Sojourn | Sovereign Magazine Winter 2023

Village - Hopping
in Majorca An Expert Guide
Away from the grandeur of Majorca’s capital, Palma, and other big cities like Manacor and Inca,
there’s a bubble of smaller towns and villages that offer much charm and pleasure. These villages
are within easy reach of most of our resorts so you can soak up the atmosphere while day tripping.
SÓLLER
One of a sprinkling along the northwest coast, Sóller is one of our
best-loved villages. It captivates with beautiful landscapes and fine
Art Nouveau palaces and stately homes. The preserved cobbled
lanes come alive on Saturdays with market day, where you can pick
up fresh produce for a picnic, and artisan goods like Menorcan
sandals, Majorcan ceramics, or organic olive oil. Sóller is best
famed for its orange trees, and it’ll be difficult to say no to the sweet
freshly-squeezed orange juice.
Venture to Sala Picasso y Sala Miro, a permanent exhibition of
ceramics and engravings that celebrates Spain’s most renowned
modern artists, Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró.
The best way to reach Sóller is on its 100 year old tram, which
despite its age still travels the one hour journey from Palma several
times a day. With epic views along the way, as you chug along a
narrow-gauge railway, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported back
in time.
You can also take a short train ride to the lively fishing village of
Port de Sóller, where a cluster of boutique shops and cafés dot a
half-moon shaped bay.
FORNALUTX
Fornalutx is an adorable mountain village and you’ll often find
hikers and cyclists lounging around in the cafés for an enviable pit
stop. With its fabulously rustic stone buildings, red tiled roofs, and
quaint streets that don’t feel like they’ve changed in centuries, this is
the place you would fantasise about moving to if you were to leave
your daily life behind.
The village dates back over 1,000 years, and has been ruled by
Arabs and the Catalan empire. You’ll find an incredible array of
historic buildings, including a 17th century defence tower and a
Gothic-Baroque church.
Encircled by the rocky Tramunta Mountains, at every turn you are
struck with arresting views. It’s no wonder Fornalutx was crowned
Spain’s most beautiful village just a few years ago, or why it wins so
many conservation awards.
DEIÀ
Stationed high in the Tramuntana Mountains, Deià is a breathtakingly
beautiful village with a distinctly bohemian vibe. Among the winding
lanes and terraces of olive groves and citrus trees are open spaces
that will take your eyes to the sparkle of the Mediterranean Sea. If it all
gets too tempting, you can go for a swim from the tiny cove pebble
beach of Cala de Deià, just outside of the village.
Deià has attracted both dreamers and artists for decades,
including the introverted English poet Robert Graves, whose village
home is now a museum dedicated to his life. Several A-listers
have also chosen to have holiday homes here and, in the 1980s,
entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson turned an old manor house into
what is today the luxurious hotel La Residencia, A Belmond Hotel.
One of the highlights of Deià is its family-owned restaurant, Es Racó
d’es Teix that’s known locally as Josef’s. Not only is it deeply intimate
in its hideaway location on the edge of the village, it’s also one of
Majorca’s finest eateries.
From Deià, be sure to visit Valldemossa, which is teeming with
medieval charm and home to a royal palace turned Carthusian
monastery. This is where the composer Chopin and writer George
Sand once spent a winter, and today there’s an unassuming
museum in their honour.
ANDRATX
If you’re seeking authentic Majorca, you’ll want to hop along to
Andratx, located in the south of the island. This former fishing port
is relatively free of tourists but offers gorgeous soft sandy beaches
lapped by the azure Mediterranean waters, and a restaurantlined
promenade. Andratx also offers sheer desirability - celebrities
including Tom Cruise, Claudia Schiffer, and Michael Schumacher
all have property here, and the marina is replete with luxury
yachts. There’s a social scene that feels distinctly exclusive as you
tuck into the catch of the day while breathing in the sea air. Every
Wednesday, Andratx hosts its lively market day, where you can tuck
into the region’s almonds, oranges, grapes, and wine!
Considering its location, you may be surprised that it’s perfectly
feasible to walk the seven miles from Sóller to Fornalutx on what is a
relatively easygoing walk.
From Fornalutx, take a taxi or drive to the small town of Selva, which
sits right at the base of the mountains. Graciously tucked away,
you’ll be swept away in the bucolic air. Wander up 42 elegant steps
to reach a beautiful church with a Gothic facade.
Selva
14 Sovereign.com