This two-bedroom 99m2 Andratx apartment with shared pool and terrace was restored in 2001 and enjoys beautiful sea views. www.firstmallorca. com, tel: +34 971 679 444.
Mallorca Ever dreamt of swapping paella recipes with Catherine Zeta-Jones, or discussing flamenco scores over coffee with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber? Buying a property in sun-drenched Mallorca just might be the closest you get to the real thing, says local resident Anna Nicholas
Forget Magaluf with its floorshow of beer-fuelled youths sporting kiss-me-quick hats. Mallorca is now the chic new playground of the celebrity jet-set, and the ever-present pack of hopeful paparazzi pacing around Palma airport is the living proof.
In truth, the celebrity trend began back in the thirties when colourful British author and poet Robert Graves decamped to the village of Deía in the mountainous north-west of Mallorca, inviting a stream of celebrated British and American literati to visit his idyllic home. Guests included influential poetess Gertrude Stein, actors Alec Guinness, Peter Ustinov and Ava Gardner, and writers such as Kingsley Amis and Allan Silitoe.
Keep up with the Joneses and move to Mallorca where Hollywood royalty Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas have a homeThen in the nineties, Richard Branson purchased Hotel La Residencia and a new wave of big celebrity names flocked to Deía, such as Princess Diana, Pierce Brosnan and Mike Oldfield. Joining this roll-call of fame today is Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber who recently purchased a stone-built finca in the village just up the road from British PR guru Lynne Franks, and only 10 minutes’ drive away from the sumptuous home in Valldemossa of Hollywood royalty Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
If the Sóller Valley in the north-west of Mallorca has attracted many British celebrity buyers with its serenity, breathtakingly beautiful landscape and dramatic Tramuntana mountain range, German celebrities such as Boris Becker and supermodel Claudia Schiffer have settled in the south-west, in towns such as Andratx, where the sun is hotter and the beaches are more dazzling.
A finca-style villa in Andratx boasting views of the port, sea and mountains. The 130,000m2 plot includes a 495m2 living area comprising three bedrooms and bathrooms, open-plan lounge, dining room and designer kitchen. The garden has an automatic irrigation system and heated pool. It also has a three-car garage.
€1,992,000So why are the stars buying in Mallorca? Gerhard Maurer of Casas Mallorca, who, 10 years ago, was the first property agent to operate in the Sóller Valley, believes that celebrities primarily want peace and privacy. ‘Here in the north-west we have many British and German celebrity residents but they hang out in jeans and t-shirts and love the quiet, rural atmosphere. People like rock star Annie Lennox and fashion designer Katherine Hamnett just want to be treated like everybody else, and they are.’ As proved by a recent visit by pop rocker Rod Stewart and girlfriend Penny Lancaster, who dressed in an eye-popping bikini and sarong for a visit to a local restaurant in the quiet Port of Sóller. They arrived and left completely ignored (perhaps to their disappointment) by the locals.
Whether it’s due to the celebrity endorsement or not, prices in Mallorca have tripled in the last ten years. ‘It’s more to do with the excellent infrastructure on the island, improvement in airline connections and the first-class amenities such as healthcare and schooling,’ says Terence Panton, director of Engel & Volkers in Palma. ‘As an island, Mallorca is alive 365 days a year with great restaurants, attractions and nightlife. It has a lot to offer and people are now prepared to pay for that luxury.’
A restored stone finca situated in a quiet, sunny area just outside Sóller. The 7,000m2 plot comprises a 500m2 centrally heated living area, eight en suite bedrooms, a large lounge, dining room, kitchen, pool and tennis court.
€1,950,000Prices on Mallorca vary greatly, depending on size of property, proximity to the sea, amenities and scenic appeal. For those with a bulging wallet, the hottest property areas are currently: the capital, Palma, particularly the historic old town, where an average flat will cost €250,000 to €400,000; Andratx and Camp de Mar in the south-west, where villas cost anything from €800,000 to €25,000,000; and Sóller Valley in the north-west where an average stone-built, rustic finca will sell for between €500,000 and €800,000.
If rubbing shoulders with celebrities is not incentive enough, the investment potential of buying a property on Mallorca might be. Dominique Carroll, spokesperson for Kuhn & Partner, which has offices island-wide, believes investment is a key reason to buy. ‘Mallorca offers high-quality properties in a safe and secure environment, and with property prices continuing to rise this year, purchasing in this region is a guaranteed investment.’
Casas Mallorca www.casasmallorca.com
Engel & Völkers www.mallorca.engelvoelkers.com
Kuhn & Partners www.kuhn-partner.com
First Mallorca www.firstmallorca.com
Morcas Internacional www.morcasinternacional.com
-Always use a reputable property agent with expert local knowledge of an area
-Never compromise on the quality of a property
-Consider renting or visiting the island out of season before committing to a purchase
-Only buy a registered property and use a notary to ensure the property is legally owned and legally built, and that there are no outstanding taxes on the property
-Make an effort to learn basic Spanish
Sicily
Sicily is no longer a byword for backwardness and Mafia movies – the stars are backing Sicily by buying on these islands, says Lisa Gerard-Sharp
Casa Cavagnari is a traditional luxury six-bedroom villa on Salina island, the stars’ favourite hide-away. It offers a glorious terrace with sea views and plunge pool. Contact Savills
€902,000 Living on top of an active volcano might not seem an obvious celebrity career move, but the explosive setting draws surprisingly mellow singers. Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall relishes his 18th-century wine estate on the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna. As for Madonna, Pantelleria may be the singer’s favourite Sicilian island but she slums it in rented villas, leaving the prime property, from Moorish villas to resorts and wine estates, to Giorgio Armani, classical ballerina Alessandra Ferri, and Gérard Depardieu. As a passionate wine-maker, the French screen legend produces fine Passito wine on Pantelleria.
Forget the tired “new Tuscany” tag, Sicily is civilisations apart. With Moorish churches and classical ruins, Norman cathedrals and Byzantine mosaics, Sicily is a cultural melting pot. Pretty Tuscan olive groves are passé, the stars are opting for Sicily’s exotic islands, lured by the stirring resorts, volcanic scenery and citrus groves.
These are not celebrities lured by the glamour and glitz, they are buying into the mystique of Sicily, with its brooding intensity and passionate history. Dolce and Gabbana fit into this mould, and have a place on volcanic Stromboli to prove it. Dolce, who was born in Palermo, was tempted to call his latest perfume Stromboli but opted for Sicily as a more seductive name.
Stars are opting for Sicily’s exotic islands, lured
by volcanic scenery, Moorish villas and citrus groves
The seven Aeolian Islands have a stark volcanic allure that make them a magnet for the beautiful people. There is a studied nonchalance about these islands, which feel both remote yet civilised. Arty sorts feel at home here, especially in pretty, oleander-bedecked Panarea. This island is a delightfully decadent port of call for the yachties while still retaining a funky edge.
Fashion don Giorgio Armani has joined the glamorous Neighbouring Filicudi has been in vogue since the 1960s and remains a sophisticated magnet for creative types, such as Italy’s influential designer Ettore Sottsass. Salina is the celebrity’s secret Aeolian island, an understated place, treasured for its traditional values. Picturesque yet private, the island was the setting for Il Postino, and is a favourite with Sean Connery, who loves the coffee and almond sorbets. Yet Salina has always had a blue-blooded image: once patronised by the Hapsburgs and Orleans dynasties, it was recently chosen as the scene of the 60th birthday celebrations for Albert, King of the Belgians.
As an investment, the safest places for buy-to-let property are the pristine Aeolian archipelago, where all new building is banned. Salina and Panarea are pricier, but Stromboli and sulphurous Vulcano, with its belching volcano, are more affordable. Second-home owners also favour apartments with character, especially in Taormina, Siracusa, Ragusa, Noto, Erice and Palermo. As for villas, Mondello, the Palermo seaside, is desirable, along with neighbouring Cefalù, a quaint Norman town. On the east coast, Taormina is billed as the Sicilian St Tropez, even if it has more dramatic scenery and a Greek amphitheatre. Old farmhouses and country estates are also an attractive proposition, especially around Ragusa. Even so, most buyers still opt for the coast or the islands because the rugged interior feels like pioneer country.
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY
Owners of the historic Olivetan Abbey of Santa Maria del Bosco are looking for investment partners to develop this rich site. Set in woods and farmland near Selinunte, this large estate is open to offers to create rural accommodation, a spa, a wine and agricultural estate, or conference centre. www.santamaria delbosco.com. Contact Giada Platania of Travel Sicilia on +39 091 301 767. Although prices in Palermo and Catania have soared in the last two years, Sicilian prices are 25% lower than in Tuscany, and in some cases far less. Near Noto, a Unesco World Heritage site, un-renovated farmhouses set among almond, olive and carob groves cost as little as €80,000. Not that there is any hard and fast rule: you could find a dilapidated farmhouse for a song, but then spend a fortune refurbishing it. Talented teams can restore anything from a frescoed ceiling to a former abbey, but Sicilian craftsmanship comes at a price.
On the downside, local agents may not be as active or professional as elsewhere, since top properties tend to be sold through word of mouth. As in the rest of Italy, properties can have multiple owners so your lawyer needs to ensure that all the owners have signed the agreement. Communication can also be an issue since most estate agents tend not to speak foreign languages. As a result, it makes sense to employ a local fixer to guide you through the property maze.
But for most prospective buyers, the rewards far outweigh the risks. British architect Charlie Luxton is one of the trend-setting foreigners who have acquired a holiday home in Sicily. His area, the beguiling baroque city of Noto, will attract “a certain kind of person, fascinated by history, colliding cultures and great food and wine”. David Harber, ensconced in a neighbouring farm, concurs: “It’s a romantic corner of Europe. You don’t pay through the nose for a cup of coffee like you do in Saint Tropez. It’s an exquisite, simple, local culture.”
This prestigious Mediterranean-style villa is on Lipari island, in the sought-after Aeolian Islands. Semi-furnished, the split-level four-bedroom villa enjoys panoramic sea views from its terrace, and has three bathrooms and a wine cellar. Contact Gabetti on Lipari
€650,000
Travel Sicilia (tel: +39 091 301 767, +39 335 539 6451, www.travelsicilia.com), run by an architect with access to a legal team, offers a wide range of property services in English, French and Italian, ranging from searches to project management, renovation and conversion. Don’t expect many agencies to speak foreign languages. To smooth your path, begin with the big international estate agencies, such as Savills (www.savills. com, intpty@savills.com). For the Florence branch, tel: +39 348 315 7052, for the international division, based in London, tel: +44 (0)207 016 3740. In Sicily, Gabetti Lipari is part of the reliable Gabetti chain, and sells property in the Aeolian Islands, tel: +39 090 981 3243, www.eoliana.com, eoliana@eoliana.com. Sicilian Homes, based in Taormina, have a lot of property there, and speak English, tel: +39 0942 716 941, www.sicilianhomes.com. If you speak even basic Italian, buy Dove Casa, the most useful all-Italy property magazine.
TIPS
Architect Giada Platania of Travel Sicilia advises: “Always get specialist advice from local lawyers, architects and surveyors before contemplating a purchase. Pool your cash with friends or family to buy a villa with a pool rather than a mere apartment. Ensure you give yourself a cooling-off period if you see a must-have property. Allow for bureaucratic delays; building permission can take six months. Arrange your mortgage in the currency that you earn in, unless you will be receiving rental income paid in Sicily. If you are arranging finance on the property, ensure that this is stated in any contract and that you have an optout clause if the loan is not agreed (which will ensure any deposit paid is refunded). Ensure you do not inherit a debt on the property before you purchase, which a lawyer should be able to check. Set up standing orders in a local bank account to meet local bills and taxes, and allow for costly lawyer’s fees, taxes and insurance costs that must all be met in Italy.” www.travelsicilia.com
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