Bay of Palma Tourism Guide - Andratx & Port d'Andratx

Port d'Andratx and Andratx

Andratx gets it's name from it's Roman origins, it was once known as Andrachium. There's an interesting church here as well - Santa Maria, and Castell Son Mas dating from the 15th century.

Every Wednesday there's a superb market in Andratx with a choice of goods including fruits, vegetables, souvenirs, and clothes. There's also a choice of fairs including on the first Sunday of May the farming and agriculture fair. Other local festivities include in June, Sant Pere (Andratx), and in July Verge Del Carme (Andratx), August, Festa De Moros I Cristians (Sant Elm), 28 August Sant Augusti (S'Arraco) and 8 September Verge De La Trapa (S'Arraco).

The Cultural Centre, Andratx

The Centro Cultural Andratx in Andratx, Majorca is one of Europe's biggest private buildings for contemporary art. It's impressive, with 3 or 4 major art exhibitions every year, with work by established artists across the globe, plus the very latest in contemporary art. Eva and Adele have popped in here in the pink bus! There's a large gallery as well with changing exhibitions of photography, sculpture and canvas art. Featured work has included Martin Parr's depiction of the Brits in Mallorca - there's art in them there resorts you know. Social documentary at it's best, with Parr hinting at the plague of consumerism with irony combined with bright colours. Other artists displayed here include Carles Congost, the rising young Spanish artist, whose stylised videos and photographs, particularly of American scenes, are stunningly provocative.

This contemporary art gallery is hard hitting indeed, encouraging new artists coming through. There's a studio on-site, and the centre offers a unique opportunity to see some cutting edge contemporary art which chips away at all things grusome in todays grab what you can world. The setting is pretty idyllic, surrounded by mountains and the building although stark and simple seems to fit in it's context. One of those hidden gems where you least expect it. There are many such gems in Majorca! Centro Cultural Andratx is built in the traditional Majorcan style. The building is two stories high with the art Center on the ground floor. In the middle of the complex there is a large patio with fountains and shady colonnades. The exhibition spaces are large but flexible with concrete flooring and simple, white walls. There are no windows to the surrounding landscape, but from the patio large glass doors open into the exhibition halls, the bookshop and the restaurant, with the light being beautifully filtered through the colonnade.

Getting there is simple from Palma, go in the direction of Andratx, and from Andratx, go in direction Estellencs. At the small traffic circle, go in direction Capdella. Take bus no. 4 from Palma: Eusebio Estada (near Plaza de Espana) marked direction Pto. Andratx. Opening hours Exhibitions Tuesday - Saturday 10 - 6pm, Sunday 10 - 4pm, Monday closed. Cafe open Tuesday - Saturday 12 - 6pm, Sunday 10am - 4pm. Monday closed. Check the Andratx Cultural Centre's weblink right for entrance price details.

Centro Cultural Andratx, E- 07150 Andratx, Mallorca, Spain. Tel. +34 971 137 770

Calvia and Puigpunyent

Calvia is doing rather well now out of the tourism in the region, having been a pretty poor town within Spain, let alone Majorca. Calvia has it's own very useful website, particularly on advice for local beaches in the region (see link to the right). If your looking for peace, quiet and a very Spanish or Mallorcan town then head for Calvia. It's only 20 minutes from the airport, and most of the bars and restaurants serve Mallorcan traditional food. No tacky shops and hardly any tourists here!

Apparently it has one of the richest town councils in Spain, whereas 30 years ago it was one of the poorest. It's an interesting transition! Check out the Sant Joan Baptista 19th century church, on the site of an original church built in 1245. The neo-gothic facade on the front is particularly interesting. (open 10am to 1pm daily). Calvia really is a pretty area in the winter as well, with it's flowering almond trees, a trait of Mallorca in general from January to March. This region is very conscious of eco-tourism, and protecting areas of natural beauty of which there are many. Take the two and a half mile journey from Calvi to Es Capdella up the PMV103-2 winding mountain road. You'll eventually reach a small village called Galilea, a stunning and unspoilt region with superb views down to the coast. This region has got the winter season covered, perfect for walking and touring holidays. Check the Calvia website for details of their Winter programme which includes a selection of classical concerns, films, open air shos and guided walks.

The adjacent mountain Galatzo reaches a height of 1.026 metres, and it's outline dominates the Sierra de Na Burguesa mountains, notable for their mass of pine forests with classic Mediterranean garriga or undergrowth. There are about fifteen springs in the foothills as well. This area offers some of the best walking country in Majorca. There are various walks up Galatzo, varying in difficulty levels

Why not try the one from Puigpunyent which is not a technically difficult hike, but still quite a strenuous climb of approximately 2460ft/750m (think of the views!!) Start this walk at the Son Net Luxury Hotel and Restaurant in Puigpunyent. This hotel has a reputation as the best in Majorca! Check out Valerie Crespi-Green's superb "Landscapes of Mallorca", which has had consecutive reissues since it appeared in 1984 - why because it's good and will take you into parts of Mallorca which you never imagined. Check the web link to the right to purchase. See page 73 for the Walk upto Galatzo from Son Net. (Fourth edition only)

Sa Dragonera and Birdwatching

Get your boat trips to the nature reserve island of Sa Dragonera on the south west tip of Majorca from Sant Elm. Not much in Sant Elm unfortunately, apart from a few good restaurants. Boats leave from the end of Avda.Rei Jaume I, adjacent to the restaurant Sant Elm.

Sa Dragonera island is 4-km long and just off Sant Elm beach. The island's highest point, Na Popis, the geological prolongation of the Tramuntana Mountains, measures 360 metres high. One of the most striking features of the island is the old lighthouse right at the summit of Na Popis. It's 'owned' by Majorca's regional government now, and was opened as a nature park in 1995. The island hosts some real treasures, with a wide variety of flora and fauna. It's a birdwatcher's paradise, watch out for Leonor falcons, Cory's shearwaters and European shags. The presence of these birds means the island is now a protected bird sanctuary. Sa Dragonera also has its own sub-species of Balearic lizard.

Apparently in the 15th century a famous Balearic pirate called, wait for it, Redbeard, us Sa Dragonera a base for his activities! There are two small adjacent islands to Sa Dragonera as well called Illa Mitjana and Es Pantaleu, which are also protected areas. Wots to do on Sa Dragonera then, well when you arrive you don't just wander about you know, this is protected territory. You arrive at a reception area in Cala Llado when the boat dumps you, and you're given official permission to visit and an itinery of permitted areas to walk, including a 312 metre/1024ft hike up Puig de Na Popia with it's lighthouse at the top. Utterly recommended, not in peak summer season though! There's an information point in Sant Elm called Parc Natural de Sa Dragonera.

Sa Dragonera is open from April to September from 10am to 5pm, and in October to March from 10am to 3pm. If you fancy a bit of scuba diving around the island check out the german run Scuba Activa on Placa Monsenyor Sebastian Grau 7, 971 2391 02 (they have a website, link to the right).