Valldemossa and its treasures

Let's go back to last summer, shall we? Today, I will take you to one of my favorite towns in Mallorca called Valldemossa.

Valldemossa is an ancient town located close to the West coast of the island, in the heart of Serra de Tramuntana mountain range, so when you visit this place be ready for fantastic views of Mallorca.

You can get there easily from Palma de Mallorca by car. We also saw a bus stop but I wouldn't count on the public transport on the island. You can park the car near the entrance to the town and from there walk and likely get lost in fairy-tale like cobblestone streets.

This charming town is full of restaurants, bistros, art galleries, souvenir shops and boutiques. It's a lively place which is popular among tourists but it wasn't too crowded when we visited it. The reason could be that we came during lunch when it was about 40 degrees Celsius, so other people were probably busy with their siesta instead 🙂

Valldemossa has its roots dated back to more than 2000 years ago. It was originally built during the Muslim occupation of the island. Its name comes from the Moorish name of the town Musa Valley.

What I really like about Valldemossa is that it still keeps its medieval appearance. And this is why we keep coming back every time we visit Mallorca as we feel transported back to the past.

There are plenty of bars where you can enjoy a glass of refreshing Sangria...

The houses are decorated with plants and flowers, and I always wondered how they keep them alive and so pretty in such heat and with so much sun exposure. I have recognized many of them and I even have some of them at home, and I would love if they looked this healthy and happy. I have a lot to learn from the Mallorcans 🙂

There are some flowerpots on every single house. It's a paradise for a plant lower like me...

As Valldemossa is located in the mountains there are many staircases around the town and you will walk up and down all the time...

We both enjoyed strolling around the town but this time we came here for another reason which is to visit the King Sancho Palace and the monastery of Valldemossa. Both of them are part of a complex called Cartoixa de Valldemossa .

However, first we enjoyed delicious lunch on a square that was the only place with a bit of refreshing wind.

We were not the only ones enjoying the wind. I almost sat on this cat as it was sleeping so peacefully on the chair and I didn't even notice it when we chose our table. It accompanied us during our lunch with occasional stretching and changing of its position. It seemed to be used to people and so relaxed in our company. It was a stray cat that was fed well by the restaurant. The waiter told us that they sort of adopted it as it kept coming back 🙂

First, we will visit The King Sancho Palace.

The palace was built by James II in 1309 as a residence for his son. Sancho I suffered from asthma, and the temperature and humidity in the area made him feel better. It was not the only time when the residence was used in connection with health. At the end of the 14th century when Europe was tortured with the plaque, the palace was used as a refuge for the royal family and intelligence of that time. Caroixa

It's a massive construction and we couldn't wait to see what was waiting for us inside.

Let's go!

Once we entered the residence, we climbed the stairs to the ticket office. The standard ticket price is 10 EUR per person (price as per 2022). It includes the visit of the palace as well as the charterhouse.

We purchased our tickets and entered the beautiful courtyard. This was the place where I spent the most of our time in the complex as I was captivated by the bright colors and lushness of the plants. There was also a small fountain in the middle with a gentle stream of water which was adding to the serenity of the place. I loved it!

Let's go inside!

The complex was gifted in 1399 to Carthusian monks who converted it to a monastery. They lived there until 1835, until the complex was passed into private ownership. The monks hosted very influential people, so they decorated this area with paintings and rich furniture. The complex consisted of a dining room, four bedrooms and a chapel.

Today, the furniture is not original but it is carefully selected to resemble the atmosphere of the palace as it was in the past.

Dining tables in all palaces that we visited were always dressed for dinner. I wonder if they only want to make you hungry 🙂 (Of course I know that it's to show us how dining customs used to look like)

We were also getting glimpses of the mountains surrounding us...

Look at this mirror - it's placed in the wall and richly decorated with fruit paintings instead of being put in a frame...

Now, we go back to the courtyard and from there we enter the second part of the complex...

But before that, let's have a look at what is inside of these doors...

This ceiling! Have you noticed the monkeys? 🙂 No idea why they are there.

For the rest, it was a room used for presentations, and not so special.

To get to the second part of the complex including the monastery, Neoclassical church and private chambers of Frédéric Chopin we had to walk out of the palace and cross the small square where we had lunch before. Honestly, walking around the complex is confusing but there are guides who will show you the right way before you get lost and walk in the opposite direction.

Once you enter the building, you will see a large medieval cloister in front of you. This is from where you will be entering the rooms during the exhibition.

We were not allowed to enter the garden in the cloister but we still enjoyed the views.

The colorful tower of the church in the monastery can be recognized from far away - when you drive from Palma de Mallorca you can't miss it before you enter the town.

The entrance to the church is a bit creepy...

Closer up it's not much better...

The church in the monastery dates back to the 18th century. Its construction started in 1751 and it took more than 60 years to finish it.

I must say that when I entered the church it took me by surprise. I didn't expect such high ceilings and such delicately decorated cupola. The chandeliers were also big and gave the church its pompous look.

The church is still active, so you won't be able to visit it at the times of ceremony. It's better to check the times before you visit, so that you won't be disappointed when it's closed during your visit.

After the church tour, we continued down the corridor to The Chambers of Frédéric Chopin.

In the corridor, look for Cell number 4 - this was the home of Frédéric Chopin with his wife George Sand and their two children when they stayed in Mallorca in the winter of 1838 and 1839, so that famous composer would improve his health conditions. The chambers contain his original piano and other artifacts.

Unfortunately, they didn't find the peace and tranquility that they were looking for. Their life style clashed with the lifestyle of monks, and they also didn't get used to local customs, so they left only after a couple of months. Not to mention that winter in monastery is not very pleasant. Chopin

Even these gardens didn't help them to feel at home. They are connected to the chambers and you can find there various sorts of plants as well as grapes, oranges and much more...

Not to mention the views from the gardens. Well, I can imagine enjoying this place for a couple of months.

Before we left The Charterhouse of Valldemossa, we walked around the monastery gardens as well. It's a small maze of narrow paths situated among large trees providing much needed shade.

The last glimpse of the monastery before leaving Valldemossa...

Valldemossa is a place to see when you are in Mallorca. You won't regret visiting it as it has something to offer to everyone. Actually, there is no beach but even on an island I'm sure everyone can survive one day without the beach 🙂 See you next time Valldemossa!

Thank you for reading!

Cheers,
Martina