Ponga municipality, Asturias, Spain via Shutterstock
New Year celebrations bring new resolutions, radical changes, and fresh opportunities for many, but this Spanish mountain town hopes it’ll also bring a new wave of residents to its picturesque streets.
The postcard-pretty town of Ponga is located in the heart of the Picos de Europa mountain range, surrounded by lush river valleys, and is offering £2461 to newcomers willing to relocate there.
But it’s seeking a particular type of resident that’ll embrace its outdoorsy offerings. The village is part of the Ponga Natural Park – 20,000 acres of natural ecosystem encompassing forest, lush valleys and clear-blue rivers — and is backdropped by rugged mountain peaks and stunning vistas. ‘Off the beaten track’ compared to more touristy spots in Asturias, Ponga has a network of nature trails, as well as river fishing and canoeing. The national park is home to more than a dozen protected species, including the brown bear, wolf, otter, muskrat and birds of prey such as the golden eagle and peregrine falcon.
In recent years, the town’s population has dwindled as residents have moved to the city and families have had fewer children. It’s an idyllic spot for nature lovers, and in addition to the initial relocation incentive, the town is offering a further £2,461 for each newborn in the family. The caveat for applying is also straightforward: you have to commit to living in the town for five years or more, and the town is hoping to attract up to 600 new residents.
But Ponga’s not the only Spanish location looking to entice new residents. The remote rural region of Extremadura, bordering Portugal, is offering 200 digital nomads and remote workers up to €15,000 in potential grants to relocate there for at least two years as part of its ‘Live in Ambroz’ program.
According to the Extremadura government website, the grants cover ‘available housing, arable land and everything necessary to speed up [new residents’] arrival’.
Extremadura is one of Spain’s least populated regions, home to just over 1 million residents in 2023, with a largely agrarian economy (it is the country’s second biggest wine-producing region.) The cost of living is very low compared to the country’s densely populated cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, and the scheme is aimed at recruiting remote tech workers who can also stimulate the local economy. Applicants must be legal residents of Spain (including through the country’s Digital Nomad Visa) and not have lived in Extremadura in the last six years.
