Pollensa Hit the north
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Vol. 2 Issue 30
9
June 7th - June 20th 2018
www.theolivepress.es
June 7th - June 20th 2018
PRIVILEGE: Stunning La Fortaleza and Le Saux, Cameron and Theroux
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ITTING high on a promontory lording over the bay of Pollensa sits one of Spain’s most exclusive properties. Owned by British financier, Lord James Lupton, La Fortaleza was once the country’s most expensive home on the market for €125 million and most recently became famous as the home of scoundrel business mogul Richard Roper, played by Hugh Laurie, in the BBC drama, The Night Manager. An incredible place surrounded by water and pine-covered hills, the 400-year-old fort has put up countless VIPs over the years, including Spanish artist Joaquin Sorolla, who painted it. A massive 25,000 square feet of immaculately manicured terraces and gardens, it counts on two pools and seven separate villas in its grounds. But it is the location at the start of the protected Formentor peninsula that makes it so exclusive
Pollensa is all about exclusivity and understated glamour, explains locally-based writer Lesley Keith - and perhaps justifies its price tag. For this is perhaps Mallorca’s most remarkable stretch of scenery. A dramatic finger of soaring peaks and plunging drops, no visitor to the island will forget the breathtaking 20 km drive - or cycle if you’re fit - to its historic lighthouse at the end. It’s as stunning as anywhere in Spain and not dissimilar to the famous New Zealand backdrops in Lord of the Rings. But the whole Pollensa corner of the island is amazing and just when you think the scenery couldn’t get any better, it does. As a PR job the award-winning Night Manager
couldn’t have done more to promote the area featuring both the town and its nearby environs heavily in the series. The main thing to know is that Pollensa is only 45 minutes from Palma airport despite feeling like it could be a million miles away. I have lived here for nearly two years now and can verify quite how different it is from the better known towns of Andratx, Calvia and Portals. While they are all about being seen and splashing the cash, Pollensa is about understated glamour and refined taste. This is the sort of place where you will bump into former British Prime Minister David Cameron
a s n e l l o P in s r e e n io P The longest and best established villa rental business in Pollensa www.rentalspollensa.com Tel. (+34) 971 866 391 reservations@rentalspollensa.com Pollensa · Balearic Islands
RENTALS POLLENSA publi 83 x 170 2.indd 1
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having lunch, or TV presenter Louis Theroux, as I did recently on the beach, playing with his kids. Pollensa is also the home of former England star Graham Le Saux (you know, the only footballer to ever admit to reading the Guardian), as well as the boss of UK supermarket group Iceland. In the hills nearby the famous March family (of the private Banca March) have their amazing estate. Most tourists stay near the coastal town of Puerto Pollensa, or as it’s known locally ‘PP’. You will first be amazed at the views and how calm the sea is here… it is also a little bit warmer than most other beaches on the island as it is so protected. From here take a look around the marina and the moored boats before taking a stroll along the shaded Pine Walk, which curves for several Continues on Page 10
Picture courtesy of Kuhn and partners
VARIETY: So much to see and do from churches to concerts and playgrounds to linens