Es Capdellà

01Far from the noise of the world

The church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, several streets, a few houses and some options for refreshment and eating out such as Bar Nou and Es Molí , and that's it. It is exactly this peace and quiet that makes the village so charming and that is so appreciated by locals and by international residents who have their own homes or rental properties here.

The area around Es Capdellà has been a favourite spot for living and for economic activity going back many hundreds of years. You can see that if nothing else from the numerous feudal estates to be found all around here. The Majorcan name for these large, grand estates is possessions.

02The manor house hideaway

One of these possessions is the 132-hectare Son Claret, which has now been turned into a five-star hotel. The manor house has been in existence since the middle of the 15th century, having once been owned by a certain Don Gabriel Claret, to whom the estate owes its name. Today, the Hotel Castell Son Claret welcomes international guests from all over the world. Guests drive up a palm-lined driveway to the hotel, unwind in the luxurious rooms and suites, relax on the sun loungers by the pool with a panoramic view and let themselves be pampered in the oasis that is the Bellesa de Claret spa.

The hotel's own Olivera Restaurant serves up Mediterranean specialities and you can enjoy the food on the "castle courtyard" terrace with a view of the Tramuntana mountains in good weather. The feasts for the palate at the Son Claret are accompanied by many a feast for the ears in the summertime as you can listen to open-air classical music concerts here beneath Majorca's starry skies.

03Legends of counts

Since Es Capdellà lies at the foot of the Tramuntana mountain range, it's a great starting point for cycling tours, as well as extensive hikes. If you're a good walker, for example, you could set out for destinations such as Puig de Galatzó at a height of 1,027 metres, Puig s'Esclop at 927 metres or Puig Batiat at 645 metres. In the case of the Puig de Galatzó, which is steeped in legend and has several trails leading up to it, you'd need to have some experience and to have no fear of the "bad count" , Conte Mal. According to a legend from the 19th century, this count was condemned to atone for his cruel acts and to roam around Galatzó on a black horse by night. Forever…

04Passion for running

Mind you, that doesn't scare the participants in the "Galatzó Trail". The Mallorca Mountain Marathon , which also has a half-marathon option , is held once a year. This is an extreme course that goes past holm oak forests, mountain torrents and coastal cliffs with a view over the Mediterranean Sea. It usually begins in Es Capdellà.

Golf enthusiasts don't have too far to go, as the Golf de Andratx golf course is no more than ten kilometres from Es Capdellà.