| The Balearic Jewel
There is something so special about Mallorca and there is no better time to experience this magic than in the Spring. It's as though God takes out his palette in April and splatters the hinterland with reds, purples, pinks, yellows, whites, verdant greens and He uses various shades of just one colour for the background: cyan blue.
Experiencing Mallorca in the Spring inspires an urge to start painting. So, this is exactly what several artists do in the picturesque and charming town of Deia. This little village is the popular haunt of many aesthetes: poets, artists, writers, singers, and simply those who just love to be in the middle of a cultural melange surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. The village is idyllic with stone washed ochre-coloured houses and green shutters all basking under Mediterranean sun and sheltering snugly in the late afternoon shadow of the Teix mountain.
Deia was home to Robert Graves the poet laureate and novelist who moved here in 1932 and, since then it has become a magnet for a number of the rich and famous, including Michael Douglas. Having lived on the Island for over a year, Deia was always my favourite spot to just chill, dream and unwind.
Above Deia, and set against a background of mountains with fir trees and olive groves, is the gorgeous La Residencia. This immaculately restored hotel is the combination of two fincas from the 16th and 17th Centuries with wonderful views from all 45 rooms and 18 suites. The hotel has a mellow sophistication, like Deia, unpretentious but aesthetically fine-tuned. The swimming pool is situated beneath the hotel with magnificent views of stepped terraces, which will be draped in colour from April, and the mountain. There is also a poolside restaurant and top-notch bar. Four suites even have their own, very private, pools.
If, however, you fancy a scramble down to the little shingle beach, Cala de Deia, for a swim, then be sure to wear the right shoes. Down here on this shingle beach you can picnic, swim, or have some excellent fresh fish in a rough and ready restaurant in the rocks.
For the real meal, El Olivo is superb. Stick with the seasonal dishes and lamb with rosemary is a signature dish so perfect at Springtime. The atmosphere at night is really magical: hundreds of dripping candles adorn the terrace and the olive trees are lit up against a starlit sky. If it's warm enough, eat on this terrace outside the restaurant by the wall overlooking Deia and the sea; otherwise the galleried restaurant with a central old olive press is spectacular too.
The Spa is beautiful. It has an indoor pool, a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room a gym and private outdoor massage area. You can also discuss a set of bespoke treatments for your individual requirements.
Gran Hotel Son Net
An excellent alternative to La Residencia is another beautiful finca in Puigpunyent, only seven kilometers from Palma, that is a true oasis of peace and calm. This luxurious gem is Gran Hotel Son Net with 24 delightful rooms, original art (including Warhol, Hockney, Chagall, Stella and Christo) and a beautiful pool with private cabanas. The hotel's décor, cuisine, amenities - are all finely tuned, making it feel like a private home - which it was until David Stein, founder of Stein Hotels, allowed the likes of you and me to visit.
Palma
Palma is a special city with a glorious Cathedral. It is designed in a French Gothic style and the main body of the church is set in the middle of a mass of pillars and spires, behind which lies the strong buttress reinforced with a double row of flying arches. It is Holy impressive. A day out here will be a day well spent. The morning exploring the cathedral and the old town and shopping down Jaime III, followed by lunch at the famous tapas restaurant La Bovida: and then a stroll around the harbour in the late afternoon and a leisurely drive back to Deia.
Valdemossa
The main attraction of this small town in the mountains near Deia is the Real Cartoixa (Royal Carthusian Monastery). It is cold and ghostlike but, with a little imagination, you can see the monks sitting in the old library, their only human contact for an hour a week. Chopin played here and there is also a fine art museum with works by Picasso, Miro and Juli Ramis. Valdemossa is also the birthplace of Mallorca's patron saint, Catalina Thomas. There is also a fabulous bar on the side of the little square with plane trees for a much needed cultural respite.
If you have a hire car it is worth just driving around in the Spring, going inland and exploring the surprisingly lush interior. The farms with fields and fields of olive, almond, apple, orange and lemon orchards steeped in poppies, daisies and buttercups; are divided by pretty little towns, all individual all surprisingly charming.
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