Villa Soller

Villa Soller is a rarity: a luxury rental in the centre of a Mallorcan town rather than on its outskirts. The house occupies a full plot on Soller's main square, behind an Art Nouveau facade from 1903 that was designed by a student of Gaudi during the brief period when Soller's orange trade with France made it one of the wealthiest towns on the island. The facade - with its curved iron balconies, ceramic tile panels, and organic stone carvings - is listed as a protected monument. Behind it, the interior has been modernised to a standard that respects the building's history while providing contemporary comfort. Five bedrooms are arranged across three floors. The principal floor, reached by the original marble staircase, contains the master suite and a secondary bedroom, both with ceiling heights of 4.5 metres, original mosaic floors, and french doors opening onto the ironwork balconies overlooking the square. Two bedrooms on the second floor are quieter, facing the walled garden at the rear. A fifth bedroom on the top floor is a self-contained apartment with its own kitchen and sitting room, suitable for staff or older children. The walled garden is the property's private retreat: 200 square metres of orange and lemon trees surrounding a heated plunge pool and a covered dining terrace that seats 10. Despite being in the centre of town, the garden's high stone walls and mature trees create complete privacy. The chef sets dinner here most evenings, with candles on the table and the scent of orange blossom overhead. Soller's setting in a bowl of mountains, with its vintage tram running down to the port, is one of Mallorca's most picturesque scenes. The Saturday market fills the square outside the front door. The port, 3 km downhill by tram, has harbourside restaurants and two beaches. The Tramuntana hiking trails, including the route to the Barranc de Biniaraix gorge, begin at the edge of town. Palma is 30 minutes through the tunnel.