The small coastal village of Deià, on the northwest coast of Mallorca, is one of the prettiest villages on the island.
Perched in a ravine at the foot of the Teix mountain, with views out to the Mediterranean below, Deià has long been a magnet for artists, writers and creatives – most notably the English poet Robert Graves.
Today, the village is home to several artists with many art galleries and gift shops being found near every alley.
There are a good number of restaurants, but with controlled expansion, the little village has maintained its beauty and charm.
The name of Deià (or ‘Deya’) comes from the time of the Moorish conquest of Mallorca, between the 10th and 13th centuries.
Muslims called the area ‘Ad-Daya’ which means ‘village’ and, during their time on the island, they created the terraced irrigation systems that allowed the steep hillsides to be cultivated for farming.
Olive trees flourished to an altitude of 600 metres, and today cover much of the hillsides above the town.
According to its local website, the rich landscape is a rewarding place to go walking.
Ranging from easy to more challenging, well-established hiking routes include Miramar monastery, and Sa Foradada, a picturesque peninsula with a spectacular lookout point.
As well as hiking, tourists can go for a range of fun activities in the gorgeous seaside village.
A visit to Robert Graves’ former house should also be on your to-do list if you are visiting Deià. The house will transport you back in time to when he was living there as it retains the atmosphere it had when Graves was at the height of his creativity.
It is filled with his personal belongings including a jam-packed guestbook.
The gardens are also worth a trip, filled with orange, olive, lemon and almond trees.
