Contents: CAMPOS *  - CAPDEPERA ** - CAPOCORB VELL ** - CASTELL D'ALARO (SEE, TOP TEN) - CASTELL DEL REI * - COLONIA DE SANT JORDI *  - COVES D'ARTA (SEE, TOP TEN)
	CAMPOS * Midway from Llucmajor to Santanyi on the C717, Campos was founded by Jaume II in 1300 on the site of earlier Roman and Arab settlements. A painting of Christ by the Sevilian artist Murillo hangs in the parish church of Sant Julia. Next door to the church is a museum with a large collection of offertory bowls. To vsit both the church and the museum, collect the keys from the Casa Rectoria - follow the signs. Campos has a busy market on Thursdays and Saturdays and its port adjoins the resort of Colonia de Sant Jord to the south. CAPDEPERA ** If you are driving between Anta and Cala Rajada, stop off to vist this small town, crowned by the largest fortress in Mallorca, The Romans were the first to build a castle on this site - the Moors enlarged it, the Christians destroyed t, then replaced it with one of their own in the 14th century Legend has it that the c tizens of Capdepera hid in the castle when under siege, p acing an image of Our Lady of Hope on the batt ements, and the nvaders were driven away by fog The miracle s recorded nside the castle n the Capel a de Nostra Senyora de la Esperanca and remembered each year at the town's annual festa You reach the castle by c mbing the steps from the market square, Placa de Orient CAPOCORB VELL ** These are the most significant remains of the Talaiotic cu ture, which flourished in Mallorca between around 1300 and 800 BC V Cages were dominated by talaiots, circular or rectangu ar structures two to three storeys high, which were used as both burial chambers and defensive fonts Each settlement was surrounded by Cyclopean walls, bui t from massive, unhewn stones without mortar to hod them together. There is no evidence of a written anguage, so the stones are all that archaeologists have to go on in understanding prehistor c Mallorcan culture At Capocorb Veil, 12km south of Llucmajor, you can see five talaiots and wander around the ancient village, 100m above sea evel just inand from the coast. The Talaiotic people kept sheep, and the sound of sheep bells in the nearby fields is a touching reminder of continuity. CASTELL D'ALARO (SEE, TOP TEN) CASTELL DEL REI * The hike to this remote mountain castle, 7km north of Pollenca, is one of the most popular in Mallorca; it gets particularly crowded because of the limited hours. The castle is on a large private estate and it is only open to visitors on Saturday. Walk from Pollenca to avoid parking problems; allow at least five hours for the round trip. You get there by taking the small country road to Ternelles opposite Pollenca's Roman bridge; stay on this road until it ends at the gate to the estate. The walk then climbs gently through a cool pine forest, eventually reaching the castle, 490m above sea level. Founded by the Moors and strengthened by Jaume I, this was the last fortress to surrender to Pedro of Aragon when the brief-lived kingdom of Mallorca came to an end. It has been abandoned since 1715 and would be terribly romantic if it were not for the crowds. COLONIA DE SANT JORDI * Once the post for the market town of Campos, Colonia de Sant Jordi is now a busy resort, on a rocky promontory close to Mallorca's southern tip. its small beach looks out over several islets, with good views all the way to Cabrera. There are two further sandy beaches to the east, and the long stretch of Platja Es Trenc begins just west of town. To the north are the hot springs and spa hotel of Banys de Sant Joan. The main reason for coming here, though, is to take the boat trip to Cabrera. COVES D'ARTA (SEE, TOP TEN).