Majorca: The Art of Living

Centuries of occupation by the Romans, Moors, Christians, and Greeks--and the influences of both Africa and Europe--have touched the architecture and spirit of the magnificent Balearic Islands, making them a place of curious contrasts. The 1800s and beyond saw a steady stream of well-to-do European bourgeoisie purchase homes and holiday retreats on these tranquil islands, places that today's modern travelers rarely experience beyond a glimpse from a tour bus or a morning walk. Thankfully, Majorca: The Art of Living opens up the gates of 30 of these beautiful homes, sharing with us the remarkable gardens, living rooms, verandas, and general lifestyles of some current residents of not only Majorca, but also Ibiza, Menorca, and Formentera.

A collaboration between respected photographer Sølvi Dos Santos and local writer Lanning Aldrich, the candid shots and fascinating interviews with homeowners astutely capture the very unique personalities of each of these 30 homes. Here is a monastic-style building with 30-foot walls built around a peaceful courtyard. In a whitewashed bedroom, serene shafts of natural life pour in through a strip of clerestory windows; a simple wooden table and six chairs overlook a grove of olive trees and a modest rectangular swimming pool. In contrast to this uncomplicated home is the regal splendor of a house belonging to descendants of the Marques de Vivot (a well-known aristocratic family). Grand is the operative word here--Flemish tapestries hang from walls, Italian paintings decorate every room, an enormous oak library is filled with the books of 10 generations. From the grandiose to the simple, from gothic to modern, from decidedly Spanish to definitively African, this exquisite book inspires thoughts of travel and better living. --Naomi Gesinger