Calvia

Calvia is like an old lady who has won the loteria and doesn't know how to cope with her success. Until recently an unassuming country town, Calvia hit the jackpot when tourists discovered the nearby beaches and it is now said to be the richest municipality in Spain. There are a few ostentatious signs of wealth, like the sparkling new town hall and sports stadium, but mostly life continues as before, with ochre colored houses, a handful of shops and bars, and chickens scrambling between the olive trees.

The town is dominated by the church of Sant Joan Baptista, built in the late 19th century around the 13th century original; near here, by a fountain, a ceramic mural tells the story of Calvia's history. Founded in 1249 with 80 inhabitants, the town had a population of 3,000 In 1960 and 11,560 in 1980 all because of tourism. Stand on the terrace looking out over almond and carob trees and it is hard to believe you are just a few kilometers from the teeming resorts of 'Maganova'.