Calvia Vila is an inland town on the west of Mallorca, about half an hours drive from Palma airport and quarter of an hour from the lively coastal resorts of Magaluf and Palma Nova which are popular with young British visitors. However Calvia bears little resemblance to these, being a pretty and very Mallorcan spot but with the amenities you would expect from a town of this size (about 4,000 people). The surroundings are very beautiful,as it lies at the foothills of the Tramuntana Mountains, nestled among carob and almond trees. There are a number of buildings dating back to the 17^th century or even older and also the remains of a Roman villa. Those who enjoy an active outdoor life are well catered for here with hiking, mountain biking and cycling all popular pursuits, helped by the great weather of course. There is a bus station in Calvia, although the route to the coast and capital of Palma can be quite convoluted, made up for many by the wonderful views when you are on-board and high up. It takes about 25 minutes by push-bike to reach the coast if you are a keen cyclist. Calvia Vila is the administrative capital of the Calvia region, and some people new to the area can confuse the two. As well as Magaluf and Palma Nova the region includes large towns such as Santa Ponsa. As with almost all Spanish towns there is a lively programme of fiestas and other events which the local town hall or tourist office will be happy to give you more information about. There is a choice of bars and restaurants - when dining in Spain often the best advice is simply to look out for where the locals go.

Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands which sit in the Mediterranean sea off the coast of south-eastern Spain. Palma de Mallorca is a large, bustling and sophisticated Spanish city with numerous shops and restaurants as well as a marina containing some of the world’s most expensive vessels. Most of the better known resorts and towns are on the coast while the interior remains surprisingly unspoilt. The island offers something for everyone from the lively town of Magaluf to smaller towns where many European expatriates have made a new home, enjoying the reasonable prices for eating and drinking out while appreciating the wonderful climate and great beaches. This also makes it an ideal destination for golfers with a number of courses dotted around the island, from championship level to those more suitable for beginners.

Anyone living in Mallorca needs to take time to get to know the capital of the island, Palma. This is a cosmopolitan and affluent city with some great shopping and eating opportunities. The cultural highlight for many is the stunning La Seu Cathedral, a mix of the old and the new with 20^th century additions made by Spain’s most famous architect Antoni Gaudi. A great way to get around Palma is the hop-on hop-off bus tours that usually sell open ended tickets for 24 or 48 hours. Another must see is the marina and from here there are a variety of marine activities available from boat hire to snorkelling trips. Outside of the capital are the caves at Drachs, one of the island most popular day trips, while the stunning trolley train journey from Soller is also a “must do”.

For golfers there are a number of course dotted around the island, some of them championship standard and others more suitable for beginners. Palma has a number of sporting events for spectators including a professional football team and numerous world standard boating events. Overall, there are a surprising amount of relatively undiscovered places to visit on the island, especially once you get a few miles inland. Magaluf of course is famous for its party scene and nightlife while for complete contrast Deia and Valldemossa are both attractive mountain towns with links to literary figures. For a day at the beach there is everything from the busy resorts to quiet seemingly undiscovered coves and bays. If you fancy getting off the island for a day or two but don’t want to fly there are regular ferry services to the mainland and other major islands in the Balearics. If you’re lucky you may see dolphins or even whales when travelling this way and it is a great way of getting around for those with a family.

Mallorcan cuisine, while still essentially Mediterranean, is different in many ways from the rest of Spain. Regional cooking has always been important here and as an island Mallorca was very dependent on what people could grow and raise locally until exports became more common. Fish features widely, as do vegetables, pork, bread and rice. Many restaurants, particularly inland, specialise in game such as rabbit, roast suckling pig and quail. Look out for arros brut (rice stew with vegetables and meat), lechona asada (roast suckling pig), sobrasada (chopped chorizo paste), peix al forn (baked fish) and llom amb col (pork loin wrapped in cabbage leaves). For desserts try local ice cream, pastries or just seasonal fruit, some of the best in Europe.

Palma is the gastronomic heart of the island, a cosmopolitan city with everything from internationally acclaimed restaurants to cheap and cheerful side street bars serving food to local workmen and more adventurous visitors. Inland the food is heartier and often better value – look out for “cellers”, traditional restaurants housed in old domestic wine cellars. Mallorca makes its own wine (Binissalem and Pla I Llevant de Mallorca are regarded as the best) as well herbes (an aniseed flavour spirit) and palo, a black, sweet liqueur. When trying to find local dishes look for the denominations Mallorqui or Mallorquina.