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 <strong>Sovereign</strong>.com
Sóller Sóller Fornalutx Deià Deià Andratx Andratx <strong>Winter</strong> 2022/23 so Journ