Villas in Mallorca Southeast

The south-east is the coast of the calas: narrow inlets of turquoise water between pale rocks, pines to the very edge and, behind them, flat land of almond trees and dry-stone walls. Caló des Moro, Cala Llombards, Cala Santanyí and the beaches of the Mondragó natural park all lie within minutes of one another. Santanyí, with its Wednesday and Saturday market and galleries in sandstone lanes, is the centre; Cala d'Or with its marina and Porto Colom with its great natural harbour are the places by the water.

Houses in this area range from fincas between Santanyí, Es Llombards and S'Alqueria Blanca, with plenty of land and a view to the sea, to villas among the pines of Cala d'Or, Portopetro and Cala Figuera, to estates above the harbour at Porto Colom. Characteristic of the area is the pale Santanyí sandstone from which Palma's cathedral was also built; many fincas are made of it, with large pools and terraces turned to the evening light.

From the airport it is 45 to 55 minutes, along the motorway to Llucmajor or Campos and then across country. A holiday here includes the market in Santanyí, fish restaurants in Cala Figuera and Porto Colom, the sanctuary of Sant Salvador above Felanitx, golf at Vall d'Or and a day at Es Trenc further west. Florian Settele knows these houses in person and will tell you which cala fills early in August and which finca is within walking distance of the beach.