Possessio Binicomprat Hotel, Algaida

The Puig de Randa, rising 543m out of the plain, has been a place of pilgrimage ever since Ramon Llull founded Mallorca's first hermitage here in 1275.

Discover how Mallorcans lived in prehistoric times in this archaeological museum, where you can see the results of excavations carried out on the site of Son Fornes.

Porreres is located inland in the south-east area of Mallorca. Having arrived to Porreres, any local person should be able to show you the road up to sanctuary, which formely housed a College of Humanities, one of the threee most important of rural Majorca.

Els Calderers is a manor house situated between Vilafranca and Sant Joan. The house was once at the centre of a large wine estate but like so many others in Mallorca, it fell victim to the phylloxera disease. Reopened in 1993, the 18th-century house is now a museum of Mallorcan furniture and traditions. Set in beautiful countryside, this is a lovely place to spend a few hours.

This hilltop hermitage a few kilometres from the town of Petra is where Junipero Serra preached his last sermon in Mallorca before leaving to found the Mexican and Californian missions.

The Museu del Fang (pottery museum) aims to promote the many different techniques, shapes and functions that clay has had in different cultures.

Algaida is a handsome rural town made from Mallorca’s celebrated sandstone, complete with vibrant green shutters, narrow streets and a central square dominated by a pretty 15th century church.

Perched high on a ridge in Mallorca’s countryside and surrounded by old stone windmills, the sleepy village of Montuiri is probably the most impressive sight on the road between Palma and Manacor.

Llucmajor is an inland town in the south of Mallorca, located within the plains that lie below the hills of Randa. The town itself is a medium size, however, the area that surrounds it, also called Llucmajor, is the largest municipality on the island comprising of 16 villages including Cala Blava, Cala Pi and the famous tourist resort of S’Arenal.

Porto Petro or Portopetro can be found within the district of Santanyí. This fishing village which retains much of its traditional charm, with most of its buildings, developed in the early 20th century, being handsome, colourful houses with authentic Mallorcan shutters.

People argue over whether the mountains or the coast represent 'the real Mallorca', but the heart of the island is to be found in villages like this. The bars are frequented by local farmers and make few concessions to tourism; there is nothing to see as such, just marvellous views across to the Tramuntana where the mountains rise out of the plain.

Porreres is typical of the small towns on the Mallorcan plain - nothing much to see, but an easy-going atmosphere and a good place to while away a couple of hours.