La Granja

This country house, just south of Banyalbufar, is on a site known since Roman times for its natural spring. When Jaume conquered Mallorca he divided the island into four feudal estates, giving one to Count Nuno Sanc, who settled at La Granja. In 1239 the Count handed the estate to Cistercian monks to found Mallorca's first monastery. Since 1447 it has been a private house owned by various noble families; most of what you see today dates from the 17th century. Highlights of the tour include an aristocratic drawing-room with its own theatre, the family Chapel and a dungeon with a torture chamber. But the real reason for visiting La Granja is to learn about rural Mallorcan traditions. Workshops, cellars and kitchens contain displays of everyday objects. And on Wednesday and Friday afternoons, women in traditional costume give demonstrations of lace making, embroidery and spinning, donkeys turn threshing wheels and there are tastings of cheese, wine, sausages, doughnuts and fig cake. Look carefully and you just might see a tray of coca (Mallorcan pizza) being removed from the restaurant oven and carried to the medieval kitchens to be served beside a log fire. Don't miss taking a walk on the grounds where you will find botanical gardens, waterfalls and a thousand-year-old yew - there is a 1,200m signed walk. And look out for the exhibit listed in the guide as 'dog' a ‘ca de bestair’, or black-coated Mallorcan guard dog on a chain. If you are still hungry after having tasted all the delicious food, the restaurant serves good Mallorcan staples like pa amb oli and sopes mallorquines.