Calvià

Calvià occupies the south-west of Mallorca, between the Serra de Tramuntana and the sea, and is a great deal more than its tourist reputation suggests. Within a single municipality you find some of the most exclusive enclaves on the island (Portals, Bendinat), major beach holiday destinations (Palmanova, Magaluf, Santa Ponça), quiet residential developments and two inland villages with farming roots (Calvià Vila and Es Capdellà). That extreme diversity, together with its closeness to Palma and one of the most established international communities in Mallorca, makes Calvià one of the municipalities with the widest variety of life —and of housing— on the whole island.

Calvià spreads across the south-western corner of Mallorca, bordering Palma to the east and Andratx to the west, with a long frontage on the Mediterranean. It was founded as a town in the 13th century —it was at Santa Ponça that Jaume I landed in 1229 to begin the conquest of the island— around two rural centres, Calvià Vila and Es Capdellà, today havens of the interior set against the bustle of the coast. In a few decades, tourism transformed the municipality completely, turning it into one of Europe's great destinations and the second most populated in the Balearic Islands after Palma. The result is a territory of strong contrasts: from the luxury of its marinas to the large holiday complexes, and from these to residential developments and quiet villages, all a step from the capital.

Calvià is probably the municipality with the most distinct areas in Mallorca, each with its own character and its own market. Next to Palma lie the most exclusive enclaves: Illetes and Cas Català, beside the sea and minutes from the city; Bendinat, one of the most select residential developments on the island, with its golf course; and Portals Nous, with Puerto Portals, a byword for sailing luxury, alongside Costa d'en Blanes. Further west come the large holiday centres: Palmanova, Mallorca's pioneering development and today a family destination, practically joined to Magaluf, the great beach-tourism hub, in the middle of a transformation towards a higher-quality offering. Santa Ponça —the area with the largest residential supply in the municipality— combines beach, marina and golf, and links up with Costa de la Calma and Peguera, established sun-and-sea destinations. To the south, El Toro and its Port Adriano offer a more restful sailing atmosphere, and Cala Vinyes, Sol de Mallorca and Son Ferrer provide quieter residential areas. Finally, inland, Calvià Vila and Es Capdellà keep their village character, at the foot of the Puig de Galatzó. Choosing the right area matters more here than in any other municipality on the island: each answers to a very different way of life and price range.

Everyday life in Calvià varies enormously depending on the area. The inland centres, Calvià Vila and Es Capdellà, keep a steady village life all year round, with local services; the residential developments of the south-west combine quiet with every kind of shop, restaurant and quality service; and the large coastal centres live a sharp contrast between high season and winter. A distinctive feature of the municipality is the concentration of international schools in and around it and in the south-west of the island, one of the reasons so many foreign families choose to live here. It is, taken as a whole, one of the best equipped municipalities for the international resident, with a broad and settled foreign community.

The coast of Calvià is one of its great assets: family beaches, more secluded coves and an exceptional sailing offering, with four marinas —Puerto Portals, Port Adriano and the sailing clubs of Santa Ponça and Palmanova—, with Puerto Portals and Port Adriano international benchmarks of luxury and design. The municipality also has several golf courses and quick access to the Serra de Tramuntana and to the neighbouring island of Sa Dragonera. To beach, sailing and golf is added a very wide offering of leisure, gastronomy and social life, ranging from the select atmosphere of the marinas to the livelier one of the holiday centres. It is a municipality made for enjoying the sea and the open air all year round.

Calvià is among the best connected municipalities on the island: the motorway links it with Palma —which is very close, especially along its eastern strip— and with the airport in a comfortable journey, which makes it attractive even for those who work in the capital. Within the municipality, given its large size and the spread of its centres, a car is highly advisable for moving between one area and another. Public transport connects the main coastal centres with Palma, with better frequency in season and on the main routes.

Few municipalities offer such a wide range. In the exclusive south-west (Bendinat, Portals, Illetes, Costa d'en Blanes) luxury villas, penthouses with sea views and design properties predominate; in the holiday centres (Palmanova, Magaluf, Santa Ponça, Peguera), flats and terraced houses near the beach; in the residential developments (Son Ferrer, El Toro, Cala Vinyes), houses and detached homes; and inland, village houses and country estates in Calvià Vila and Es Capdellà. New build —very present in the high-end areas and in the renewal of Magaluf— sits alongside second-hand housing and refurbishment. The price range is, as a result, among the widest on the island.

Calvià is probably the most international market in Mallorca, with very strong demand from foreign buyers —especially central European— and an enormous weight of second homes. The differences between areas are extreme: the enclaves of the south-west are among the most expensive in Spain, while the holiday centres and some developments offer far more affordable prices. Long-term residential rental supply is tighter on the coast, conditioned by seasonality and holiday letting, and more available inland. It is a dynamic market, with stock for almost any budget, provided the area is well chosen.

Calvià suits international buyers especially, along with those looking for exclusivity and a sailing atmosphere in the south-west, families drawn by the international schools and the residential developments, and anyone who wants to be very close to Palma without living in the city. What to weigh up, on the other hand: the enormous differences in price and atmosphere between areas —it is worth being very clear about which area you are looking for—, the strong seasonality and footfall of the most touristic centres (Magaluf, in the middle of its transformation, being the extreme case) and the dependence on a car given the size of the municipality. With the area well chosen, it is one of the most complete and liveliest municipalities in Mallorca.