Nestled in the Serra de Tramuntana mountains, Deia is a picture-perfect town on the Spanish island of Mallorca. It has long attracted artists, writers and creatives to its cobblestone streets, which offer magnificent views across the surrounding olive and orange groves towards the Mediterranean Sea.
Things to do in Deia
If you’re interested in Deia’s links to literary figures, pay a visit to the Casa de Robert Graves, which preserves the residence where he lived until his death in 1985. It has been restored to how it appeared when Graves arrived in 1946 and it was here that he wrote his historical novel “Hercules my Shipmate”. In addition to personal photographs, book covers and BBC interviews, the museum features original furnishings and wall hangings.
At the Archaeological Museum of Deia, you can see discoveries by the archaeologist and painter, William Henre Waldren. It occupies a historic mill and offers a fascinating insight into life on Mallorca over the past thousands of years. Many of the artefacts exhibited were found in the nearby caves of Son Mullet and Son Ferrandell-Olesa.
For a day at the beach, make the short drive to Cala Deia, a rocky cove overlooking an expanse of green-blue water. There are plenty of rocky ledges where you can sunbathe in between swims and two restaurants serving authentic paella and locally sourced seafood. A hiking trail leads along the top of the adjacent cliffs to the historic Torre de sa Pedrissa.
Getting around Deia
Deia is around 20 minutes’ drive from Soller and 40 minutes from Palma de Mallorca Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Regular buses connect to Deia and the town is small enough to explore on foot. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around the region.