Story perspectives

Couple Buys Abandoned Spanish Village Amid Rural Decline

2/3/2026

Summary

Story summary

Jason Lee Beckwith and his wife bought an abandoned village in Spain in 2024 after selling their bed-and-breakfast in San Diego County.
The purchase signals a broader pattern of rural desertification across Spain, Portugal, and Italy.
Villages are for sale due to depopulation, with some sold by a single owner and others requiring piecemeal purchases.
Wealthy buyers and tourism entrepreneurs are turning these sites into exclusive retreats, prompting concern about rural decline.

1 of 1

Story summary

Jason Lee Beckwith and his wife bought an abandoned village in Spain in 2024 after selling their bed-and-breakfast in San Diego County.
The purchase signals a broader pattern of rural desertification across Spain, Portugal, and Italy.
Villages are for sale due to depopulation, with some sold by a single owner and others requiring piecemeal purchases.
Wealthy buyers and tourism entrepreneurs are turning these sites into exclusive retreats, prompting concern about rural decline.