Mallorca North & West Tourism Guide - Central Majorca Shopping

Inca Land of Leather

Inca might not be the most attractive of Mallorcan towns, but there's some very good factory outlet shopping to be had here. The town has designated itself 'Land of Leather', and the name suits. Inca just happens to be the headquarters for Camper shoes, and off the main bypass in Inca there's a superb Camper shoe factory outlet - a must visit as the piled high Camper shoes in this outlet go for half the price of Camper Shoes in UK shops! Some are seconds or end of lines, but all have that unique Camper design edge and the quality of shear craftsmanship.

There's a history of shoe making in this area, dating back to 1871 when Antonio Fluxa, a craftsman from Inca took a trip to England to learn more about industrial manufacturing methods. He returned to Majorca and together with a group of other craftsman in Inca, set up the first shoe making machines. There is this history of quality and craft behind Camper which still comes across.

The first Camper shop opened in Barcelona in 1981, and they've gone from strength to strength ever since. Check out their web link to the right for more details on the history, and of course lots of pictures of their range of shoes. Good bit of research before you hit the Inca factory outlet. These are beautifully designed shoes, with graphics galore and curved shapes to die for. Love the shoe! Or as Camper puts it, "Camper is not a shoe, it is a way of doing, a way of living, a way of feeling, a way of thinking and a way of making footwear. Camper is a way of walking. Camper, walk, don't run".

Inca also has a very good market every Thursday, which injects considerable colour and life into this industrial centre. It's an early start market and ends at 2pm. Also, check out the superb Festival Park, a mall style mix of factory outlets including another Camper outlet, plus other names like Caribu childrens clothing, and lots of Spanish fasion names, as well as international clothing outlets selling at factory outlet prices, including Miss Sixty, Quicksilver, Levi and Nike. Well worth a look for some real bargains.

Sineu Market

Sineu is right in the centre of Majorca, and not that far from Palma. Sineu gets a lot of visitors, and you can see why. This is a charming town, with sandstone buildings, cobbled streets and ample friendly bars and cafes. Chic, clean and rather grand are descriptions that come to mind. Well worth a quick trip up if you're staying in the Bay of Palma.

Particularly popular are Wednesdays in Sineu when the weekly livestock market takes place. They put on a good show for the tourists, with goats, pigs and so forth! There's plenty more on offer though from craft jewellery to food like wonderful olives and cheeses. Also in Sineu is a large annual market which doubles up as a spring festival, held on the first Sunday of every May.

Majorca Glassmaking

To the West of Algaida, easily reached from Palma and the Bay of Palma, is a glass making factory called Vidrierias Gordiola. It's open to the public, and you can see the fascinating process of glass blowing for yourself, plus purchase some of their glass wares. This family business, the family in question being the Gordiolas, dates back to the 18th century and there is a little museum attached to the factory displaying Mallorcan glass of old.

Mallorcan craft traditions, like glassmaking, shoe manufacture, ceramics and cloth have long histories, and are surviving well.

Vidrierias Gordiola, Ctra Palma-Manacor, km 19, Tel: 971 66 50 46. The glass factory is open from May to September, 9am-8pm Mondays to Saturdays, 9am-1pm Sundays. Admission is Free!