Central Mallorca

The central plain of Mallorca (Es Pla) is the agricultural heart of the island, a gentle, undulating area of wheat, fruit & vegetable fields with vines on its western & eastern edges. It has some of the island largest, most vibrant & historic markets.

From late January to early March, around 4 million pink & white almond trees blossom together with swathes of wild flowers in the fields. The Balearic Islands are also home to no less than 60 wild orchid species.

Many of Es Pla’s old farmhouses & manor houses have been converted to luxurious rural hotels. A few modest peaks, topped with sanctuaries, offer amazing views of the surrounding landscape with its smattering of windmills.

Why buy property in Central Mallorca?

• You can experience “the other Mallorca”. Inland villages can be quiet, tranquil havens, worlds apart from the hustle & bustle of the coast
• You can live in the quietest part of the countryside yet not feel isolated – the very centre of the island is only 25 minutes from the sea due to an excellent road network
• There are endless country hikes & more than 300 km of signposted cycling routes which attracted more than 80,000 cyclists to the island last year. It’s a popular training and competition venue for both amateur and professional cyclists, bringing in revenue in the shoulder months. .
• Property prices inland are much more favourable than the coastal regions

What you should know about rustic property in Mallorca

• Make careful legal checks on any rustic property. You need to know the exact boundaries of your property which may not be apparent, & whether there are any rights of way over your land. If an estate agent is selling a property there is still no guarantee it is registered or legal. A pool may often have been added without a licence
• Many country properties rely on wells, supplemented by water deliveries which are fed into deposits, with supplemental tanks for rainwater & land irrigation. They may also have septic tanks. A small percentage of properties rely on generator electricity though this isn’t a problem in itself
• Check communications & mobile phone coverage, there are still a few blind spots. However, there are various solutions with different provider
• On 24 September 2013 a draft law was approved (Ley de ordenación y el uso del suelo) to allow owners of rural properties to legalise buildings or parts of buildings which were built without planning permission.  It is expected to become law in parliament in early 2014 & will have wide ranging implications.

Fincas & village houses in the Tramuntana foothills

This area is known as Es Raiguer, nestling between the Tramuntana mountains and Es Pla, divided by the motorway which runs from Palma to Pollensa. The land here is the most fertile on the island, with almond trees, vineyards, olive groves, sheep & pig farming.

Santa Maria A pretty community popular with foreign buyers who crave the country lifestyle but still need to commute to the international schools, as it’s only 10 minutes into Palma. There’s also a regular train service directly into Palma’s Plaza Espana. The oldest & prettiest part of town has a clutch of 17th & 18th century buildings around the town square. There are a number of vineyards here & you can visit various small bodegas. The biggest draw for visitors is the Sunday morning open air market which features caged birds, animals, fresh fruit, vegetables, sausages & local cheese

Binissalem Dominated by its church, this village is packed with 17th & 18th century buildings. Its wealth in former times was due to its stone industry & there are still active quarries in the area. It is also the centre of Mallorca’s wine industry & home to the biggest names, including the Bodega de Jose Luis Ferrer. It acquired its DO status in 1991. It has an annual wine festival in September, now in its 39th year, beginning with the arrival & blessing of the grapes in the town square, followed by endless tastings, feasts & general revelry.

Alaro Within 20 minutes’ of Palma, Alaro seems to have been targeted by the yachting community as it’s an easy run into the city and the main shipyards & marinas. It’s framed by two molar shaped outcrops of rock, the Puig d’Alaro & the Puig de s’Alcadena which act as a gateway to the higher slopes of the Tramuntana. The road heading north out of the village takes you to the well known Es Verger lamb restaurant below the ruins of Alaro castle

Selva North west of Inca (which is Mallorca’s third largest town & a lively, workaday place) you find some delightful countryside, fields of olive, carob & almond trees, terraces with dry stone walls, little cottages & flocks of sheep. A chain of villages nestle under the mountains – Lloseta, Mancor de la Valll, Selva, Moscari & Binibona. They are sleepy places with tiny central squares, & a unique charm

Fincas & village houses inland

Sa Pobla This rural centre sits amid fields once reclaimed from the salt marshes & is famous for its crops of potatoes & other vegetables. The village is less than 10 minutes from the north coast. Equidistant to the coast, the similar sized villages of Muro & Santa Margalida lie south eastwards of Sa Pobla

Maria de la Salut Predominantly agricultural, the main crops grown in this area are melons & tomatoes. The village church was built in the mid 17th century

Sineu At the geographical centre of Mallorca, this smartly preserved town of steep cobbled streets & spruce sandstone houses comes alive on Wednesdays with its livestock market. Its annual market, the Sa Fira takes place on the first Sunday in May.
Its small main square is dominated by its church, built in1549, which has a pyramid shaped spire 7 storeys high. The town has a rich heritage and several interesting wells, the oldest dated 1392 & the deepest, at 18 metres, dated 1584. It also has some great restaurants housed in former wine cellars

Petra The birthplace of Mallorca’s famous Fray Juniperio Serra, who became a missionary in 1749. He was sent to California in 1763 & the missions he established there grew into some of the largest cities in the States, including San Diego & San Francisco

Santa Eugenia A typical country village lying barely 15 minutes from Palma, its small bars are frequented by local farmers. There are lots of small lanes which criss cross the countryside & provide some lovely walks, including a 6 kilometre cart track to Sencelles. The landmarks of Santa Eugenia are 2 windmills

Montuiri A small settlement of around 2000 inhabitants on a hill 178 metres above sea level, its most significant building is the parish church of Sant Bartomeu. The earliest record of the village dates back to 1329 when it derived its name from the Latin words “monte” & “iri” which translates into English as “mountain town”. The land around is dotted with Mallorquin windmills.

Algaida The name Algaida stems from the Arabic word al-gaida, meaning “the base”. The town is the largest of the municipality of the same name, comprising mainly sandstone houses lining narrow streets. It’s famous for its Gordiola glass museum & glass blowing factory where they give demonstrations

Property prices – Inland Mallorca

• As anywhere in the world, property prices in Mallorca are dictated by a very large number of factors but primarily by supply. Vendor motivation in the second home market also plays a significant role in maintaining prices despite the current economic climate

• Depending on your criteria, we compare similar properties on the market in any given area to give you a realistic overview

• Disregard general press reports on pricing in Spain. Mallorca is 3,640 square kilometres (1,400 square miles) which is twice the area of Greater London with its 32 boroughs. It is half the size of the entire municipality of Stockholm and nearly 5 times the size of New York City. Therefore, prices in Mallorca can vary for the same type of property depending on exact location on the island