|Places| “Restoring
|Places| “Restoring old buildings is one way we cherish our traditions, craftsmanship and overall culture; plus, it’s an incredibly sustainable approach” – Miguel Conde The largest and lushest of the four islands in Spain’s Balearic archipelago, Mallorca has undergone its share of makeovers. In ancient times, it was subjected to incessant occupation: Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Romans were drawn in turn to its fertile shores, followed by Arabs, who promoted local crafts, developed a sophisticated agricultural industry that endures to this day, and established the capital Palma as one of Europe’s most cosmopolitan cities – a thriving cultural centre of the Spanish empire. Centuries of Christian rule came next, all but erasing the diverse traces of those earlier identities, before renowned Catalan architects like Antoni Gaudí ushered the island into the 20th century as a masterpiece of Modernist urbanism. But the majority of visitors to Mallorca know nothing of this textured history, flocking to its crystalline coasts to experience a different kind of attraction: the parties. Since joining the roster of global destinations in 1950 as the site of the world’s very first all-inclusive resort – a concept pioneered there by French hospitality group Club Med – the idyllic island’s geography and heritage have been buried under deliberate policies to promote cheap tourism. The 1960s and 1970s saw a frenzy of faceless development: sprawling beachfront resorts flattened the dune-dappled coastline and hectares of wetland disappeared under homogenous residential builds. And then, in 2011, the majestic Serra de Tramuntana mountain range was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site, and things started to change, yet again. Today’s Mallorca is witnessing the birth of a new era, in which its native beauty – natural, cultural and archaeological – is embraced, rather than suppressed. Parliamentary regulations like the 2022 Law for Tourism Circularity and Sustainability have contributed to an evolving hospitality landscape that limits new From left: vast bay views from a room at Calatrava; the palm-fringed pool area at the hillhop Finca Can Coll hotel PHOTOS FROM LEFT: © IT MALLORCA, THILO WEIMAR 14 CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM
PHOTO © ES RACO D’ARTÀ builds and requires hotels to feature local products on their menus. Into this space has flooded a burgeoning demographic of considerate, culturally aware visitors seeking a slower, more authentic Mallorcan experience – and a new generation of architects, designers, and hoteliers working to provide it. “The idea of adding new bricks to Mallorca, an island which abounds in gorgeous, obsolete buildings begging to be resurrected to their former glory, seems totally absurd to me,” says Spanish entrepreneur Miguel Conde, who in 2011 co-founded the hotel family IT Mallorca Unique Spaces with his wife, architect Cristina Marti. “Mallorca has countless historical buildings that no longer serve their original purpose, so it makes sense to give them a new lease on life.” Conde was an early advocate for restoration rather than razing, and he committed to creating luxury hotels in thoughtfully renovated buildings of historical interest. His debut property, the adults-only Can Cera (cancerahotel.com), opened in 2011 in a 17thcentury palace hidden among the meandering stone streets of old-town Palma. Furnished with luxurious, theatrical-length curtains and antique furniture, it aims to offer visitors a taste of old-world glamour within authentically ancient walls. Conde’s subsequent four properties, each location selected in consideration of natural features like sunlight, cross-ventilation and views, have preserved that DNA, striving to offer guests a genuine, though updated, experience of the building’s original life. Last January, IT Mallorca unveiled a massive renovation of its Calatrava property (calatravahotel. com). Originally opened in 2013 in a 19th-century building overlooking Palma Bay, the remodel preserved all original architectural features and added “refreshed” furniture and decor intended to reinforce the feeling of the Mediterranean sea house. Featuring vibrant, specially mixed terracotta walls and local textiles throughout, Calatrava also promotes the work of the island’s resident artists, and dining options showcase local delicatessens, small producers and traditional culinary staples such as artisanal cheeses and smoked meats. “My goal has always been to create accommodations in which I would personally feel comfortable – a place that blends seamlessly with its The heritage-chic interior of a suite at Es Racó d’Artà surroundings and respects its history,” Conde adds, explaining that in each IT Mallorca hotel, he aims to integrate the nuanced imperfections of original details, from old wooden beams to stone floors, with luxurious modern amenities. “Restoring old buildings is one way we cherish our traditions, craftsmanship and overall culture; plus, it’s an incredibly sustainable approach.” Other hoteliers with a similar penchant for preservation have seized on the availability of an iconic Mallorcan typology: the finca, or farmhouse. Originally built to support the island’s productive agricultural network, these rural estates are found at some distance from the resort-studded coasts or the bustle of Palma, and they offer a quiet, more pastoral experience of Mallorcan life. With thick stone walls designed to keep out the heat of summer and stay warm in the winter, and shady terraces offering stunning views, they feature heritage elements and high-quality fixtures, as well as sprawling grounds. Finca Can Coll ( fincacancoll.com), a four-star retreat opened in April by world-renowned German wine expert Wolf Wilder and sommelier Sylvia Ottmann, is a prime example. Perched on a hill between the Tramuntana and the Mediterranean, it was used for years for agritourism before Wilder and Ottman decided to transform it into a “boutique country house” distinguished by authentic, rustic charm. CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM 15
