Antonio Banderas Bids Farewell to His Iconic Property
The renowned Spanish actor, Antonio Banderas, has recently said goodbye to one of his most notable properties. This comes after he lost all appeals to prevent the demolition of ‘La Gaviota’, a villa with a large garden. The villa is located in a protected area, which led to the legal battles and eventual demolition, as reported by the Spanish magazine Lecturas.
Demolition of ‘La Gaviota’, Antonio Banderas’ House in Marbella
‘La Gaviota’ has now been reduced to rubble. The villa was once a symbol of luxury and grandeur, but its location in a protected area led to its downfall. The story of ‘La Gaviota’ is a tale of urban development mismanagement that dates back to the 1990s.
The History of ‘La Gaviota’
The story of ‘La Gaviota’ begins with Marbella’s then-mayor, Jesús Gil y Gil. In the 1990s, the land near Los Monteros beach was downgraded as public land to make it eligible for development. In 1995, the famous radio and television journalist Encarna Sánchez built the villa. After her death, Antonio Banderas bought the property in 1996.
Aerial View of ‘La Gaviota’, Antonio Banderas’ House in Marbella
From the time Banderas bought the property, legal actions against it have not ceased. The property’s building permit, granted before it was owned by the actor, was annulled by the courts in 2003. The Andalusia’s High Court of Justice (TSJA) annulled the 1995 municipal permit. Banderas appealed the judgement, but it was dismissed by the same court in 2008.
Legal Battles and the Demolition of ‘La Gaviota’
In 2010, the Marbella General Urban Plan legalised the house, but it also reached the Supreme Court. In 2014, an agreement was reached with the city council whereby Banderas gave up more than 1,200 m2 of the garden to extend the area’s seafront promenade. However, the legal battle continued and finally, the courts decided to demolish the building.
Antonio Banderas, Leaving His Home in Marbella
In 2015, the High Court annulled Marbella’s Urban Plan, suspending its legality along with thousands of other irregular homes. Since then, this situation has continued. Finally, Banderas decided to demolish the house, marking the end of an era for the actor and his iconic property, ‘La Gaviota’.
