Page 92 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Mallorca, Menorca & Ibiza

90  THE BALEARIC ISLANDS AREA B Y AREA M ALL ORC A  91

is well worth visiting. luxurious villas have sprung Benedición de los Frutos –
The settlement was up around here, well hidden on the 4th Sunday after Easter.
probably established behind pine trees. During Tucked under a steep cliff
around 1000 BC. the high season, many yachts face, Santuari de Nostra
Originally, it consisted drop anchor here. The area is Senyora de Gràcia is the first
of five tala yots (stone dominated by a watchtower of the religious buildings you
structures resembling (1659), which provides views come to. The interior of the
towers, covered with a of the entire Badia de Palma. chapel is decorated with
wooden roof) and 28 About 7 km (4 miles) to the beautiful majolica tiles. A
smaller dwellings. It is south is Cap Blanc, which has little further up the hill is
worth taking a closer a lighthouse. From here there the16th-century Santuari
look at the remains of is also a splendid view over the de Sant Honorat. This herm-
the Cyclopean walls, coast towards Cabrera Island. itage houses a courtyard that
reaching 4 m (13 ft) A large section of the peninsula is filled with ancient trees.
in places, which is used for military purposes, The passage to the church is One of several water slides in Aqualand El Arenal
would have served and it is therefore important decorated with tiles depicting
as protection for this not to stray from the route the sanctuary’s history. Environs $ S’Arenal
ancient village. Not that leads to the lighthouse. On the summit is the The odd-looking castle @ n C/Terral 23. Tel 971 669 162.
much is known about Santuari de Nostra Senyora on the road from Palma to ( Thu.
the inhabitants of the de Cura, which is on the site Manacor dates from the 1960s
Sunday market in Llucmajor settlement, and the where Llull once lived. The and houses Ca’n Gordiola, a A little to the east of Palma,
function of some of gate in the wall surrounding glassworks, museum and S’Arenal offers several kilo metres
/ Llucmajor the rooms is unclear. The narrow the monastery is 17th-century shop. Here, you can see skilled of sandy beaches. A tree-lined
underground chamber, for and opens onto a court- glass-blowers producing the boulevard runs along the
* 37,000. @ ( Wed, Fri & Sun.
∑ visitllucmajor.com instance, is too small to be yard built of typical golden pale blue and green glass that shore, with bars, restaurants,
used for living quarters and Mallorcan sandstone. The has been produced on the nightclubs and shops. A series
Formerly the main town of may have served as a ritual monastery, much of which island for hundreds of years. of stainless-steel beach bars
the southern region, Llucmajor site. A free leaflet, in English, is fairly modern, houses a On the first floor is a museum stretches along the coast. These
has long been associated with provides more information on library and a study centre. exhibiting items collected by balnearios are numbered: No. 1
Mallorca’s shoemaking industry these fascinating remains and The stained-glass windows several generations of the is near the harbour, No. 15 is
and had a thriving market in is available at the site entrance. of the church depict the Gordiola family. by the Ca’n Pastilla marina (a
medieval times. It was just The megaliths scattered most important moments Some 9 km (6 miles) to the miniature “tourist train” travels
outside Llucmajor’s walls, in through this quiet area, amid of Llull’s life. east is Montuïri. The town, to the marina). In peak season,
1349, that Pedro IV of Aragón fields and fruit trees, were Tree-shaded courtyard of the church at built on a hill, is famous for its the resort’s narrow alleys
killed the last king of indepen­ declared a cultural heritage Puig de Randa agricultural produce. Nineteen throb with life, day and night.
dent Mallorca, Jaume III. The site as early as 1931. Apart from £ Algaida of the original 24 windmills S’Arenal’s harbour provides
monument standing at the a restaurant and a small bar, @ Puig de Randa @ ( Fri. _ Sant Honorat (16 Jan), still stand as testimony to mooring places for yachts.
end of Passeig de Jaume III there are few other traces of 8 km (5 miles) northeast of Llucmajor. Sant Jaume (25 Jul). the town’s former glory. Just On the outskirts of town is
commemorates the event. modern civilization here. n Santuari de Nostra Senyora de outside Montuïri, on the road Aqualand El Arenal, a children’s
The town hall, built in 1882, Cura: 971 660 994. Most people pass through that leads to Pina, is one of the paradise of pools, water slides
is in the main square. Nearby Environs the outskirts of this small town best- preserved Mallorcan and playgrounds.
is the 18th­century church of Some 5 km (3 miles) southeast In the middle of the fertile on their way to Puig de Randa. Talayotic remains – Son Fornés.
San Miquel, built over a of Capocorb Vell lies Cala Pi. plains of Es Pla rises the If you like churches, however, This prehistoric settlement has  Aqualand El Arenal
14th­century church. The This is a small cove with an distinctive Puig de Randa it is worth stopping here in two talayots and includes nine S’Arenal. Tel 971 440 000. Open May &
most prized historic building enticing sand beach. Several hill (549 m/1,800 ft), which order to visit the Gothic church dwellings, which were used Jun & Sep 10am–5pm daily; Jul & Aug:
in town is the Franciscan provides stunning views of Sant Pere i Sant Pau, with up until Roman times. 10am–6pm daily. & ∑ aqualand.es
Església Conventual de Sant over the whole of the island. its ornamental gargoyles.
Bonaventura. This 17th­century Nobleman­turned­monk Ramon Llull
church contains many precious Ramon Llull founded a
historic objects, including an hermitage on top of this This prominent Mallorcan was born in Palma to a
impressive altarpiece (1597) hill in the 13th century, and noble family around 1232. During his youth he
painted by Gaspar Oms. it was here that he trained lived life to excess. Quite why he changed his
ways is not known, though legends abound.
Catholic missionaries bound
for Africa and Asia. Although One story has it that he abandoned court life
! Capocorb Vell nothing remains of the original after seeing a vision of the crucified Christ.
building, Llull’s legacy has At the age of 30 he became a monk and
@ Tel 971 180 155. devoted the rest of his days to the Catholic
Open 10am–5pm Fri–Wed. & ensured that the site is an faith. He became a religious scholar, founded
∑ talaiotscapocorbvell.com important place for Catholics. a missionary school and wrote over 260 works
The monastery (the oldest of theology, philosophy, physics, chemistry
Mallorca has fewer prehistoric part of which dates from and warfare. During the final 30 years of his
remains than Menorca, but 1668) is a popular destination life, he travelled around Europe, Asia and
this Talayotic settlement on for pilgrim ages, particularly Africa. He is believed to have been stoned Statue of Ramon
a rocky plateau on the Ruins of the prehistoric settlement in those associated with the Ceramic sign of Ca’n Gordiola, advertised to death in Algeria in 1315. Llull in Palma
southern coast of the island Capocorb Vell blessing of the crops – outside a Palma shop
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp148–50 and pp155–9

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