Sineu, Mallorca

Sineu, at the geographical centre of Mallorca is a lively rural town best known for it's weekly market.

Sineu comes alive each Wednesday morning at the island's most traditional market. It takes place on several levels. The sound of bleating leads you to the livestock market, where weatherbeaten farmers haggle over the price of sheep before heading for the town's celler restaurants for an early brunch.

Further up, on the way to the church, you pass the symbol of Sineu, a winged lion; near here are numerous stalls selling leather, lace and pearls. Eventually you reach Sa Placa, the church square, where the action is liveliest of all, as local housewives turn out to buy the week's food. Buckets of olives, strings of tomatoes, bags of squirming snails - they are all here, along with plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers.

Get to Sineu early, before the tour buses arrive, to catch the flavour of a traditional country market. Good buys include dried figs and apricots, pottery from Portol and baskets from Sudan.

 Also in Sineu is S'Estacid, an unusual modern art gallery based in the old station.