Nuns settled on Puig de Maria ('Mary's mountain') in 1371 and remained for several hundred years, refusing to leave even when the Bishop of Palma ordered them down for their own safety.
The convent is still there, on top of the mountain - the chapel smells of incense and the refectory of woodsmoke. You can stay in simple rooms in the sanctuary here, but don't expect luxury - you pay extra if you take a shower. The caretaker will rustle up a paella for dinner to save you the long walk back to town.
The puig is a hill just outside of Pollenca, and takes about an hour to climb, or you can drive up a terrifying & narrow potholed road, and be rewarded with views over Cap de Formentor and the entire northeastern coast - as well as back down over Pollenca. If you'd like to know a bit more about the walk to the monastery and it's restaurant & accomodation, read our Activity Report, The Puig de Maria & Monastery, Pollenca
