NEED TO KNOW


Places to eat Xelini in Deià for tapas, C’an Mario in Valldemossa for traditional Mallorcan food


Places to stay Mirabó outside Valldemossa


Places to party Sa Fonda in Deià


filled with locals and a few expatri- ates, but, in the summer, of course, numbers swell,’ adds Mr de Meillac. It’s also famous for the quality of its


oranges, which are harvested and sold in Marseille. For anyone hankering after the taste of them, an enterpris- ing German has established an online delivery service called Fet a Sóller— www.fetasoller.com—which will deliver a crate of them to a UK, at a price. However, for some, the views of the


‘It’s like a fairytale village in the


mountains,’ explains Mr Barrera, who has seen the appetite for villas and fincas in and around the village grow in recent months. ‘The area appeals to successful businessmen from all over Europe, but it has a particular resonance with the British. It’s incred- ibly safe, so the children walk down the beach at Cala Deià to enjoy the most amazing sunsets and easily get back home in time for dinner before the parties begin at Sa Fonda.’ The other great draw of Deià and


other mountain villages such as Fornalutx and Valldemossa is that they fulfill one of the most important aspects for today’s demanding clien- tele: privacy. Many of the estates (or possessió in Mallorquin) are invisible from any of the roads and their exist- ence is only revealed by an often scruffy stone track leading off into the distance. However, once you navigate the sometimes winding and bumpy roads up to the houses, the views from their terraces are spectacular: more than 180˚ of sea, with the mountain falling sharply below. Another thing that’s attracting buyers


to the area is the high quality of the houses on offer, adds Christian de Meillac of Knight Frank. ‘The people who buy houses here really look after them—we have a number of properties on the market that all have that trad- itional Mallorcan stone-built exterior, but which, on the inside, are fully kitted out for 21st-century living, with excel- lent kitchens and open-plan, light


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living spaces. And the great thing is that what you see today is what you’ll see in 200 years.’ One criticism that’s launched at the


mountain villages is that they’re very seasonal: life in Deià tends to warm up when La Residencia opens its doors in early April. The winters are quiet and long—particularly if you buy in the shadow of the mountain. For those looking for a year-round


retreat, the better bet would be to look at Sóller, the largest town in the mountains, which, prior to the tunnel and direct road to Palma opening in the 1990s, was almost cut off from the rest of the island. It’s a living and working town throughout the year and has a large, lively square full of cafes and bars. ‘In the winter, it’s mostly


FOR SALE €1.5m


This is an easily manageable, four-bedroom house with a pool and within a short cycle-ride of all the shops in Pollensa. Engel & Völkers (00 34 971 89 77 00)


FOR SALE €1.2m


Positioned on the outskirts of Sóller, this four-bedroom house is just a five-minute drive from the centre. It comes with a pool and pretty mountain views. Knight Frank (020–7629 8171)


mountains might be quite enough, rather than needing to tackle the windy mountain roads every time you need a newspaper. In that case, it might be worth exploring in the val- leys around Pollensa. It’s a pretty, very walkable town with narrow streets that open up into small squares. The buildings are made of the local sand- stone, which has a warm, pink hue, and it’s the setting for cultural events through the year, including a classi- cal-music festival and an art fair. ‘The great thing about Pollensa,’


explains Gary Hobson, who runs the local offices for Engel & Völkers, ‘is that there’s no bling, gold chains or flashy cars. It’s a wonderful base for hiking in the hills, cycling around the rural roads or swimming in the sea. It’s all there for the taking and enjoying.’


Country Life International, Summer 2015 37


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