| re after a slice of authentic Mallorca then you won't | | | | raiders from Africa. |
| want to miss the Festa del Melo festival in Vilafranca | | | | If you've managed to book late availability in Mallorca, |
| de Bonany. | | | | make sure your trip coincides with the Festa del |
| To combine sun, sea and sand, many holidaymakers | | | | Melo, which is held on the last Sunday of September. |
| head to the Spanish resort of Mallorca, but if you're | | | | The festival marks the end of the watermelon |
| looking for a relaxing break and rustic charm, why | | | | harvest and invites local farmers to enter their |
| not travel to Vilafranca de Bonany? | | | | biggest fruit into a competition to win a cash prize |
| Located in the central district of Es Pla, the village is | | | | and a trophy. |
| historical and well-preserved, offering a relaxed pace | | | | Mallorca holds many festivals every month but the |
| of life and unspoilt landscape. And fittingly, the area | | | | melon event provides a great opportunity for |
| has its own melon festival, which could be a fun and | | | | holidaymakers to experience the tradition and charm |
| entertaining attraction if you plan to visit the region | | | | of the village while catching the last of the summer |
| as part of a Majorca holiday. | | | | sun. The festival has been taking place for around 40 |
| The village is famous for its melons, among other dry | | | | years, with farmers bringing their produce to be |
| irrigation crops, and experienced growth in the | | | | weighed at the Placa Tomeu Penyato. Recent |
| mid-1600s. Despite this, Vilafranca de Bonany has | | | | winning melons have weighed in at 17,780 g, which is |
| remained largely traditional and free from the hustle | | | | almost three stones. |
| and bustle of larger towns on the island. | | | | After you've sampled some of the giant juicy |
| It may be small, but the village has plenty to offer | | | | melons, why not try some other local delicacies? The |
| sightseers holidaying in quality farmhouses in Mallorca. | | | | region is well-known for its variety of sausages as |
| Much of the architecture in the area is from the 18th | | | | well as home-made wines. And if you're in the region |
| and 19th century and there are numerous churches | | | | for a few days, why not spend some time visiting |
| and points of interest. One of the most prominent | | | | the surrounding areas? |
| buildings in the village is an 18th century church | | | | Journey through Es Pla to take in the rural farmland |
| dedicated to Santa Barbara that has been renovated | | | | views and have a go at wine-making with the locals |
| several times and now includes a square bell tower. | | | | before taking a bottle home with you as a souvenir. |
| As you explore the area, you're also likely to come | | | | If you fancy some more active adventures, why not |
| across an Arab well, or viguet, sited at the entrance | | | | climb some of the local mountains of Llevant for a |
| to the village, and you might enjoy looking around | | | | bird's-eye view of the island? And if you enjoyed |
| the oldest country estate in the area - Sant Marti - | | | | that, there's still Mont-sion with a summit of 250 |
| established in the 14th century. The oldest house in | | | | metres to scale with a sanctuary at its pinnacle. |
| the village, Casa de Son Pere Jaume, is also open for | | | | If you prefer to relax at the beach, you could take a |
| exploration and you're sure to want to pay a visit to | | | | trip to the bay of Alcudia for white sands and sea, or |
| the neo-Gothic style Cases Monges building, which | | | | visit the local country lanes and fruit groves, or the |
| was built in 1897. | | | | S'Albufera nature park if you'd like to feel closer to |
| Other points of interest include the only surviving | | | | the local landscape. If history is your penchant, |
| flour mill in the centre which stopped working around | | | | journey to the prehistoric village of Son Fornes, |
| 1915 - Moli Nou - and the historical Alcudiarrom | | | | which dates back to the Talaiotic Bronze Age period. |
| Tower, which is thought to have been built to | | | | And before you head home from your Majorca |
| defend the village from attack. As you discover more | | | | holiday, don't miss the market at Sineu, which is held |
| of the area, you're also likely to come across | | | | every Wednesday and brings locals together to trade |
| remnants of different eras such as the Roman, | | | | livestock and wares such as lace, leather and pearls. |
| medieval and Iron Age periods, as well as examples | | | | But to make sure you have the most authentic |
| influenced by Islam from the numerous occasions in | | | | experience, don't forget to take part in the Festa del |
| its history when the island was attacked by Muslim | | | | Melo! |