With a well-preserved coastline, a marine reserve and a natural park, Artà is a paradise for hikers and enthusiasts of active tourism.
Throughout the year, Artà enjoys a wealth of cultural activity thanks to the presence of its theatre, which has an excellent programme, and the workshops of artisans who display and sell their work. In summer, the more central streets unfurl a varied range of bars and restaurants, becoming one of the best places in the region for enjoying the night. It also concentrates a significant amount of architectural heritage: on a promontory, one can see the Almudaina, a walled ensemble that includes the oratory of Sant Salvador, accessed by 180 steps. And all around the historic centre there are old ancestral homes, some of them built by indianos, or returned emigrants who made their fortune in America.
Walking enthusiasts from all over the world travel along the GR-222, a long-distance trail that links the Serra de Llevant mountains to the Lluc Sanctuary, in the heart of the Serra de Tramuntana. Of the beaches, the most outstanding are those of Sa Canova, Cala Es Matzoc and Cala Estreta, as well as those closer to the small tourist town of Colònia de Sant Pere, which has a family-friendly atmosphere.
The ermita de Betlem
Located in the mountains of Artà, with views of the sea and the mountain, stands this sanctuary which was founded in 1805 by hermits of Saint Honorat de Randa and the Trinitat de Valldemossa, who settled here thanks to a private donation of land. The initial hermitage was extended with cells, a kitchen and other rooms, most outstanding from which is the church, which has a single nave. It is accessed via a beautiful path flanked by cypresses, and nearby one can see constructions that enabled the religious community to lead a self-sufficient life, such as a water mill.