Deia

Deia is beautiful, at times the main street can be very congested, but the heart of the village tumbling over a high and narrow ridge on the seaward side of the road, still manages surprising tranquillity. Labyrinthine alleys of old peasant houses curve up to a pretty church, in the precincts of which stands the grave of Robert Graves, the village’s most famous resident. From the graveyard the views are truly memorable.

Formentor

A Pine clad beach of golden sand in a pretty cove, the views from here over to the mountains on the far side of the bay are fabulous. The beach can be reached by 30 minute boat journey from Puerto Pollensa, there is a also a large car park should you wish to drive, do bear in mind that these mountain roads are not for the nervous driver. At the far end of the beach you will find the famous 5 star Hotel Formentor, opened in 1930, and which was once the haunt of the rich and famous –Charlie Chaplin, Agatha Christie, Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco.
Beyond the turn off from the beach, the main peninsula road takes you to the most northerly point of the island - Cap de Formentor, this offers spectacular views, and is an excellent area for bird watching.

Inca

This, the Island’s third largest town has the distinction of having the most popular weekly market on the Island, as well as the oldest one. There are 13th Century records of merchants bringing their produce to fairs held at Inca. Nowadays Inca is one of the most important centres of Mallorca’s leather and footwear industry. The market is held on Thursdays. Please keep a watchful eye on all handbags and wallets as pickpockets are known to be attracted to the event.

Lluc

This small town set in the mountains is the home of the Island’s principle monastery: Monastery de Lluc, and home to the statue of Virgin of Lluch, their patroness of the island. Els Blavets, the famous choir school, named after their blue cassocks sing at 11am everyday (except school summer holidays) during morning mass at the monastery.

Manacor
Together with Inca, this is one of the Island’s year round population centres, and is a fair-sized manufacturing centre. Manacor has an important furniture-making industry, but its real claim to fame is that it is home to the cultured or artificial pearl. Perlas Majorica offers a free factory tour which gives an insight into the manufacturing process. Artificial pearls last longer than and are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing. There is also a showroom and gift shop attached to the factory.

Palma

Palma de Mallorca, capital of Mallorca and of the Balearics as a whole, is a large sophisticated and cosmopolitan city. Its population is approximately 300,000 –almost three-quarters of the local population of the Island- and this number increases dramatically during the summer months. The city has three distinct areas. There is an old quarter which was walled in until the beginning of the 20th century and which centre on the cathedral. Then there is the new modern city stretching out westward along the bay. The third area is the harbour and promenade area, directly below the cathedral and on the bay itself.
Palma has an abundance of shops, museums, galleries, squares, churches, bars and restaurants. Shopping in Palma is shopping at its best, with something for everyone. Avenida Jaime III is perhaps the best known street, and is often compared to London’s Bond Street because of the number of upmarket shops and designer names. You will also find the large department store “El Corte Inglés” here.

Bellver Castle

Is a handsome, strikingly well-preserved fortress built for Jaume II at the beginning of the 14th century, it is 3km west of the city centre and has superb views of Palma, and it’s harbour from a wooded hilltop. The castle was also intended to serve as a royal retreat from the summer heat. As early as the 1350’s the keep was in use as a prison, a function it performed until 1915. More recently part of the castle turned into a museum.

Palma Cathedral

Legend says that when Jaume I of Aragon and Catalunya and his invasion force were off Mallorca in 1229, a fierce gale threatened to sink the fleet. The desperate king promised to build a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary if his mission was successful, it was and work started the next year, the cathedral took 500 years to complete, it is essentially Gothic, with 3 naves, many graceful pillars, and beautiful stained glass windows.

Porto Cristo

Where you will find the world famous caves, founded by the Frenchman Edward Alfred Martel, the Caves of Drach (the Dragons Caves) are really immense. The complex of caverns stretches for about a mile and it includes a series of underground pools, the biggest of which, called Lake Martel, is 580 feet long. A sound and light concert across the lake provides a memorable finale. There are enough stalactites and stalagmites and endless strange formations to last you a lifetime.
Guided tours with concert begin on the hour, from 10.00 until 17.00.

Soller

The approaches to this extremely agreeable little town are lovely, as it is set in a valley of orange groves that is framed by the Sierra de Tramuntana range of mountains. In the 19th Century the town was a thriving textile centre, and was sufficiently important to be linked by railway to Palma. The railway is now a tourist pleasure trip, in an electric wooden train which takes you through the orange and lemon groves. Puerto de Soller can be reached by a 3 mile drive or 20 minute tram ride. The bay is horseshoe shaped, and from the marina you can catch a boat to Sa Calobra, otherwise only accessible by the Island’s most tortuous road.

Sineu

One of the oldest villages on the island holds its traditional agricultural market on Wednesday morning. Here not only will you find the traditional market ware but also locally made produce and handicrafts-don’t miss the chance to watch local farmers bartering over their pigs, donkeys, goats and even partridges. The Village also has some of the best typical local cuisine.

Valldemossa

This most romantic village nestles in the folds of the Sierra de Tramuntana and is cosily shielded by them. Valldemossa has a very obvious 18th century feel about it. This is because the building that has taken place over the last 200 years has on the whole kept to that period’s architectural guidelines. The charterhouse of Valldemossa was home during the winter months of 1838 – 39 to Fredrick Chopin and his companion, the French novelist George Sand.

HIDDEN BEACHES

NORTH

• Cala San Vicente

Four small coves, sandy beaches with beach bars and restaurants close by, great for snorkelling. Please take note of the flag system, and do NOT swim if the red flag is flying –there can be a strong undercurrent in this bay.

• Formentor

Runs alongside the famous Formentor Hotel. Beautiful sweeping beach naturally shaded by Pine Trees. Beach Bars, snacks, and restaurant.

• Cala Boquer

Virgin beach, reached by foot only. Secluded, excellent diving. Shingle beach.

• Cala Figuera

Virgin beach, reached by foot only, rock cove.

• Cala Murta

Excellent rock cove, virgin beach, although there is Picnic area with seating.

• Mal Pas and Manressa

Two good sandy beaches, with bars on both. The water here is crystal clear and shallow for a long way out.

EAST

• Cala Mesquida

Crystal water, excellent swimming and diving.

• Cala D’Or

Small coves, sandy beaches, natural shade by pine groves. Beach bars and restaurants surrounding.

• Cala Mondrago

Wonderful, natural park surrounds excellent sandy beaches. Pleasant walk to second beach.

SOUTH

• Es Trenc

Long sweeping bay, blue crystal waters.

• Cala Pi

Tiny finger of sand wedged between
pine studded cliffs, fringed by
fishing huts.

• Cala Blava

Pleasant sandy beach with bar.

WEST

• Port d’Andratx

Great Views across the harbour, plenty of bars and restaurants.

• Port de Soller

Sandy beach, great restaurants along the bay-magnificent views.

• Cala Deia

Shingle beach, water is clean, deep and cool. One small beach bar.

• Cala Tuent

Tiny pint sized cove shaded by pine trees.

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

• Alfabia Gardens

Situated on the edge of the tunnel to Soller, these lush and beautifully terraced gardens surround a genteel hacienda – this is an enchanting spot.

• Banyalbufar

A small very attractive village, whose terraced fields, cling to the coastal cliffs. The land here has been cultivated since Moorish times-a great spot to stop for lunch some of these restaurants have stunning views.

• Els Calderes

An enchanting Mallorquin mansion found in the heart of the agricultural plains. Here they have a good display of the Islands own breed of farm animals, and a wide selection of different crops and fruits.

• Caimari, Moscari, Binibona

These are 3 small villages, which can be found along the back roads from Inca to Campanet, very beautiful, untouched – a true taste of the old Mallorca.

• Caves of Campanet

Found on a turning on the right on the road towards Palma past the Pollensa golf course, these fascinating caves set in the mountain side, have a surface area of 3,200m2 and are 400 meters long. There are numerous galleries and massive calcareous chambers dating from the Mesolithic age. The attached café is surrounded by colourful blooms and overlooks the San Miguel valley-well worth a visit.

• Fornalutx

This tiny village is probably one of the most attractive villages on the island. Orange and lemon groves scent the valley. Fanning our from the minuscule main square, the centre of Fornalux is a quaint village of honey coloured houses, the cobbled streets are stepped to facility mule traffic. Just a few minutes drive from here you will find the even smaller village of Biniaraix, which is a beautiful setting nestled in the foothills of the Serra de Tramuntana, the small central square is enlivened by couple of cafes.

• La Granja

A Wonderful old manor house with a varied exciting history. Set in 20.000m2 of gardens with fountains, ponds, giant ancient trees, and a great variety of flowers and plants. Entrance includes free tasting of Mallorquin specialities, and demonstrations of ancient handcrafts, tools and machinery. Open daily – 10.00 – 18.00 hrs.

• Orient

This is a remote hamlet with hills rising all around scattered with almond and olives groves.

• La Reserva

This is a nature reserve in Puigpunyent, it was over 2.5 million sq meters of flourishing vegetation, where a great variety of animals live in a natural environment, it’s easy paths take you past over 30 waterfalls, there is a rest area with bar and barbecue area.

SUGGESTED WALKS

Boquer Valley

This easy walk 6km is a popular place for bird watchers particularly in migration seasons, April – May, and September – October.
Start at the roundabout, seafront –Puerto Pollensa, follow the road signs to Formentor. Turn left past The Oro Playa Hotel Supermarket. Stone pillar mark the entrance to a tree lined lane which leads to a ridge and large farmhouse. Go through the gate and uphill along a stony track. You will soon enter a steep sided cleft in the rocks. The track across the valley is well worn, weaving through a sparse landscape strewn with wild flowers, shrubs, and windswept pines. After a gap in a stone wall, the sea comes into view. Just off shore is the Es Colomer rock and to the left is the high ridge –Serra del Cavall Bernat. The track continues down a sharp incline passing a freshwater spring, to the small shingle beach of Cala Boquer.

Puig de Maria

From Pollensa we climb to the Puig, a mountain 335m high, at its summit a XIV Century Monastery.
To Climb the Puig de Maria walk along an asphalt path, although the slope is rather steep, between pine and oak trees with magnificent views over the valley and Pollensa. The last section is the old medieval path, at the end of these pilgrims’ steps there is the mystery of the puig sanctuary, half convent, half fortress, full of peace and history. You can rest here, there is a small bar and restaurant, also a picnic area. It is possible to spend the night in one of the cells which are simple, but well appointed.
To book Tel: 971 184 132

Cala San Vicente

From Puerto Pollensa you can walk through the mountains to Cala San Vicente. The walk starts opposite the petrol station. You may like to walk one way and catch the bus or get a taxi back. There and back will take approximately 2 hours. If you are coming from Cala San Vicente you will need to take the road on the other side of the bay from the Hotel Molins and follow the signposted path.

WINE TASTING

Bodegas Can Vidalet, Carretera Alcudia - Pollensa (PMV220-I, Km 4,85) Tel 971 53 17 19

Their Cabernet Sauvignon has won the silver medal of the “Salón Internacional del Vino 2006” in Madrid. The 2005 Chardonnay – regrettably already sold out – also won a silver medal at the “Mundus Vini”, the most important international wine award.

Option 1

Tasting of six wines (white, rosé and red wines), olives and Mallorcan crackers.

Option 2

Visit of the cellar and tasting of six wines (white, rosé and red wines), olives and Mallorcan crackers.

Option 3

Visit of the cellar, tasting of six wines (white, rosé and red wines), snacks (bread, cheese from Menorca, Mallorcan sausage, olives, crackers, water).