Villa Santanyi
Villa Santanyi is a modern architectural holiday rental in Mallorca with 5 bedrooms and a 40-meter infinity pool. It radiates complete calmness and serenity.
What is the story behind Finca Can S’Horta, what was your inspiration to create it?
Coming from a construction and architectural background during the lockdowns in the pandemic, as a family our longing started to find a project outside of Berlin. To create something a little more fun and emotional, a hybrid between business and pleasure. Back in the 1980s and 90s, my family owned a small cottage on the other side of the island on the west coast in the beautiful Tramuntana Mountains. My parents had even relocated there for a while and consequently, my brother and I started primary school in Deià. Therefore, Mallorca did hit close to home, and it didn’t take long, before we circled in on the island for our family project.
Although we didn’t know the southeast of Mallorca at all, we soon stumbled upon this building, which had great bones, beautiful views, and a nice atmosphere. I think it had been passed over by potential buyers as it was “dead” inside — the previous owner had removed most of its charm by over-renovating it.
So our task – we felt – was to recreate the old. It was a lot of fun! We toured the island and checked out old fincas to see the materials that were used. Coming from an architectural background, we tried to carry that over with a fresh and modern feel. My father is an architect by trade and helped us creatively, but we had a local architect who assisted with permits and finding tradespeople.
How would you describe the atmosphere and the interior design of Finca Can S’Horta?
It’s an oasis. After leaving the beautiful port town of Portoclom, you take a turn into what is a largely forgotten valley. It has always been a vegetable farming area and the village in which we are located, S’Horta, means “vegetable garden”. I think you don’t expect this scenery so close to great touristic infrastructure including a golf course and various shopping and dining facilities. While the property is elevated, it doesn’t have the classic sea view that you expect in Mallorca. It’s more of a country, rustic, almost Tuscan feel.
In terms of the interior design, you recognise you are in an old finca but there is a feeling of lightness and a modern flavour to it. It’s a good blend of old and new.
To you personally, what is so special about Finca Can S’Horta?
For me, it’s the views. We are located up a hill and have neighbours, but they aren’t super close and you don’t see them. So you feel as though you are on a mountain all on your own while having the security of people close by. We also get the best sunsets I have seen on the island — I love the late afternoon/early evening.
But for my mother and most people visiting it is the garden, it is very old and consists of some twenty plus palm trees, cacti of various species and cypress and citrus trees. It is a very old garden which must have been started decades ago. I think Finca Can S’Horta is special because it feels as though you are in the middle of nowhere, but in fact, you’re just seven minutes from a beautiful beach, Cala sa Nau. Six minutes away is a big shopping mall. There are lots of nice fincas in Mallorca but often, they are very remote.
