Deià: VIPS, urban legends and a magical nook on the island

Gertrude Stein told Robert Graves "If you can resist paradise, go to Mallorca". And Graves resisted it. He came to Deià and settled in this idyllic mountain village with a bohemian taste, which has attracted many other artists. The main street links the whole village and on both sides of it you'll find art galleries, bars and cafés where you can write a poem or just have a beer. If you're lucky Van Morrison might turn up and start playing guitar (you can hear such urban legends). Or the most famous neighbour in the area, Michael Douglas, might just appear.

Apart from the great deal of VIPS, Deià is one of the most magical nooks of the island, located near the sea in the mountains. It is worth coming around (at sunset if possible to enjoy it from Son Marroig). It's just a pleasure for the senses.

Valldemossa, Santa Caterina Thomàs and Chopin

It was in Valldemossa where Chopin and his lover George Sand spent their renowned "A Winter in Mallorca". Although they were not very pleased with the residents' manners, what was put on record by Sand in her book, Valldemosa has turned into a pilgrimage destination for thousands of visitors looking for the Chopin experience at La Cartuja. You can visit the room where he lived, and you can see the piano he left when he returned to France and some original scores.

Chopin might be the benefactor of this marvellous town between the sea and the mountains, but Sor Catalina Thomàs is its spiritual guide. Locals worship this saint and icons of her can be seen in all the houses.

In summer Costa Nord, property of Michael Douglas, offers many outstanding concerts with first-class groups.

If you feel like going for a dip, Cala de Valldemossa is a beautiful cove just 7 km away where you can enjoy a swim.

Serra de Tramuntana, a natural and magical mountain range

The Serra de Tramuntana is a majestic mountain range 88 km long emerging from the sea rising up to 1.400 m and protecting the island from the strong north wind, Tramuntana. It is the island backbone, an inimitable landscape with natural, mysterious and romantic beauty. From Formentor to La Trapa, running along Mallorca's north coast, Serra de Tramuntana shows its majesty as a whole and in all its small, amazing nooks. Some of these beautiful places are Lluc, the beach of Torrent de Pareis, Sóller, Deià and Fornalutx. All of them are isolated from the rest of the island.

Here everything changes: the weather, the landscape, the appearance of the towns. You'll see sheep and goats on your trip while olive, orange and fig trees will follow you all the way. And in the background you can enjoy the sea, the blue sea, from the peak, from the highest spot on the island.

It's an essential place for nature and landscape lovers.  

Kilometres of underground caves

One of Mallorca's most attractive sites are the natural caves. There are hundreds of them, but most of them have not been discovered yet or they have to be visited with a proper equipment and potholing knowledge.

Caves are master pieces formed by nature and chemistry through a process of thousands of years. This geological spectacle is caused by water dissolving the limestone and forming caves with stalactites, stalagmites and underground lagoons.

The most renowned public caves are Coves del Drach. They were found at the end of the 19th century near Porto Cristo, on the east coast. Mallorcan inhabitants were impressed by theses caves and thought there was a dragon living in them. Nowadays they're very popular among tourists. Its lighting and the classical music turns the visit to these caves into an amazing experience.        

Dessus de page