Sight Seeing Mallorca

1. Ses Païsses, Artà

 

Combine a visit to Artà's excellent Tuesday market with a visit to this impressive Bronze Age Talayotic settlement on the outskirts of the town - one of the best preserved in the Balearics. It's worth a visit to imagine what life must have been like within its walls for the island's early settlers. This attraction closes over the lunch period.

Camino de Ses Orbaies, Artà

 

2. Capdepera Castle

 

Visit the remains of this early 14th century hilltop castle, dominating the small town of Capdepera, with commanding views over the north-east coastline (on a clear day you can see Menorca). The enclosing walls once contained some 150 dwellings. A great place for youngsters to let their imaginations run wild!

C/Castell, Capdepera

Tel +34 971 81 87 46

 

3. Betlem Heritage, near Artà

 

It's a gorgeous drive from the north side of Artà (with a possible sighting of Menorca on the way) winding up to the tranquil rural setting of the 'Ermita de Betlem' at Sa Deves de Ferrutx. If you're lucky, the only other sounds up at the hermitage will be birds, insects and sheep bells, making it a fantastic spot for a picnic lunch, after a visit to Artà. The hermitage was founded in the early 19th century by the hermits of St Honorat in Randa and the Trinity in Valldemossa, and the small chapel is the perfect place to escape the heat and glare of the sun. Don't all go at once!

Follow signs in Artà to Ermita de Betlem

 

4. Mallorca Balloons, Manacor

 

A great way to see lots of sights! An early morning flight in a hot air balloon from Mallorca Balloons' base on the outskirts of Manacor will see you soaring over the island, drifting peacefully with the wind, at a height of 1,000-1,500 feet. On a clear day you might see Cabrera and Menorca. Balloon baptism and flight certificates included.

Tel +34 971 59 69 69

 

5. Caves of Drac (Cuevas del Drach or Coves del Drac) in Porto Cristo

 

World-famous ancient limestone caves, mapped by French geologist Edouard Martel in the late 19th century. There are four enormous main chambers, numerous romantically-named formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and one of the world's largest underground lakes - the scene of several daily classical music concerts. Guided tours take you through the caves.

C/de la Coves, Porto Cristo

Tel + 34 971 82 07 53

 

6. Caves of Hams (Cuevas del Hams or Coves d'es Hams), Porto Cristo

 

Less famous than Drac, but worth a visit for their own spectacular and colourfully illuminated stalactites and stalagmites, and the underground lake. The caves were discovered by the Mallorcan, Pedro Caldentey, in 1905.

Ctra Manacor-Porto Cristo - 1 km from Porto Cristo

Tel +34 971 82 09 88

 

7. Els Calderers, Sant Joan

 

The estate was owned by the Calderers family as long ago as the 13th century, and construction of the present manor house is thought to have begun in 1750. Visit the house and farm for a flavour of aristocratic life in Mallorca in the 18th and 19th centuries. The interior of the house is particularly interesting, with its traditional furnishings and equipment.

Follow signposts from Ma-15 Palma-Manacor, km 37.

Tel +34 971 52 60 69

 

8. Gordiola Glassworks

 

The Gordiola family has been making glass in Mallorca since the early 18th century and at their works near Algaida you can watch glassblowers in action in front of raging furnaces. The building itself is ugly 1960s faux-castle and the shop area very commercialised, but go upstairs to the museum and you'll find a fascinating collection of old glass, including early Gordiola examples and glassware collected from all over the world by seven successive generations of the family. You wouldn't want to have dust the exhibits!

Ca'n Gordiola Ma 15

Palma-Manacor, km 19

Tel +34 971 66 50 46

 

9. Mallorca Planetarium

 

Many visitors aren't aware that the island has an important astronomical observatory, of which the Mallorca Planetarium is a part. The Observatorio Astronómico de Mallorca premises have a definite space-age look to them, in complete contrast to the sleepy neighbouring village of Costitx, but this rural location benefits from clear night skies. Every Friday and Saturday at 19.00 hrs, the Planetarium projects the spectacular multi-lingual audio visual programme, Evolution, onto the domed ceiling. Afterwards you can enjoy guided sessions in the observation pods.

Camí de l'Observatori

Telephone to reserve your place:

+34 650 386 881

 

10. Calvary Oratory, Pollensa

 

Pollensa's a charming town with a distinctive Roman bridge, but the best-known place here must be the Calvary Oratory, on top of a hill that was once owned by the Order of the Knights Templar. There are 365 steps to climb to reach the top, which is the location for the atmospheric Good Friday re-enactment of Christ's final suffering on the Cross.