Deia, a picturesque mountain village in the northwest of Mallorca, has become a popular destination of the international A-list crowd. Locals credit—or blame—English poet Robert Graves (author of I, Claudius among other works), who lived on Deia for nearly 50 years until his death in 1985.
Graves not only welcomed literary luminaries such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Anais Nin, but he also attracted Hollywood figures of his day, including Ava Gardner, Peter Ustinov and Alec Guinness. Although the influx of actors lends a certain glamour, it's the artists whom the locals revere. The town is a de facto artists' colony.
Among the attractions in town is the Deia Archaelogical Museum, an interesting mix of science and art. It showcases the remains of an extinct Pleistocene mammal known as the Myotragus Balearicus, which was discovered on the island.
Hikers can follow a coastal path from Deia to Soller, a nearby town that offers a bit more in the way of commerce and bustle than Deia but which retains its own distinct charm. The port of Soller has a lighthouse as well as a beach with a boardwalk teeming with outdoor restaurants.
To request access to the full version of this destination guide, please provide your email address below. Your email address will only be used for verification purposes and will not be used for marketing purposes.