Portal Mallorca

The neighboring Villages of Portal and Sa Cabaneta, between Palma and Santa Maria del Cami, have become something of an artists' colony. Unlike in Deia and Banyalbufar, though, the artists are Mallorcan potters taking advantage of the rich local soil. The only reason for coming here is to visit the allerras (workshops), where prices are much lower than in the tourist shops. Good buys include greixaneras (heavy earthenware cooking potsl and alias (clay storage Jars), as well as simple brown glazed plates and plats marenas, glazed bowls painted with symbols (some of the designs go back to Arab times. Several artists specialize in the clay whistles called siurells.