Garden Raixa

Created throughout the 18th and 19th centuries under Cardinal Antoni Despuig i Dameto (1745–1813) and his heirs, they form a mosaic of gardens in different layouts and styles, surrounding the former houses of the Counts of Montenegro. Neoclassicism and romanticism are expressed through the local stone and Mediterranean vegetation, defining the essence of these gardens where the sounds of running water accompany visitors throughout their journey.

A neo-Gothic doorway bearing the Montenegro coat of arms allows visitors to access the gardens below. Arranged in terraces and embankments, the orange tree garden, a small secret garden and the reception terrace come one after another. Under the emblematic loggia wing, the formal garden unfolds, characterised by circles centred around a fountain.

The gardens above extend all the way up the slope of the hill that shelters the houses. The first garden is laid out in terraces, with a central staircase flanked by springs and open channels and decorated with sculptures of muses that accompany the visitor, finishing with an exedra of Apollo. From here, the zigzagging route to the top is marked out by a grotto, a neo-Arab viewpoint, a small shrine and a neoclassical pavilion dated 1854.

The landscape takes centre stage in the scenery of the Raixa gardens, fully open to wide views that extend as far as the bay of Palma. The beauty of the view is particularly enjoyable via the large safareig, a real water terrace which reflects the surrounding landscape.

Film-makers have been seduced by the Raixa gardens, turning them into a set for classic films such as Guy Hamilton's Evil Under the Sun (1982) and Jaime Chávarri's Bearn (1983).