Secret solace in rural Mallorca

Summer in Mallorca is seeing the Balearic isle at its best. A blazing sun hangs in a deep blue, cloudless sky, people throng the cobbled streets of Palma’s old town and restaurants spill over into the streets. Yachts bob in the glittering Mediterranean Sea, church bells chime and the coastline beckons for downtime on the sandy beaches and azure water.

For something a little different this summer, spend time on the other side of the island near Pollensa, where a totally different side to Mallorca is revealed, which can be experienced in tandem or instead of the tick-box tourism of Palma. 

Hidden among the fragrant lemon groves is peaceful sanctuary Son Brull, a former monastery which now shimmers with monastic refinement. Here, in the hotel’s remote and rural location between the pretty coves of Cap de Formentor and the Tramuntana mountains, a real Mallorca emerges. Shaped by centuries-old traditions, a beautiful yet rugged landscape yields some of the finest Mallorcan fare. Olives, grapes, citrus trees, almonds and sun-blushed vegetables grace the humble plates that come straight from finca to fork. 

Soak up the peaceful landscapes at Son Brull, where a smart infinity pool and cocktail bar sit happily amid the cloistered calm then be sure to experience authentic Mallorca first hand. Enjoy a food and wine tour that takes you up into the Serra Tramuntana mountains where you’ll learn of the unique wine-wine-making practices at ancient bodegas, taste Mallorca’s famed ‘liquid gold’  olive oil and join a rustic-chic farm meal.

Nearby Pollensa offers an alternative to bustle of Palma. Historic buildings jostle with galleries and artisan shops within the narrow streets and Placa Major will become your go-to for watching Mallorcan life go at the Sunday market. For a breathtakingly sweeping vantage, hike to Cap d Formentor - the very north of Mallorca where a dramatic lighthouse-topped headland looks out onto a crystalline seascape. On this premonitory, take a wander through scented pine-forests to seek tiny coves for refreshing swims and relish a Mallorca less visited.