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The autumn period is one of the best in which to experience the true Mallorca. The mild climate and excellent variety of restaurants allow you to enjoy a pleasant and relaxing holiday, avoiding summer crowds, at a reasonable price. Autumn in Mallorca brings with it warm sunny days and some of the most exquisite colours. Below is a list of some of the top things to do and see whilst you are there to make sure you live the best Majorcan experience you can!
WHAT TO SEE
Palma de Mallorca, La Seu
The Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma, known as La Seu, is a Gothic Roman cathedral located in Palma de Mallorca, built on the site of a former Arab mosque. To learn the history of Mallorca, I suggest you visit the Museu de Mallorca that traces the different historical periods of the island’s development.
Fundación Pilar i Joan Miró
It is an active center of artistic diffusion. It hosts the permanent exhibition of Miro’s collection as well as temporary exhibitions of established artists. Joan Miró spent the last 27 years of his life in this converted house. The museum’s collection is mainly concerned with numerous works donated by the artist himself from the four workshops he owned in Mallorca. Among them are paintings, drawings, and graphic works, while in the gardens you can see some of the artist’s sculptures. The building of the Fundación was designed by Spanish architect Rafael Moneo. On Saturday afternoon you can enjoy free entry. For more informations, visit the official website: www.fmirobcn.org
Sóller
It is a beautiful town of yesteryear, situated in a picturesque valley along the Northwest coast of Mallorca. On imposing peaks over 1000 meters high, orange and lemon groves color the valley basin. There are also several hiking trails with breathtaking views. The great wealth brought to the island by the burgeoning citris trade allowed merchants to build splendid Art Nouveau mansions, making Soller an architectural open-air museum. This quaint little town offers visitors a unique selection of pastries, citrus plantations, beautiful homes and parks. Stroll through the city center and then take the vintage train, “The Orange Express” that connects the city to the port of Sóller.
Alcúdia
It is a charming medieval town situated in the northern part of the island. I recommend you walk through the historic center where you can admire the imposing Medieval and Renaissance walls, the elegant buildings and the neo-Gothic Church of St. Jaume. A short distance away you can visit the ruins of Pollentia, the first Roman settlement on the island of Mallorca.
Capocorb Vell
It is a prehistoric Iron Age (1000 BC) village. It consists of 5 talaiot (2 a square plan and 3 circular), 28 dwellings and a well-preserved mound. The site is not well known by vacationers seeking sun and beaches, but well worth a visit. The village is one of the most beautiful and best preserved of the era and gives off a great spiritual energy. The tour does not take long, about an hour, then I suggest you try a nearby beach, the romantic Cala Pi.
WHAT TO DO
Cross the Serra de Tramuntana
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011, this mountain range extends along the northwest coast, occupying about 30% of the island. From the town of Andratx head Formentor these steep mountains follow one another alternating between fertile valleys, connected by deep gorges. On the coast you’ll find immense cliff walls, sprinkled with small beaches and very romantic coves. Besides the beauty of a landscape that has fascinated writers, painters and nobles, the Sierra de Tramontana also contains the main hydrological reserves of Mallorca. Its slopes sloping and terraced cultivations are an outstanding example of how, in different historical periods, the resources are used to best advantage. I suggest you leave early in the morning and devote an entire day to this tour because on the way there are many scenic spots to stop to admire and take pictures. If you do not want to drive, you can take the train that connects the capital of Palma with Soller. This route does not cross the entire Serra, but does allow you to enjoy a beautiful stretch of countryside on a 1912 vintage train.
Take the Sa Calobra
The Sa Calobra is a spectacular road that winds along the limestone cliffs with tight hairpin bends and breathtaking scenery. Along this journey you will reach an idyllic cove and a long karst stone canyon in some places reaches a depth of 200 meters over the stream Pareis. The landscape is breathtakingly beautiful, but I recommend you drive carefully, as the road is a bit dangerous but very exciting.
Walking in Platija Es Trenc
Es Trenc is a virgin and Caribbeanesque beach, with its white sand and turquoise sea is considered the “Caribbean beach in Mallorca.” At three kilometers in length, the Es Trenc beach is ideal for walking quietly by the sea, especially in the spring when it is not crowded by tourists. In my opinion, it is the most beautiful beach on Mallorca because, in addition to the tropical atmosphere, it feels like a desert, thanks to the presence of the dunes. Perhaps the water temperature isn’t warm enough to enjoy a swim in the sea, but it will be extremely pleasant to spend a relaxing afternoon taking photographs or strolling along the shore. If you prefer to leave this beach and take a walk among the cactuses, about a quarter of an hour drive away, you will find the Botanicactus: one of the largest botanical gardens in Europe featuring more than 10000 cacti. Follow this link to the site: www.botanicactus.com
Watch the sun set in Cap de Formentor
Cap de Formentor is a narrow peninsula about 18 kilometers wide located in northern Mallorca. The winding road that crosses to the lighthouse, down the peninsula, makes a stop at the Mirador Mal Pas and watchtower Albercutx, on top of steep cliffs. The landscape is characterized by cliffs overlooking the sea hundreds of meters below, rock formations shaped as trees, pines that seem to come from the rocks and a cobalt blue sea. The culmination is a lonely and romantic lighthouse overlooking a rocky headland where you can watch the sun set over the water. The place is stunningly beautiful and on very clear days you can even see Menorca.
Discover the Coves del Drac
The caves of the Dragon are an example of how nature can be wonderful: it is a complex of four caves connected to each other and two underground lakes. The natural beauty has been enhanced by man with displays of light and sound. During a visit to the caves, which takes place on foot and then by boat, you can admire the curious limestone formations that have developed over the centuries, and then attend a short classical music concert performed by musicians on a lighted boat. The tradition of music on the lake been in progress since 1935. For more informations, visit the official website: www.cuevasdeldrach.com
WHAT TO EAT
Telling the gastronomy of Mallorca is to speak of rich dishes that are a real pleasure for the palate. Its a cuisine that makes the most of its resources on the island, combining them with various influences of the many cultures that have populated archipelago during its long history. During my last Mallorcan holiday I got to enjoy two of the most typical dishes: sobrasada and ensaimada. The sobrasada is a pork sausage with a soft texture, with a characteristic orange-reddish color, to which are added sweet paprika and other spices. You can eat it cold or hot, spread on a crispy slice of bread. The ensaimada, however, is the sweet Mallorcan par excellence prepared slow-rising and with a sugar paste, fermented and then baked in the oven. You can taste the ensaimada with sobrassadasweet. I recommend you try the ensaimada pastry nell’ultracentenaria Ca na Juanita to Alaro because it is the best of the island.
Other typical dishes are: Pa amb oli, The Tumbet and Frit Mallorquí. The first is a bread seasoned with olive oil, salt and tomato where you can add meat and cheese. The tumbet is a kind of ratatouille of peppers, tomatoes and aubergines while the frit mallorquí is composed of a fried sauteed vegetables, including peas, eggplants, tomatoes, and pork offal. There is also a version with lamb meat, fish and seafood, or vegetables sun.
WHAT TO BUY
The typical fabric Mallorca is called the “Tela de lenguas” and is a resistant linen cloth in various colors, often with green stripes or blue, which is used throughout the island for furnishing fabrics such as curtains, tablecloths or cushions. Its name comes from the design inspired by the flames or tongues. For a reminder of Mallorca, I suggest you visit these handcrafted textile workshops:
https://www.teixitsvicens.com/
www.teixitsriera.com
http://www.bujosatextil.com/?lang=en
Other souvenirs are the very famous jewelry created with the pearls of Mallorca. These beads while being artificial, are of high quality and are not distinguishable to the naked eye from natural pearls. The Majorica brand is the only original brand on the island. The name “pearl of Mallorca” was coined by the Spanish company based in Manacor and has been in business since 1890. You can visit the grounds to attend a guided tour that explains the elaborate pearl production process and make purchases in the farm shop. Within the company’s store, I had the chance to buy a silver bracelet with black pearls and a silver pendant with white pearl at very advantageous price, far below traditional retailers. If you want you know more, including shopping, send me your comments and questions!
