Page 84 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Mallorca, Menorca & Ibiza

82  THE BALEARIC ISLANDS AREA B Y AREA M ALL ORC A  83

k Cala Rajada
n Via Mallorca 36, 971 819 467. Mallorca’s Caves
A seaside resort and bay, Cala A handful of the nearly 200 limestone caves found in Mallorca are open to the public as
Rajada is famous for its beautiful part of guided tours. Many were known by the locals for hundreds of years and they once
beaches shaded by a stone- provided shelter for the early settlers, or served as hiding places from marauding pirates,
pine forest. The rocky coast
surrounding it is regarded as dens for smugglers or religious sanctuaries. In the 19th century Archduke Ludwig Salvator
one of the most attractive in began to take an interest in them and recruited a French geologist, Edouard Martel, to
this part of Mallorca. Until study them. In 1896 Martel rediscovered the Coves d’Artà. He was amazed by their size
recently this was just a small (some are the size of a cathedral) and the large number of stalactites and stalagmites.
fishing village – only the old
jetty, which is now used by
pleasure boats and sailing
The medieval Castell de Capdepera yachts, remains.
Above the Cala Gat bay
h Artà j Capdepera stands Sa Torre Cega, a stately
home named after its owner,
@ ( Wed. _ San Antonio (12–13 @ ( Wed. _ Fiesta Nostra Senyora
Jun), Sa Fira (2nd Sun in Sep). d’Esperança (18 Dec). Juan March, a banker, tobacco
merchant and patron of the
This hilltop town was built Towering above the arts. Both this palace and its
on the site of an Arab town is the Castell de lovely gardens, which have
stronghold; its name is Capdepera, which was about 40 sculptures by various
derived from the Arabic built in the 14th century Spanish artists, are open to Underground lakes that can be found in many caves are an
word jertan (garden). to defend the coast visitors (by prior appointment). additional attraction to visitors. Caves with lakes have excellent
Much of its medieval against pirates. At acoustics and visitors are usually entertained Los Encinares Dripstones can assume
walls and fortifications the highest point Environs with short concerts performed by musicians the most fantastic forms.
have survived to of the castle stands the From Cala Rajada, it is worth seated in boats. Pollença Alcúdia To emphasize their
this day. Gothic church of Nostra taking a 2-km (1-mile) walk Cova beauty, they are often
The town’s most Senyora d’Esperança. to Cap de Capdepera, the de Sant Martí illuminated by
interesting structure The outside stairs easternmost headland of Sóller Cova de coloured lights.
is the hilltop Santuari lead to a flat roof from Mallorca. The nearby Platja Sant Antoni Coves de
de Sant Salvador. It which there is a nice de Canyamel is a small, quiet Campanet
can be reached from Madonna in Santuari view of the town’s resort with lovely sandy S’Avenc Artà
the mid-13th-century de Sant Salvador, Artà terracotta roofscape. beaches. There is also a local de Son Pou Coves d’Artà
parish church of golf course, and the former Coves de
Transfiguració del Senyor Environs watchtower Torre de Canyamel Andratx Génova Coves
d'es Hams
via steps (actually a Way of The Coves d’Artà, regarded as houses a restaurant specializ ing Palma Manacor
the Cross) shaded by a line one of Mallorca’s wonders, are in tasty Mallorcan cuisine.
Coves
of cypresses. situated some 6 km (4 miles) to des Pirata Coves
del Drac
The chapel and its surround- the south. Two thousand Arabs E Sa Torre Cega Cova de la
ing walls were built during were found hiding here by C/Joan March 2. Tel 689 027 353. Mare de Deú Cova
1825–32. It contains a revered Jaume I during the Reconquest. 8 Closed Mon–Tue & Dec–Jan. del Pilar
17th-century statue of the In the 19th century, the
Virgin with Child. The court- caves were studied by a Santanyí
yard affords a lovely view of French geologist and
the town’s rooftops. became popular with 0 km
tourists. Jules Verne is 10
Environs said to have written 0 miles 10
Ses Païsses, a short way to the Journey to the Centre of
south, is a 3,000-year-old Bronze the Earth after visiting.
Age settlement. The remains Entrances to the
include fragments of the + Castell de Capdepera caves are hidden
in the rock faces.
defensive walls and a huge Tel 971 556 479. Open Some of them are
watchtower. Some of the stone 9am–8pm daily (mid-Oct– overgrown by
blocks weigh about eight tons. mid-Mar: to 5pm). & dense macchia;
The archaeological findings } Coves d’Artà others are situated
from this site can be seen in Canyamel, Capdepera. up high, like the
Artà’s regional museum. The Tel 971 841 293. Open Apr– Excursion routes in the caves Coves d’Artà,
Ermita de Betlem, about 7 km Jun & Oct: 10am–6pm; Jul- are arranged so that everybody where steps have
(4 miles) to the north, is built Sep: 10am–7pm; Nov–Mar: can see the chambers easily. been built to
on a hill. Established in 1805, 10am–5pm. Closed There are steps and walkways provide easy
the tiny church has a number 1 Jan, 25 Dec. & 8 only. provided in some places. access for tourists.
of primitive frescoes. ∑ cuevasdearta.com Fishing boat leaving Cala Rajada’s harbour
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp148–50 and pp155–9

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