For an island whose tourism sector blossomed and boomed on selling its sun-sand-and-sea holiday image, it was a brave and somewhat radical move of the local industry to look to its interiors to see whether another sector could be developed.
Just over thirty years ago,the agroturismo business was born with a collection of small B&Bs and rural hotels opening up across the island breathing new life into then barely profitable farms and, in a stroke, rescuing historic farmhouse buildings from ruin.
Today, this sector, often dubbed “the other Mallorca” means that across Es Pla and dotted all over the pine and almond-clad hills, traditional fincas dressed up as boutique hotels or restored into family-friendly apartments are big business for the island’s tourism industry.
Not for nothing do Team Sky cycling team train every winter in Alcudia with the challenging and beautiful terrain on the doorstep.
Testamentto the appeal of these rural idylls are figures from Engel & Völkers network of offices on the island which show that over a third of requests for properties, either to rent or buy,are for fincas or rural houses. Those which offer the best of both worlds — that are close to a village or town which has shops, restaurants and cafes but that also offer privacy and prized country or mountain views — are particularly popular.
Another factor supporting the increased interest is that the finca market is not restricted to the traditional summer season. With a growing interest inlocally - sourced food and wine — in particular a revival of Mallorca’s olive oil and wine - producing industries — matched with a clement year-round climate and increased flights during the off-season months, houses in the rural north can be enjoyed year round.