Three Hotels For Art Lovers In Spain’s Postcard-Perfect Balearic Islands

Spain’s Balearic Islands look like a Mediterranean fantasy, with their turquoise waters, rocky coves, and white sand beaches, not to mention the romantic medieval villages, and delicious local food and wine.

The Balearic Islands consist of Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera. While the former two are a big hit with the international jet set, the latter offer a quieter, more toes-in-sand pace of life. All four are brimming with breath-taking scenery, superb beaches and that unbeatable blend of food, sunshine and relaxation that Spain is so famous for.

The Balearics for art lovers

Once home to some of Spain’s most notable artists, from Joan Miró, to Miquel Barceló and Toni Catany, the islands are also an art destination. They have been featured by the likes of Santiago Russiñol, Bruno Zupam, and Nils Burwitx, all of whom have captured the legendary Balearic light on their canvases.

Then there are the museums, from Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Es Baluard, in the historic center of the Mallorcan capital of Palma, to Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Ibiza, set within the 18th-century Sant Joan fortress in Ibiza town—and galleries, like Addaya, Altair, and Pelaires in Mallorca, Marta Torres in Ibiza, and the recently opened Hauser & Wirth Menorca, set on the tiny Illa del Rei island, only reachable by boat from the Menorcan capital, Mahón.

It is no wonder, then, that so many art lovers make the Balearics their vacation destination every year. To help you make the most of your next art-soaked trip, here are the top hotel choices for art lovers in the Balearic Islands.

One of surprisingly few Mallorcan luxury hotels set right on the beach, Iberostar Grand Portals Nous also doubles as an urban and contemporary art gallery.

The hotel’s art-loving owner dreamed of creating a space where art and design would come together against the backdrop of the sea. He made it a reality at Iberostar Grand Portals Nous. Apart from the 2,100 square-foot dedicated gallery, created in collaboration with 2B Art Gallery, the hotel itself is also a work of art. In room 604, Ben Eine, one of the world’s most successful street artists, has created the room of love; Nick Walker, a pioneering member of the Bristol crew and creator of Vándalo, awaits you in 504; while a white horse by Javier Garló guards room 515.

On the façade, monkeys from The Dotmaster stroll, el Vándalo rows in a sea of red, and Ben Eine’s Magic flies above our heads. The colorful fish of El Pez laugh in our wake and the Lads of The London Police hide in the corridors.

Operated by Spanish responsible tourism pioneers Iberostar, this Marcel Wanders-designed hotel also features themed suites for stargazers, hardcore gamers or die-hard romantics, while every aspect of the interior is inspired by the colors and light of its waterfront surroundings.

Situated in the historic center of the Menorcan capital of Mahón, Can Alberti is a former nobleman’s palace dating back to 1740 that has been painstakingly restored and converted into a delightful 14-room boutique hotel.

Once the home of Vicente Alberti Vidal, a local aristocrat, the modern-day Can Alberti is a quiet, secluded urban retreat where history, art and culture continue play a leading role. As a tribute to the Alberti family’s legacy, current owners Carole and Olivier Pecoux have created a space that gives visibility to art and culture in all its forms. Over the last two years, a series of Spanish and French galleries have held exhibitions at the hotel, showcasing works by renowned and up-and-coming artists like François Cante-Pacos, Aude Herlédan, Mireille Roobaert, Françoise Toulouse, Marc-Antoine Goulard, Clotilde Ancarani, Borja Barrajón, Takeshi Motomiya and Claude Nori, among many others.

Last October, Can Alberti organized a benefit concert at the Teatro Principal in Mahón, with proceeds going to Caritas Menorca, a charity seeking to end poverty and promote social justice. A resounding success, the event is slated to take place again this year, with a weekend of classical music to be held in late October. The hotel also arranges visits to the superb Hauser & Wirth Menorca, just a short boat ride away.

Few hotels can compete with Belmond’s superb La Residencia in the fabulous stakes, with its idyllic setting in the medieval village of Deià, between the rugged Tramuntana mountain range and the aquamarine Balearic Sea. But La Residencia is not just a lavish countryside retreat with sprawling gardens, breezy terraces and plush rooms, it is also a haven for artists.

This year, as part of Belmond’s connection with the contemporary arts community and the MITICO artistic partnership with Galleria Continua, La Residencia is preparing to unveil a sculpture created by the winner of the 2022 Venice Biennale that will reside in its gardens. The hotel has also just announced the winners of its long-standing ‘Artists in Residencia’ program for 2023.

Artists Anastasiia Podervianska, Sislej Xhafa and Pixy Liao will each receive a two-month residency, complete with a room and studio at La Residencia, a monthly living grant, as well as production funding. Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, Podervianska is a graduate of the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture and a member of the Ukrainian Artists’ Union. Her textile works can be found in museums and institutional collections in Europe and the USA. Xhafa was born in Pejë, Kosovo, and lives and works in New York. He is known for his artistic investigation into the social, economical and political realities associated with the various complexities of modern society. Lastly, Liao, born in Shanghai, China, and currently residing in Brooklyn, NY, has participated in exhibitions at Fotografiska, Asia Society, and the National Gallery of Australia, among others.