Santuari de Cura

From the terraces the middle of Mallorca lies spread out below: fields and villages across the plain, the Serra de Tramuntana along the north-west skyline, the sea at the edges. It is the view that brings people up.

The hilltop has been a place of retreat since Ramon Llull came here in the 13th century to pray and write, and the monastery that grew up after him still crowns the summit. Part of it is now a hotel. Dinner in the restaurant is served facing the sunset, and breakfast is a buffet of local food in an old, quiet room. Stay the night and the hilltop is yours once the day visitors have driven back down.

• The restaurant serves diners who are not staying at the hotel, and dinner comes with the sunset over the plain.
• Rooms have ceiling fans; ask about air conditioning before booking, because summer nights up here stay hot.
• There is no public drinking-water point nearby, so bring your own water.
• Toilets stand right by the sanctuary.

The sanctuary crowns the top of Puig de Randa, and the easy way up is by car. A car park lies about 65 m away, with wheelchair-accessible spaces, so the last stretch on foot is barely a minute. A second car park sits about 740 m away. A map board and a guidepost stand close to the sanctuary.

Without a car, the nearest bus stop is Randa, about 1 km away in a straight line and lower down the mountain; the rest of the way is uphill.

Best: late afternoon on a clear day, staying on for sunset from the terraces or the restaurant.

Avoid: hazy midsummer middays, when the distant ridges fade into the glare.

The view across the plain is the reason to come, and it is sharpest in low, clear light.