Mallorca, Spain

Joan Miró painted here. Frederic Chopin composed here. Robert Graves wrote here.

Here is Mallorca, part of Spain’s Balearic Islands.

The Balearic isles, an autonomous archipelago, are clustered in the Mediterranean. Mallorca is the largest of the four main islands, followed by Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. The Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Moors, French and British all left their marks here.

Mallorca, (also known by its English spelling of Majorca) is celebrated for its endless sun, cool breezes and mild winters that attract holiday homeowners who look for reasons to escape here throughout the year. With an international airport and ferry service from Barcelona and Valencia, commuting is painless and the market of luxury real homes for sale is extraordinary.

Mollorca’s riches are as abundant as its sunny days. Some are cultural like the island’s architecture and museums. And some are timeless like the ancient ruins and astounding scenery. Credit the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range for delivering one of Europe’s most dramatic coastlines.

Palma is Mallorca’s seafront capital, a sophisticated city of narrow pedestrian streets, quiet courtyards and exquisitely restored historic buildings. The city--and its yacht-filled marina--is presided over by the 14th century hilltop castle, Castell de Bellver. 

Resort real estate on this beautiful island is no secret. People have been investing here since the 1950s. And, yet, there are areas that remain relatively untouched and undeveloped, places where parks are protected and beaches all but virgin.

The demand is reflected in prices that are higher than on the Spanish mainland. Mixed among properties of historic lineages that go back centuries and modern architectural marvels are city penthouses, cliffside mansions, golf villas and authentic rural estates, known as fincas. As with most real estate, properties overlooking the sea command top prices.

Beyond Palma, the coastal region of Calvia, which includes Santa Ponsa and Costa d'en Blanes, has some of the wealthiest pockets in Spain. The harbor town of Port Andratx is favored by yachtsman, while Soller draws an elegant and arty crowd.

Miró, the great Spanish painter and sculptor who settled here in 1956 until his death in 1983 called Mallorca, “a truly beautiful island. In some places, it still feels as fresh as if the world had just been created.” The magic of Mallorca is that it still holds true.