DK Travel : Mallorca : Places of interest

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Cala Deià

A narrow winding road from Deià (see Deià) leads to a picturesque cove surrounded by steep cliffs. The beach is shingle, and the water is very clear. Getting down to it by car is the usual routine of narrow switch-backs.
Cala Figuera

This tiny old fishing hamlet is an underdeveloped gem. It probably owes its survival to the simple fact that it has no beach, the closest one being 4 km (2 miles) away at Cala Santanyí. What it does have is pleasant low-rise structures and a friendly array of eateries and people-watching cafés. The Villa Sirena is perched on the promontory (see Villa Sirena, Cala Figuera).
Cala Fornells

A pleasant resort made up of coves with turquoise water, sandy beaches and large, flat rocks on which to bask. Families flock here, and it’s good for snorkelling. Nearby Peguera has the nightlife (see Peguera).
Cala Rajada

Ideal for watersports of all kinds, but the town itself feels a little cramped and overused, though it is still a fully operational fishing port. Fine coves and beaches nearby include popular Cala Guyá, Cala Mezquida and Cala Torta, which allows nudists.
Cala Sant Vicenç

The resort has possibly the clearest, most beautiful blue waters of any truly sandy beach on the island yet is rarely overcrowded. There are actually three calas (coves) – Cala Sant Vicenç, Cala Barques and Cala Molins – separated by rocky outcroppings. Cala Molins is accessed down a steep hill from the main part of the resort and has the most laid-back character, as well as a broader beach than the others.
Cala Tuent

A side turn off the road to Sa Calobra leads its winding way down to Cala Tuent, a small cove with a beach and a 13th-century church, Ermita de Sant Llorenç. Cala Tuent is probably the quietest beach on the northern coast, and there’s a nice café-restaurant on the far side of the cove. Swimming here is safe as long as you don’t venture out too far.
Capdepera

You can glimpse this castle from miles away, its rickrack form sprawling appealingly around the crest of its sizeable hill. A citadel of some sort has existed here since Roman times, guarding the sea approach, but the present crenellated classic dates back to King Sanç in the 14th century. You can drive up, if you’re lucky enough to find the right street in the tightly knit little town below, but the walk up from pleasant Plaça de l’Orient is far more fun. Within the walls is a curious little Gothic church, from the flat roof of which you can take in more spectacular vistas.
Capdepera

The extremely large and well-preserved medieval fortress that dominates the ridge above the town is the main reason to come to Capdepera. With its crenellated walls draped over the rolling hilltop, it is certainly a noble sight and one of Mallorca’s finest castles. Some sort of fort has been here since at least Roman times, and more or less continuously used throughout centuries of international squabbles and pirate raids (see also Castell de Capdepera).
Capocorb Vell

This Talayot settlement was probably established around 1000 BC. Originally, it consisted of five stone structures ( talaiots ) and 28 smaller dwellings. The amazing Cyclopean walls, reaching 4 m (13 ft) in places, would have served as protection, but little more is known about the function of the rooms or the lives of the ancient inhabitants. Be sure to have a drink at the visitors’ bar, which is like something out of The Flintstones .
Castell de Bellver

One of Europe’s most remarkable, fairytale castles was actually a prison for 700 years and now houses an excellent museum.