Els Calderers - Fascinating manor house near Sant Joan

Anyone traveling through Mallorca, especially the interior of the island, will inevitably come across an old estate. Wouldn’t it be exciting to take a peek inside the rooms of a majestic mansion?

What stories can these buildings tell? How did the family live here? The Els Calderers estate, located in the municipality of Sant Joan and open to the public, offers authentic answers. This proud estate is now an open-air museum that invites visitors. A wonderful experience for both adults and children!

Els Calderers – Location, How to Get There and Parking

The Els Calderers estate is located exactly between Sant Joan and Villafranca de Bonany. It is easily accessible via the MA-15 highway. At the roundabout, take the exit towards Villafranca and immediately turn left. The road is well signposted.

There are plenty of parking spaces available directly at the estate, and they are free of charge. It’s best to look for a spot in the shade.

Historic Mansion with a Long History

Els Calderers, located at the foot of the Ermita del Puig de Bonany, is approximately at kilometer 37 on a secondary road off the Palma-Manacor highway and is easy to find. The address is Camino Els Calderers, 07240 Sant Joan. It is recommended to exit the highway at kilometer 39. There are signs directing you to Els Calderers from Sant Joan.

The estate was first mentioned in documents in 1285 and was named after its original owners, the Calderers family. It later passed into the hands of the Verí family.

For a long time, vines were the main source of income for the estate, but due to the phylloxera plagues, the inhabitants eventually decided to switch to cultivating cereals.

With current knowledge, vine cultivation has successfully resumed, and tourists can even taste the wine. The current main building was constructed starting in 1750. It has three floors and is made of yellow limestone. The style is typically Mallorcan. In the courtyard, there is an old well that still provides fresh water. Additionally, there are several auxiliary buildings, stables, and, of course, extensive grounds.

What visitors can expect on a visit to Els Calderers

The rooms are still furnished as if the Calderers family could return at any moment. In the bedroom, there is a majestic four-poster bed; in the dining room, the table is festively set; and in the kitchen, you can see a beautiful rustic dishware set.

My personal highlight is the music room, decorated in a classicist style, where traces of traditional Mallorcan musical instruments can be found. The attention to detail in restoring the mansion’s original atmosphere is striking. It’s an effort that has undoubtedly succeeded, as the atmosphere of Els Calderers captivates all its visitors.

At this point, Francisco Juan de Sentmenat deserves a special mention: it is primarily thanks to this passionate collector of artworks and precious furniture that the restoration of Els Calderers was made possible.

Native animals even live on the estate. The most interesting example is probably the black pig, “Porc negre.” If you’ve been to the island of Mallorca, you might be familiar with the delicious Mallorcan sausage specialty, sobrasada.

Sobrasada is made precisely from these black pigs. Naturally, the estate also offers typical island products in a small shop. In addition to the spreadable sausage and the aforementioned wine, it also includes honey and jam.

At Els Calderers, you immerse yourself in the history of Mallorca. A unique experience for the whole family.

Richard Hanke

The mansion and its auxiliary buildings

In the auxiliary buildings, which are also open to visitors, almost everything revolves around agriculture. The workshops and work areas belonging to the estate are absolutely worth seeing and are just as carefully furnished as the rooms in the main building.

There is, for example, a blacksmith’s workshop, a bakery, a laundry, and a carpentry shop. The historical tools and equipment vividly demonstrate how hard, exhausting, and full of hardships life on the island of Mallorca was in the past.

Despite this, progress had already arrived, as the machines were powered by a single-cylinder oil engine. It was the first engine of its kind in Mallorca and a true innovation for the time. Additionally, the Els Calderers mansion also has its own small chapel, which could be accessed directly from the living room.

Conclusion

Els Calderers is worth a visit for many reasons. It allows you to explore the island’s past and get an authentic picture of rural life in Mallorca in earlier times.

Particularly for families with children, I highly recommend Els Calderers without reservation.

Attractions near the Els Calderers mansion:

• 
  Santuari de Cura
  14 km
• 
  Puig de Randa
  14 km
• 
  Santueri Castle
  20 km
• 
  Son Real Necropolis
  21 km
• 
  Campanet Caves
  24 km