The story of the famed Isabel Preysler mansion in Madrid’s exclusive Puerta de Hierro district—mockingly dubbed ‘Villa Meona’ by locals for its abundance of bathrooms—turned out to be fraught with more than just astronomical financial costs. The process of building a dream home for the socialite and her then-husband, former economy minister Miguel Boyer, became a nightmare that dragged on for years. And the reason wasn’t architectural miscalculations or unscrupulous builders, but rather a close family member.
The main obstacle to completing the construction was Gracia Bergese, ex-wife of Agustín Boyer, the minister’s brother. According to Preysler’s recollections, her sister-in-law—whom relatives affectionately called ‘Pussy’—harbored an unexplainable and deep resentment toward the entire Boyer family. This hidden animosity sparked a drawn-out legal battle, with the sole aim of stopping the couple from moving into their new home at any cost.
The conflict spilled into the public eye in January 1990, when Gracia sued her high-profile relatives. The grounds for the lawsuit was an alleged violation of urban planning regulations—claiming that the Preysler-Boyer mansion was being built too close to the neighboring lot, which belonged to her. This move proved highly effective: the court imposed a preliminary ban on further construction.
Although the injunction was lifted six months later, the wheels of the court system were already in motion. The process of obtaining the final construction permit and the building work itself were paralyzed for almost two years. This led not only to costly delays but also to a significant increase in the project’s overall cost. What began as a family quarrel escalated into a principled confrontation that reached the Supreme Court of Spain. Yet, even the country’s highest legal authority failed to cool the determination of her persistent daughter-in-law.
Isabel Preysler claims she emerged victorious from every legal battle, but stresses that these victories brought her no joy. The entire process became a constant source of stress and discomfort for her family. According to her, it all started when Gracia learned of her sister-in-law’s plans to become her neighbor. Throughout the conflict, the two women faced each other in court only once, an encounter that left Preysler with extremely unpleasant memories.
The feud raged on for decades. Even during the severe Filomena snowstorm in the winter of 2021, Gracia again threatened a lawsuit, this time over the need for repair work. This exhausting saga finally ended with the death of Gracia Bergese in April 2024. Now, with new neighbors moving in, Isabel Preysler appears to finally have hope for a peaceful life in her famous home.
