Migjorn

Rural and bohemian

In the south of Mallorca, this arid region is one of the driest areas of the island. Bohemian inland villages with their stone houses contrast against a coastline full of charming fishing villages and lively tourist towns. Here, we move between rural and bohemian, modern and contemporary Mallorca. The capital of this traditional and historic region is the town of Llucmajor.

The coastline combines steep cliffs with small coves with fine white sand. However, to the south, there are extensive white sandy beaches, such as the popular tourist beach of s'Arenal or the famous undeveloped beach of es Trenc.

Rainfall in this part of the island is scarce and the landscape is covered by lowland forests with typical Mediterranean vegetation, which is fertile land. Agriculture and livestock farming played an important role until the arrival of mass tourism. Whilst driving along roads and tracks, it is still possible to come across farms that continue to be in production. Milk and some of the island's best-known cheeses are produced in this area.

The landscape of Migjorn is famous for its characteristic coloured sandstone rock. The quarries extract the highly coveted Santanyí stone, which is essential for building houses in the true Mallorcan style. Some of the most symbolic buildings on the island, such as the Cathedral of Mallorca or Bellver Castle, were erected with this precious stone.

Preserving the Mallorca of the past is a priority in this part of the island and several natural parks are working to protect the original landscape from tourist development. The Mondragó Natural Park with its cultivated fields and coves of turquoise waters; and the Natural Park of es Trenc - es Salobrar de Campos, which includes white sandy beaches, dunes and wetlands and even a salt mine; are examples of this conservation. The island of Cabrera, visible on clear days, is the only national park in the Balearic Islands. The beauty of its seabed, its crystalline waters and its rich heritage are well worth a visit.