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Cas Padrí Pons
Santanyí, Mallorca, Spain
Cas Padrí Pons
Santanyí, Mallorca, Spain
Created for the Slow Life
Created for the slow life, this 16th-century outpost near the church square of Santanyí remains loyal to its origins. The two-level stone refuge was painstakingly preserved by architect Margalida Montoya to stand proudly as a heritage location, a simple, remodeled, modern home where ancestral building traditions are celebrated and beautifully updated, not rendered obsolete.
This ancient homestead—once a herder’s outpost where men and beast lived side-by-side—has been practically reimagined as an easygoing getaway, a neat, breezy space for enjoying the simple, good life among family and friends. Native daughter Margalida Montoya knows the region’s rural history—the property has been in her family for more than 200 years—so it’s little wonder she’s kept the architectural vernacular alive. Massive exposed stone walls remain, reimagined as a cool pool courtyard and garden. Ancient wood doors offset new white walls and a sleek contemporary kitchen, and Montoya has refashioned ancient wood beams into modern decking. Inside you’ll find neatly restored, original stone support columns, an ancient trapdoor leading to a granary, and humble remnants of the past integrated into the décor (a ceramic “cosi” trough and generous old hearth). Perhaps most exemplary of her home’s humble origins, the well-trodden staircase’s dips and hollows have been beautifully preserved, a reminder of simpler times, when the home was a rural workspace.
Read an interview with Margalida Montoya in our Stories section here.
AROUND
This villa for rent in Mallorca is located in Santanyí, on the southeastern coast of Mallorca. It stands just inland from the coast, its golden sandstone buildings made of locally quarried rock. The town’s history is varied—ancient Moors and Romans occupied it. Pirates pillaged the community, and villagers ultimately built fortifications and the Porta Mudarda city gate in hopes of fending off invaders. Still, the watchtowers, and fortified castles remain. Santanyí’s old town is partially enclosed within medieval city walls, and the town has been updated through the ages, with many 19th- and early 20th-century buildings now dominating the main square. At Santanyí’s heart is the Placa Major, a central plaza surrounded by shops, cafes, and three-story residences. Once a strictly agricultural or rural outpost, Santanyí is known today for its abundance of artisans and craftspeople, with studios, shops, taverns and gallery spaces lining the cobbled streets. Beaches with the island’s trademark turquoise waters are located a few kilometers from the town center.
Outdoorsy types will thrill to the region’s mostly unspoiled coastline, with its sandy and rocky beaches and rugged inlets and coves. This is picture-perfect Mallorca, a timeless Mediterranean destination with wee ports, winding roads, and a fragrant, sun-kissed landscape. A nature reserve, the Mondrago Natural Park, is home to hundreds of species of water fowl and a number of rare orchid varieties. Inland roads lead to local farmsteads and working vineyards, and the adjacent port of Cala Figuera is a fishing village set on a dramatic, Y-shaped bay, where fig and pine trees hug sandstone cliffs, boats bob in the narrow inlets, and waterfront “garages” or sheds hold the colorful wooden vessels. Many of the latter are still used to haul in the daily catch of delectable seafood at the heart of the local cuisine.
LOCATION
Santanyí, Mallorca, Spain. Nearest airport: Palma
BEST TIME TO VISIT: March to September
