Things to do in Santa Maria del Camí

A quarter of an hour from Palma, Santa Maria del Camí is a town in the Raiguer, the strip of plain at the foot of the Tramuntana, and it lives off farming and wine. It belongs to the Binissalem wine denomination, and around it are small wineries that open for tastings, such as Celler Ramanyà and 7103 Petit Celler, with manto negro and prensal blanc vines all around.

In the centre, the former Mínims convent has one of the loveliest cloisters on the island, and close by is Artesania Tèxtil Bujosa, one of the workshops still weaving roba de llengües, the Mallorcan fabric with its flame-shaped pattern. On Sunday mornings the market fills the Plaça Nova and the streets around it with fruit and vegetables from the countryside, cured sausages, plants and crafts. At night CatsMusics Jazz Club puts on live concerts. It is a good, quiet base for anyone who wants to be near Palma and the mountains without staying on the coast.

Getting there

From Palma it is about 20 minutes by car on the Ma-13 motorway towards Inca; a little longer from the airport. The town has a station on the SFM train line from Palma's Estació Intermodal to Inca, so you can come without a car. On market Sundays, park on the edge of town and walk in.

When to go

All year round: it does not depend on the beach. Sunday morning is the liveliest time, because of the market. The wineries are busiest in September, at harvest, and in spring the fields are green and the walking is good. In summer, visit early or towards sunset, as the plain gets hot.