Santa Maria del Cami is a pretty little market town to the north of Palma. It resides just off the motorway that takes you north to Alcúdia and Pollença.
The picturesque town of Santa Maria del Cami, known by the locals as just Santa Maria, sits in Mallorca’s central flat plain, in one of the island's most prominent wine growing regions. On the doorstep of the Serra de Tramuntana, it boasts one of the most magnificent mountain backdrops while being surrounded by olive, almond and carob trees, along with a growing number of vineyards.
Most of the week, Santa Maria is a sleepy, authentic Mallorcan town with a good selection of cafes, restaurants and convenience stores. On Sundays, however, the whole place comes to life as it puts on its weekly market and the crowds flock to pick up fresh produce, locally made arts and crafts and other bargains. The town claims some of the best transport links to the rest of the island thanks to being on three of the main railway lines in Mallorca.
Santa Maria has developed a reputation as one of Mallorca's artistic centres. Many of the island's potters work close by, in Portol, while Santa Maria is the centre for manufacturing 'roba de llengues' ('cloth of tongues'), cotton woven into bright zigzag patterns and used in curtains, bedspreads and upholstery. Falling within the Binnissalem region, Santa Maria del Cami is also a hub for winemaking, in fact, the town is surrounded by some of the top vineyards on the island which means many wine connoisseurs and enthusiasts travel to the area to sample its delights.
Santa Maria del Cami is particularly attractive amongst internationals favouring rural life over the more touristy side of the island. 'Whilst the old finca-style properties are increasingly sought after by families and retirees from all over Europe, the population remains predominantly Spanish.