Visiting Raixa Estate
The very Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie's character, strolled through the gardens of Raixa, the main setting for 'Evil Under the Sun' (1982), a film directed by Guy Hamilton.
A year later, 'Bearn or the Doll's House,' an adaptation of Llorenç Villalonga's novel, was released, featuring renowned actors such as Inmanol Arias, Fernando Rey, and Ángela Molina.
This way, Raixa Estate became a film set and gained fame, but before this, its history was already extensive and fascinating.
Raixa: Origins
Originally a Muslim farmhouse with abundant water, Raixa, after the conquest by James I, came under the control of Christian knights. It's a typical Mallorcan estate, situated at the foot of the Tramuntana mountain range, reaching its peak between the late 18th and early 19th centuries thanks to Cardinal Despuig.
This key figure in the Mallorcan Enlightenment transformed Raixa into a sort of neoclassical palace, extensively renovating the original property to practically turn it into a museum.
Today, Raixa is an Interpretation and Visitors Center, not only for the interest in the estate itself but also due to its proximity to the Tramuntana.
Raixa Gardens: Among the Most Popular
The gardens of Raixa, designed by the renowned Italian architect Giovanni Lazzarini, are among the most famous in Mallorca.
At the bottom are the orchard, the orange grove, the gallery garden with a central fountain, and the entrance garden with a small pond. Here, there is a bust of Cardinal Despuig and a variety of water lilies among which bright green frogs blend in.
In the upper gardens, you'll find the monumental staircase dedicated to the god Apollo, flanked by two reclining stone lions. The staircase leads to a sizable carp pond that surprises all visitors.
The journey through the upper part of the gardens starts at a neo-Arabic-style viewpoint with colorful windows that reflect on the floor, projecting all those colors depending on the time of day.
Halfway through, there's a small cave with stalactites and stalagmites, and at the end, you'll find the temple. The entire ensemble has been interpreted on several occasions as a path through Neoplatonism.
On the way back from this short walk, you can see a well-preserved tafona, a Mallorcan oil mill, and the interior of a water mill.
Currently, visiting Raixa is free, as is the parking located upon arrival. Here, you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the entire estate and its well-maintained surroundings.
In 1993, Raixa was declared a Cultural Heritage Site due to its high historical and artistic value, and in 2002, it was acquired by the Council of Mallorca and the National Parks Foundation.
