Riches of the previous with a contemporary twist, Palma de Mallorca has extra to supply than sandy seashores – Scotland on Sunday Journey

Riches of the past with a modern twist, Palma de Mallorca has more to offer than sandy beaches - Scotland on Sunday Travel

[ad_1]

The Hotel Castillo Son Vida entrance stays true to its 13th-century origins. Photo: Rachael Davies.
The Lodge Castillo Son Vida entrance stays true to its Thirteenth-century origins. Picture: Rachael Davies.

It says so much for a location when it could possibly put a smile in your face even when the sky is gray. Though my journey to Palma de Mallorca was noticed with unseasonable clouds and patches of rain, the pure fantastic thing about the island and the tales it needed to inform made up for it tenfold.

Whereas some may head to Mallorca for a soothing week by the ocean (and also you’re in a shocking place for it), you’d be lacking out on scrumptious meals and distinctive sights in case you didn’t enterprise elsewhere throughout the island. The winding streets of Palma de Mallorca remind me of La Rambla in Barcelona, far busier than the quiet coastal metropolis I had anticipated.

Enroll to our each day e-newsletter

The few days I spent in Palma and the remainder of the island left me wanting extra. For each story you hear or delicacy you pattern, there are two extra across the nook ready to be found.

A metropolis of two sides

The historical past in Palma de Mallorca is baked into the cream-coloured stones, nevertheless it’s removed from a metropolis caught previously. The towering cathedral serves as a reminder of Palma’s wealthy tradition stretching again centures, however tucked into the cobbled side-streets and stretching down the principle avenues is lots to entertain the modern-day vacationer.

The streets are bustling with impartial retailers and picture-perfect eateries, making it a metropolis that’s excellent for each beach-seeking holidaymakers and historical past buffs to discover. Whether or not you’re seeking to decide up a pair of Palma’s signature leather-based footwear or browse wares at one of many many avenue markets dotted all through town, there’s one thing to swimsuit each customer’s tastes.

Escape town

The rooms at Lodge Castillo Son Vida are fastidiously designed to include the pure colors and really feel of the island of Mallorca. Picture: Rachael Davies.

Perched above town with beautiful views over the centre of Palma and the stretches of sandy seashores beneath, sits what the locals name the Beverly Hills of Mallorca: the neighbourhood of Son Vida. Right here you’ll discover the place I stayed throughout my exploration of Mallorca, within the recently-renovated Lodge Castillo Son Vida, only a 10-minute drive from the island’s capital of Palma, and quarter-hour from the Son Sant Joan Airport.

In a mirrored image of town beneath, the resort has artfully blended the wealthy historical past relationship again to the Thirteenth Century with all the trendy creature comforts you can want. Each function in Castillo Son Vida has a narrative to inform, from the tower in-built an expression of affection from a husband to his spouse, to the the founding household that gave each the resort and the neighbourhood its title.

The Castillo provides 164 rooms and suites in all, together with 77 Traditional double rooms, 75 Deluxe and Grand Deluxe rooms (some with butler service), and 12 Suites. Most notably, the 132-m2 Royal Suite enjoys a panoramic view, Jacuzzi and enormous terrace.

Each of the eating places within the resort benefit from the views of the island, with Es Castell providing gourmand eating subsequent to ground to ceiling home windows, whereas the terrace restaurant, Bar Armas lets you eat and drink outdoors on the sweeping terrace.

The greenery across the adult-only Lodge Castillo Son Vida creates a bubble of tranquillity wherein to chill out. Picture: Rachael Davies.

Additional down the coast you’ll find Lodge Castillo Son Vida’s sister resort, St Regis Mardavall. Whereas Castillo Son Vida is adult-only, St Regis Mardavall provides the identical beautiful lodging and repair for the entire household, with a devoted youngsters’ membership and suites or adjoining rooms massive sufficient to host households of all sizes. With that in thoughts, the 125 rooms is made up of as many as 78 Junior Suites and 7 Household Rooms, alongside two Deluxe Single Rooms, 28 Grand Deluxe Double Rooms, six Ocean Suites, two Blue Oasis Suites, and two Diamond Suites.

Mardavall’s Michelin-star restaurant, Es Fum, is effectively price a go to by itself, providing seasonal delicacies meticulously designed by chef Miguel Navarro, loved within the intimate 42-seat eating room.

Hidden delights of the island

When not having fun with the spa services of Lodge Castillo Son Vida, there’s lots to discover throughout the island of Mallorca. A must-visit is Bodega Ribas, the oldest family-run vineyard in Spain. From their 180,000 vines, they make simply 180,000 bottles. By making only one bottle per vine, Bodega Ribas kinds the grapes by hand, to ensure solely the best make it into the ultimate bottle.

The scale of St Regis Mardavall is mirrored within the luxuriously sized rooms. Sister resort of Lodge Castillo Son Vida the St Regis Mardaval provides the identical commonplace of lodging and repair for the entire household, with a devoted youngsters’ membership and suites or adjoining rooms massive sufficient to host households of all sizes. Picture: Mariott Motels Worldwide.

Whereas a lot of their wine is aged in barrels, bottled, and bought in eating places, inns, and retailers all through Mallorca and additional afield, you can too purchase a litre of pressed wine for as little as €2.75 at sure occasions of the 12 months. Whereas it might not have the wealthy flavours that their signature wines have, it’s a captivating providing, born from a need to scale back waste.

For foodies, Flor de Sal d’Es Trenc is one other unmissable cease, the place you’ll be able to stroll amongst the salt deposits the place Mallorca’s Flor de Sal is harvested by hand. With flamingos observing you from the horizon and the sound of the ocean not far off, you’ll be able to’t think about a extra pure method of gathering salt. You should definitely pattern the scrumptious ends in the white-washed buildings afterwards, washed down with a glass of perfectly-paired wine.

Attending to Palma de Mallorca

There are common direct flights on plenty of airways from each Edinburgh and Glasgow, in addition to the vast majority of different main UK airports. The flight time from Edinburgh is just below three hours on common.

The beautiful pure landscapes of Mallorca are too spectacular to not discover. Picture: Rachael Davies.

Learn Extra

Learn Extra

Class and style abound within the South of France, the perfect base to chill out and un…

[ad_2]