sábado, 12 de enero de 2008
The Spring has arrived to Majorca
The almond trees are bloomed, the first symptom of the spring arrival
miércoles, 9 de enero de 2008
Ca´s Sant, a truly singular farm
Sóller oranges are famous for being exquisite and especially sweet, and yet in spite of this there are fewer and fewer farms devoted to the cultivation of them.
Orange trees were introduced into the valley during Mallorca’s period of Muslim rule (which lasted from the 8th to the 13th century), and ancient writings bear witness to this. And it was during this period that the irrigation ditches were built, to channel and conduct the water from the different springs that flow from the mountains down to the orchards. Most of these channels and ditches are still used today. One of these irrigation channels runs beside the entrance to Finca Ca´s Sant ( Sa Font de S´Ullet, which has its source in S´Alqueria del Compte), and the water from it is used to irrigate the orange plantation during spring and summer. The plantation has been totally replaced with varieties resistant to the new viroses, and in this way it contributes to perpetuating a crop that is so closely bound to the valley: oranges.
In the year 1228 the decision was taken to conquer Mallorca in the court of the kingdom of Aragon, with Jaime I as king. Important figures under the command of Jaime I were count Nuño Sanz, Guillem de Montcada, viscount of Bearn, Hugo IV, count of Ampurias and his son Ponce Hugo, and the bishops of Barcelona and Gerona.
The troops brought by Hugo IV, the count of Ampurias, included members of the Coll family, alias “Sant” (a nickname derived from the participation of members of this family in the crusades to save the holy land in the 12th century).
Having completed the conquest of Mallorca in 1230, the lands were divided amongst all those who collaborated. The district of Sóller was divided into 3 parts, one of which was handed over to Guillem de Montcada, viscount of Bearn, with the other two being assigned to Hugo IV, count of Ampurias.
One of the parts given to the Count of Ampurias is what is currently known as S´Alqueria del Compte (the count’s farmstead), and the Ca’s Sant farm lay within these lands.
When the new lands were made over to the nobles, they divided them in turn amongst the most important knights who had helped them during the conquest. The knights of the Count of Ampurias included members of the Coll family, and around the year 1300 they were given some estates that came to be called Ca’s Sant, in honour of the alias “Sant” by which they were known.
From the time when the estate was handed over until the year 1759 the farm was inherited by the firstborn son of the Coll family. These circumstances changed in the year 1759 when the family only had female descendants and the firstborn daughter, Catherina Coll Morell, married Antoni Joan Arbona Ballester, who in turn took on the alias of “Sant”. From this year on the surname of Arbona has owned the farm generation after generation, right down to our times.
Today we are proud to state that Ca´s Sant has belonged to the same family since the 13th century, and has never been bought or sold; naturally, over the years, Ca´s Sant has passed through times of greater and lesser splendour, changing even with regard to its dimensions. There is no doubt that it was Jaime Arbona Colom, who received the farm in 1950, who transformed its physiognomy, acquiring some adjoining orchards and carrying out modernisation work on the farm and the house, and also designing the romantic Garden of Ca´s Sant.
Thirty years later ownership has come to his daughter, Lourdes Arbona, who has made the most significant alterations to Ca’s Sant, turning the property into a small, charming hotel, renovating the farm entirely and creating products that are derived from it, such as the farm’s own marmalade. Today a new generation bears witness to the responsibility implied by over seven hundred years of history...
Orange trees were introduced into the valley during Mallorca’s period of Muslim rule (which lasted from the 8th to the 13th century), and ancient writings bear witness to this. And it was during this period that the irrigation ditches were built, to channel and conduct the water from the different springs that flow from the mountains down to the orchards. Most of these channels and ditches are still used today. One of these irrigation channels runs beside the entrance to Finca Ca´s Sant ( Sa Font de S´Ullet, which has its source in S´Alqueria del Compte), and the water from it is used to irrigate the orange plantation during spring and summer. The plantation has been totally replaced with varieties resistant to the new viroses, and in this way it contributes to perpetuating a crop that is so closely bound to the valley: oranges.
In the year 1228 the decision was taken to conquer Mallorca in the court of the kingdom of Aragon, with Jaime I as king. Important figures under the command of Jaime I were count Nuño Sanz, Guillem de Montcada, viscount of Bearn, Hugo IV, count of Ampurias and his son Ponce Hugo, and the bishops of Barcelona and Gerona.
The troops brought by Hugo IV, the count of Ampurias, included members of the Coll family, alias “Sant” (a nickname derived from the participation of members of this family in the crusades to save the holy land in the 12th century).
Having completed the conquest of Mallorca in 1230, the lands were divided amongst all those who collaborated. The district of Sóller was divided into 3 parts, one of which was handed over to Guillem de Montcada, viscount of Bearn, with the other two being assigned to Hugo IV, count of Ampurias.
One of the parts given to the Count of Ampurias is what is currently known as S´Alqueria del Compte (the count’s farmstead), and the Ca’s Sant farm lay within these lands.
When the new lands were made over to the nobles, they divided them in turn amongst the most important knights who had helped them during the conquest. The knights of the Count of Ampurias included members of the Coll family, and around the year 1300 they were given some estates that came to be called Ca’s Sant, in honour of the alias “Sant” by which they were known.
From the time when the estate was handed over until the year 1759 the farm was inherited by the firstborn son of the Coll family. These circumstances changed in the year 1759 when the family only had female descendants and the firstborn daughter, Catherina Coll Morell, married Antoni Joan Arbona Ballester, who in turn took on the alias of “Sant”. From this year on the surname of Arbona has owned the farm generation after generation, right down to our times.
Today we are proud to state that Ca´s Sant has belonged to the same family since the 13th century, and has never been bought or sold; naturally, over the years, Ca´s Sant has passed through times of greater and lesser splendour, changing even with regard to its dimensions. There is no doubt that it was Jaime Arbona Colom, who received the farm in 1950, who transformed its physiognomy, acquiring some adjoining orchards and carrying out modernisation work on the farm and the house, and also designing the romantic Garden of Ca´s Sant.
Thirty years later ownership has come to his daughter, Lourdes Arbona, who has made the most significant alterations to Ca’s Sant, turning the property into a small, charming hotel, renovating the farm entirely and creating products that are derived from it, such as the farm’s own marmalade. Today a new generation bears witness to the responsibility implied by over seven hundred years of history...
Special prices for rent a car
Renault Modus 22 euros/day
Renault Megane 27 euros/day
Mercedes Clase A 30 euros/day
Mini Cooper cabrio 40 euros/day
Minimal rent of 4 days.
Full insurance without exemption included in the price.
Illimited kilometers.
Offer available until 15 Mars 2008
Renault Megane 27 euros/day
Mercedes Clase A 30 euros/day
Mini Cooper cabrio 40 euros/day
Minimal rent of 4 days.
Full insurance without exemption included in the price.
Illimited kilometers.
Offer available until 15 Mars 2008
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