Deia

Deia is situated on a hill against a backdrop of the imposing Sierra de Tramuntana Mountains on Majorca’s northwest coast, close to the deep blue Mediterranean. With all this natural beauty and magnificent surroundings, it is no surprise that Deia has attracted some famous people over the years, not least the gifted English poet Robert Graves, and it is loaded with interesting attractions.

The town is compact and attractive, with the early buildings, constructed of local materials, helping it to blend in with the natural landscape. For years Deia has been a haven for writers, artists and musicians and the main street is full of galleries and workshops with various works for sale.

The main street in Deia leads to the parish church atop the hill where you can see the burial place of Robert Graves in the cemetery. Next door is the Museu Parroquial, with its intriguing collections of coins and religious artefacts, while the superb Archaeological Museum & Research Centre in the town has some interesting relics from nearby Valldemossa.

Cala de Deia (Deia Bay) is a short drive away or you can take a picturesque walk through olive groves to reach this compact shingle beach situated in a pretty north facing bay. There are a number of bars and restaurants here, and the beach attracts the local artist population on weekends, when it can get crowded.

Options for hikers visiting Deia are good as the surrounding Sierra de Tramuntana Mountains offer some fabulous tracks, many of which were carved by the wayward Habsburg, Archduke Ludwig Salvador, a former Majorcan resident. The network of paths affords fantastic viewing of Deia, the surrounding villages and the beautiful Majorcan coastline.

Deia is a great place to visit on a day trip from Palma and its excellent accommodation options also make it a fantastic holiday destination. There are some splendid hotels in Deia, and numerous laid back cafés, bars and restaurants, some of which offer stunning sea views, line the main street. Deia also hosts the annual classical Festival Internacional de Deia.

Nearby Soller, to the north of Deia, is another quality west coast destination, with a wonderful old town, numerous interesting buildings and an exciting beach area down at the port. The train ride back to Palma from Soller traverses the lovely Sierra de Tramuntana Mountains and is a breathtaking journey. Valldemossa lies to the south of Deia and also enjoys a striking mountain setting complemented by such sights as the 14th century Carthusian monastery (La Cartuja) and the one time winter home of Frédéric Chopin, which now houses a brilliant museum.

Getting to Deia
A daily bus runs from Palma to Deia via Valldemossa, a winding route that takes you up and down the hills. If you are travelling by hire car, take the PM20 Palma bypass to the north-bound PM111 Valldemossa road to Valldemossa, from where the C710 coastal road heads north to Deia. Those coming from the airport should head for Palma first along the PM19, which meets with the PM20.