, filmmaker:Oviedo is delicious, exotic, beautiful, clean and pedestrianised.
The director's observations are not those of a casual visitor. Allen has returned to Oviedo multiple times, drawn by qualities that he has rarely found elsewhere. The city's pedestrianised centre, its well-maintained public spaces and its scale — large enough to offer urban amenities but small enough to remain walkable and human — are precisely the qualities that international buyers increasingly prioritise. In a world where many cities have become congested, expensive and stressful, Oviedo offers an alternative: a capital where life is lived at a different rhythm.
It is as if it did not belong to this world.
The city's connection to the director's filmography is tangible. Iconic locations that appear in his films — such as the Corrada del Obispo, the Hotel de la Reconquista and the pastelería Camilo de Blas — are part of the everyday environment of those who live in Oviedo. These are not film sets but real places, used daily by residents, that have acquired an additional layer of cultural recognition. For international buyers, this connection to cinema adds a dimension of prestige and character to the city's property market.
WOODY ALLEN ON OVIEDO: KEY QUOTES
› "A paradise, a refuge": For when the world gets dangerous — a description of safety and tranquillity.
› "Delicious, exotic, beautiful": Clean, pedestrianised and full of character.
› "As if it did not belong to this world": A unique character that transcends the conventional.
› Cinematic locations: Corrada del Obispo, Hotel de la Reconquista, pastelería Camilo de Blas.
InasTour, acting exclusively as a buyer's agent, organises personalised inspection visits for international buyers to discover first-hand why figures such as Woody Allen consider Oviedo an idyllic refuge — from apartments in the historic centre to properties near the city's most emblematic locations, ensuring that every investment meets the highest standards of quality and lifestyle.
Woody Allen's words about Oviedo are not promotional copy. They are the observations of someone who has seen many cities and recognised something exceptional in this one. For international buyers, the city's character — its safety, its beauty, its sense of being a refuge — is not an abstraction but a tangible quality that defines daily life. In a world where many places have become indistinguishable, Oviedo remains itself: a city that, as one of its most famous visitors observed, feels as if it belongs to another world entirely.