About us
Us, our house and its historyCa S’Hereu
Your holiday home includes two ensuite double rooms in the annexe of a 16th-century palacio, where we live, in the centre of Sóller, with garden and pool. We’re less than a minute’s walk to all the cafes, bars and shops that this idyllic and bustling small town by the sea has to offer.
We’re Barry (from Ireland) and Pablo (from California). We’re especially happy to host people with interests in art history, history, culture, decorative arts and so on. One of is is a medievalist, journalist and translator, the other an interior decorator and garden designer. Pablo’s responsible for the ongoing restoration of the house and for creating the lush garden, which, perhaps surprisingly, is a mere 15 years old. We are knowledgeable about Mallorca and happy to give you tips on what to see and where to go. Note we have cats who sometimes sun themselves in the shared garden so if you’re allergic, this house is probably not for you! Continue reading after the gallery…
The house
Our main house is a handsome sixteenth-century Mallorcan palace, called Ca S’Hereu, and situated in the historic centre of the charming town of Sóller. This home has only changed hands once in the last four hundred years, having previously belonged to the Canals family.
Restoration
We began restoring the building in 2005, keeping all of the original features.Thus, the impressive, light-filled entrance hall with its five-metre high ceilings and original 17th century beams still conserves the original stone paving. Grand stone arches frame views from the front of the house through to the lush garden beyond. On this floor there is also a small sitting room, overlooking the garden, where we spend most of our time.
The first-floor or “Planta Noble” with it’s five-metre-high ceilings and original 17th-century walnut beams is entered through a vestibule at the top of the stairs which leads on to the light-filled 50m2 salon with views to the church of St Bartholomew and the Tramuntana mountains beyond.
It remains a work in progress.
The rental house
This was originally the servants’ house and was in a sorry state by the beginning of the 21st century. Thus, everything you see here is new, from floor tiles to carpentry to the roof.