Arts is the main town in the Northeast Coast region of Mallorca.
The centre of Arta is an old Moorish stronghold, a classic and beautiful Mallorca old town set on a hill overlooking the surrounding countryside and very close to the coastal area of Capdepera.
Less known amongst the British than Pollensa Old Town in the North, or Soller in the Northwest, Arta is non-the-less a place of great character with beautiful old town properties, a lively and historical town centre, plus beautiful countryside and a stunning coastline with great beaches close-by.
The town is the historical centre of the Northeast region. The name Arta is derived from the Arabic word “jertan” meaning garden, and the main features of the town are the grand parish church of Transfiguracio del Senyor and the Santuari de Sant Salvador set in an old fortified wall at the top of the hill. The Santuari dominated all around and offers stunning views over the surrounding area. Going back further in time, to the south of the town there is one of the most important megalithic sites on Mallorca, Ses Paisses, which dates from 1200-800 BC.
Arta town has grown up around the parish church and Santuari, with a pedestrianized “main street” populated by restaurants, cafes and boutique shops. The old town gives way to newer properties in the outskirts but the town has never become too built up and there are no large modern apartment blocks to blight the picturesque nature of the town.
The lifestyle in Arta is very relaxed – some might say chilled! The restaurants generally have a casual air about them but the food on offer is varied and invariably good. Some of the establishments are exceptional, regarded as the best in the region. This is a cosmopolitan place being home to a mixture of local Mallorquins, Spanish from the mainland, Scandinavians, Germans and some British.
Whilst being a tourist destination it is more a place for day-trips from the popular coastal resorts of the Northeast and East of Mallorca. With a regular Tuesday market – again a mixture of tourist-targeted trinkets and handicrafts alongside varied and super fresh local produce – there is a great sense of community all year round.
Arta – images of the town – 02.06.09: 9 photos
Who might be interest in properties in Arta?
Arta itself has been regarded as more likely to be a location for those seeking a permanent residence, yet more and more people are seeking properties in the Mallorca old towns as holiday or semi-permanent homes, and Arta is one of the most interesting and most accessible both culturally and in terms of journey time from Palma and the airport (around 40 to 45 minutes by car).
The countryside around Arta offers some of the best country houses in Mallorca. See our Top 10 Country Houses in Arta feature blog (link below) for a current selection.
And the coastal resorts in the Capdepera area offer some great beaches and a variety of styles of resort from the quiet and relaxed, to more busy and beach-holiday focussed places that have built up with the package tour holiday trade. These are well contained though and most of the coastline is unspoilt and protected from further development.
Importantly, property prices in Arta are lower than other locations better known to the British. This applies both the old traditional townhouses as well as the country houses referred to. All-in-all, Arta and the area around it are certainly worth considering for anyone looking for a slice or real Mallorca for a holiday or permanent location.
≈ Location guide to Arta, Northeast Mallorca
≈ Top ten country houses for sale in Arta, Mallorca
≈ View all our selected properties sale in Arta
≈ Brief MPP to find your ideal property in Arta
≈ Read more about our Mallorca property finder services
Arta – Old town properties – 02.06.09: 6 photos
