Esporles

01Royal village promenade

The village has a focal point even though it's elongated. The slightly elevated Passeig del Rei ("king's promenade") is at the lively centre of the village and features traditional stone houses and inviting cafés and restaurants with terraces. It's wonderfully relaxing to sit here with a cortado coffee and maybe even order pa amb oli, the renowned Majorcan bread with olive oil, generously loaded with olives, sea fennel, cheese or ham. You could say that the terraces are the meeting point of the village. Particularly on Saturday morning, which is market day and is always a social occasion. Everyone knows each other here in Esporles.

The neo-Gothic church of Sant Pere sits majestically at the end of the Passeig, just opposite the town hall. In front of this, you'll see an unusual sculpture called "La Filadora". It's a tribute to the spinners, who once diligently spun yarn in the local textile firms in Esporles. Up until the middle of the 19th century, these companies did good business in Esporles, but there are none of them remaining today.

02Fira Dolça, with the rustling bags

Sweet temptation! Fira Dolça, the confectionery and cake fair held at the beginning of October in Esporles is a real crowd-puller, attracting visitors from all over Majorca. It could also be called a festival and it's not just children that desperately long for it to come around... for, set up on the Passeig, you'll find one stall after another of the most tempting delicacies. And is there a parking spot to be found? Almost an impossibility if you get here too late!

03Cakes, cookies, cocas

A great deal of the goodies are homemade. Who could resist? Bags are being filled, and you hear a constant rustling of the paper... because there's nothing for it but to bite into everything straight away...and then roll your eyes in ecstasy. But wait till you see the fare! For foodies, this is a paradise of pastries and sugary treats that come in all sorts of flavours, colours and forms. Among them, naturally, you'll find the Majorcan classics such as ensaimadas, robiols and crespells.

04Hiking the postal route to Banyalbufar

Afterwards, a little exercise does the world of good. The Camí del Correu begins at the parish church. This is the old postal route between Esporles and Banyalbufar, the terraced village by the sea. Springtime or autumn is the best time to go hiking in Majorca, when the temperatures are more moderate. This eight-kilometre-long connecting route was mentioned as early as the start of the 15th century. It's part of the GR-221 long-distance hiking trail through the Tramuntana mountains and gives you breathtaking, clear views as far as Valldemossa. Stagecoaches travelled on this track in the past, transporting wine, olive oil and plaits of ramallet tomatoes. The easy walk brings you up and down past olive groves and through forests of holm oak. You can still see the former charcoal kilns in places, where charcoal was produced for the islanders in the past. The route also runs past the museum estate of La Granja.

05Get goose pimples in the museum estate

Here, some two kilometres outside the village on the road to Banyalbufar, you can immerse yourself completely in the history of the island , because the 17th-century estate of La Granja, which has Arabic origins, is open to the public. La Granja has its own spring and a great abundance of water, once a prerequisite for cultivation of an estate like this. The stately parlour, forge, carpentry workshop, weaving room, and even a torture chamber convey the feeling of how life really was in these Majorcan "possessions". There are vast gardens also. Sobrassada snacks and sweet treats may help you keep body and soul together, and the gastronomy shop supplies sustenance , with samples of Majorcan specialities such as the paprika-flavoured spreadable sausage, sobrassada, and doughnut treats called bunyols for you to try. The estate has its own restaurant too. And plenty of diversion is provided by horse shows and performances of regional dances.

06Be a guest of the Marquis

Esporles is not a holiday resort and is located far from the tourist centres. However, if you're looking for a special hotel in a spectacular location, book into the suites at the Posada del Marqués. Situated at an altitude of 510 metres in the district of Es Verger, this finca from the 16th century has a noble history. The Tafona restaurant, which has a historic oil mill in the dining room, is well-known and the Posada also has a spa and wellness area. It is four kilometres from the village centre, along a road that's winding but beautiful. Meanwhile, you could take the opportunity to visit the Bodega Es Verger as well. It's a family-owned organic vineyard that also produces organic olive oil.

07Marine research in the mountain village

Even science doesn't come up short in little Esporles, since it's the location of the IMEDEA research institute, the Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados. Among other areas, the facility specialises in marine research. The IMEDEA lends the little village something of the big wide world feel. And it's exactly this mix that attracts so many foreigners, including those who've found their own little spot of Majorca with their very own property here , or those who would like to.