Cultural escape in the mountains
Slip away into the hills of Majorca to the small town of Valldemossa – a tiny town that many have escaped to over the centuries. A mix of natural beauty and historical sights, Valldemossa holidays are for those looking to find their own quiet hideaway on this ever-popular Spanish island. The earthen tones of Valldemossa’s buildings allow them to blend into the natural settings. Pristine hiking trails and horse riding keep travellers active, while the town centre features, among other things, an impressive 13th-century palace.
Converted to a monastery centuries later, the building still defines the skyline. The house at Carrer Rectoria 5 was the birthplace of Santa Catalina Thomas and is now a shrine to Majorca's patron saint. Holidays to Valldemossa feature plenty of restaurants, art galleries and boutiques that exude Spanish charm, with the green forests of the Tramuntana Mountains as a dramatic backdrop.
Your Valldemossa questions, answered
There are several festivals, including the Chopin Music Festival in August, which attracts international musicians to play the composer’s classical works in the grounds of the Carthusian Monastery.
Majorcan cuisine includes many Spanish favourites, but try the ‘coca de patata’, a spongey cake made with boiled potatoes, usually eaten with coffee or hot chocolate.
There is a tiny pebble beach and fishing port along the coast nearby, but don’t expect the bustling tourist beaches of other Majorcan towns. Head to the hills instead.
Best things to do in Valldemossa
Visit La Cartuja
This palace-turned-monastery was once a vacation home to composer Frederic Chopin and his lover George Sand, and it still contains one of the pianos the composer used.
Hike the trails
Valldemossa’s splendid natural setting offers some impressive hiking trails into the hills, opening up to panoramas across the island and out over the Mediterranean Sea.
Shop the weekly market
Every Sunday, the tiny town comes alive with its open-air market. Look for fresh produce, flowers, clothing and other goods to buy as gifts or souvenirs.