During the promotion of his film Rifkin's Festival, shot in San Sebastián, the iconic New York filmmaker Woody Allen has once again placed the international spotlight on Asturias.
In a recent interview with Harper's Bazaar, Allen confessed a desire that resonates strongly in the region's property sector: he fantasises about "having a nice retired life in Oviedo, away from the terrible world outside."
The city that has already honoured him with a statue in its historic centre is now, in his words, the place where he imagines spending his later years — a testament to the quality of life that Asturias offers.
The words of Woody Allen, one of the most influential filmmakers of the last half-century, are not those of a casual tourist. When he speaks of Oviedo as a potential place of retirement, he is expressing something that international buyers increasingly recognise: a desire for a life that is measured differently — not by the pace of a metropolis but by the quality of its surroundings, its safety and its connection to culture and nature. The fact that a figure of his stature, who could choose virtually any location in the world, would select Oviedo is a powerful endorsement of what the city offers.
Woody Allen, filmmaker, in Harper's Bazaar:I would like to have a nice retired life in Oviedo, away from the terrible world outside.
The director's connection to Oviedo is not recent. The city has already honoured him with a statue in its historic centre — a recognition of his visits and his repeated public expressions of admiration. His description of the city as "delicious, exotic, beautiful, clean and pedestrianised" has become part of the city's cultural identity. Now, with this latest declaration, he adds another dimension: Oviedo is not just a place to visit but a place to imagine living. For international buyers, this distinction is significant. A city that a filmmaker of Allen's stature would consider for retirement is a city that offers something that is increasingly difficult to find elsewhere.
The beauty and excellence that still endure in certain corners of the world — Asturias is among them.
The "Allen effect" on the property market is not about celebrity endorsement in the conventional sense. It is about the confirmation of qualities that are already apparent to those who visit the region: a pace of life that allows for reflection, a city that is both urbane and walkable, a setting where beauty is not manufactured but preserved. The director's words reflect a broader shift in how discerning buyers — whether for retirement, a second home or a long-term investment — evaluate locations. Safety, culture, beauty and tranquillity are no longer secondary considerations but primary drivers of choice.
WOODY ALLEN ON OVIEDO AND RETIREMENT
› Key statement: "I would like to have a nice retired life in Oviedo, away from the terrible world outside."
› Source: Harper's Bazaar interview, during promotion of Rifkin's Festival.
› City's recognition: Oviedo has a statue of Allen in its historic centre.
› Attributed qualities: Beauty, excellence, tranquillity, cultural connection.
For InasTour, these declarations are not a surprise but a confirmation of what international clients discover when they visit the region. Acting exclusively as a buyer's agent, the firm works to turn that vision of "a nice retired life" into reality — from apartments in Oviedo's historic centre to properties in the surrounding green belt and coastal locations — ensuring a professional and personalised service for those seeking their own refuge in northern Spain.
Woody Allen's declaration that he would like to retire in Oviedo is not a promotional line. It is a personal statement from someone who has spent a lifetime observing and interpreting the world. For international buyers, it is a reminder that some places offer something that cannot be designed or marketed — a quality of life that feels authentic and sustainable. In Oviedo, that quality is not a projection but a reality. The same qualities that attract a filmmaker of Allen's stature are the qualities that increasingly draw those who seek not just a property, but a different way of living.