Visit Mallorca's Most Famous House

Q: I am planning to visit the village where Robert Graves spent the last 56 years of his life, Deià in Mallorca. What is the best way to get there from Palma? Is it worth staying overnight int he town? Can one visit or stay in the house where he lived or can you recommend a hotel or guest house? - Marjorie Kemp

A: "La Casa de Robet Graves" is the main tourist attraction in Deià (also spelt Deya). It is run as a museum, with an entrance fee of five euros. This includes a movie about the poet and his life. The house is perfectly preserved, with the original furniture, pictures and books (www.lacasaderobertgraves.com). You can take an organised tour from Palma to the village. However, if you want to do it independently, you can take a bus a bus (route 210) or rent a car for the 35km journey from Palma. Make sure that the house is open when you want to visit. It is best to go during the week, as opening hours are shorter on Saturdays and it closed on Sundays and public holidays. Only you can decide whether it is worthwhile staying over for the night. However, it is certainly one of the most picturesque villages in Spain and is home to a number of writers and artists. Hollywood couple Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have a home on the outskirts of the town. The Graves house does not take guests, but there are a number of excellent small hotels (www.hotel.info/Deià). The best of these is the five-star Hotel la Residencia, a manor house with lush gardens and citrus groves on the edge of the village (www.hotel-laresidencia.com). (26/2/12)