Hideaways' Review
It's hard to believe that, not even ten years ago, Son Net was in a state of serious disrepair, marred by tasteless renovations. It's also hard to believe that it's barely a twenty-minute drive from Palma, Majorca's largest city.
These days, the 1672 finca, or manor house, gives the impression of floating timelessly and tirelessly above the fray on its hilltop, not quite Brigadoon-like (or whatever the Spanish equivalent is). After all, this oasis of serenity features a serious art collection, including Warhols and Hockneys on the walls, not to mention satellite TV, Internet, and other links to the real world. But that world seems far away when you walk across the original flagstone floors, amid graceful Spanish arches, lie in your canopied bed beneath a lofty ceiling crisscrossed by rustic wood beams, or glance out your window at the picturesque village of Puigpunyent on the slopes below.
Each guest room is as personable as Son Net itself, a deft blend of traditional and modern, each one blessed with an amazing oversized marble-lined bathroom designed for decadent lingering. Lingering, in fact, is one of the favorite pastimes here—on the expansive sunny terrace, in a cabana beside the huge swimming pool, over afternoon tea in the lounge in winter, or tropical milkshakes in summer while wandering through the marvelous landscaped gardens. But be prepared to be joined at dinner by a few aficionados from the world you've temporarily left behind: Oleum, located in the estate's centuries-old olive oil press, has made a name for itself as one of the island's best restaurants. |