NORHT COAST

The most spectacular views in Mallorca are to be found on the North coast. The mountains in the Serra de Tramuntana rise over a blue horizon, amid woods, and cliffs above deep blue waters. Scenes whose majesty and beauty are reflected in the works of many painters. The Tramuntana cost lin e is closely lin ked with the historical figure of the Archiduke Ludwig Salvator, who bought several properties in the area, conserving the countryside and building miradors to enjoy it.

The Northern Mallorcan cost still p res erves the memory of past centuries when life was difficult because of pirate raids. The economy of these villages was based on fishing, livestock raising and some farming. Banyalbufar was famous for its wine and you can still see the spectacular system of stone terraces built to grow the vines. Deyà , a small fishing village, became the home of writers and artists. One of the most famous places in Mallorca is the town of Valldemossa . It achieved literary recognition in the book A Winter in Mallorca written when Frederick Chopin and George Sand stayed in its Cartuja , or monastery, between 1838 and 1839. Nowadays, the cloisters of the Cartuja are used for musical festivals held in memory of Chopin.The Sóller Valley , located in the foothills of the highest mountains on the Island is a world of its own within Mallorca . Other villages in the valley are Fornalutx and Biniarix whose stone buildings nestle in the green of olive and fruit trees, to the sound of t orr ents and lovely views of the mountains.Scenery which cannot be found in any other location in Mallorca . . Further north, the Mallorcan oast becomes more barren and spectacular. The great mountains fall down to the seas in precipices and t orr ents and there are few ports or harbours. This is the setting for the area of Sa Calobra whose greatest attraction is the nearby T orr ent de Pareis . An enormous pass pass in the rocks with scenery that seems to be from a lost world. The T orr ent de Pareis is a favourite place for excursions and also acts as the the backcloth to choir concerts as its acoustics are extraordinary. In the upper part of the range are the res ervoirs of Cuber and Gorg Blau , and LLuc Monastery , the spiritual heart of the Island .

Cabo Formentor is the extreme north of Mallorca . It has scenes of grandeur and desolation, high barren mountains and an endless horizon. Close by , Port de Pollença has changed from a small fishing village to a leading holiday centre.

NORTHEAST COAST  

The Northeastern coast of Mallorca extends from the Bahía de Alcúdia to the coves in the Artà area. It is open countryside which combines holiday cent res with cultural attractions such as the ruins of the Roman city of Pollentia (in Alcúdia) and the s´Albufera Natural Park . Some beaches are wide, with fine white sand, but there are also rocky beaches of great beauty and small coves.

Alcúdia Bay consists of old dunes and pinewoods, nowadays the setting of the leading holiday cent res , Port d´Alcúdia , Playa de Muro and Ca´n Picafort , which border the sea, overlooking a bay, closed by the Victoria Mountains on the one side and Cap de Ferrutx on the other. The countryside is being conserved in such as the s´Albufera and in the coastal fringe of Sa Canova .