High above Palma de Mallorca Son Vida unfolds a captivating story. Imagine a time long before luxury villas and championship golf courses. Son Vida was a significant estate. The esteemed Vida family along with Desmes and Trullols owned it. This made Son Vida an essential Palma establishment since the thirteenth century. Generations passed. Ownership changed hands through inheritance and land sales.
Then came a dramatic transformation in the early 1900s. A magnificent neo-Gothic villa rose on the grounds. Resembling the grandeur of Peralada Castle in Girona this castle was a loving gift. Fernando Truyols and Despuig presented it to his wife Magdalena Villalonga. Magdalena cherished her regal home and its extensive lands until the mid-1950s. A decision was made to sell the treasured properties.
In 1956 two Majorcan businessmen José Luis Ferrer and Joan Mora stepped onto the scene. They purchased a portion of the estate. They established Son Vida as a public limited company. Later they acquired all shares. They began dividing the land. The construction of buildings commenced.
A few years later American aviator Stephen Albert Kusak Sliva entered the picture. A distinguished former military pilot Kusak had served in World War II the Korean War and the Indochina War. His vision was grand. He wanted to create a luxurious resort. This would include hotels golf courses and a surrounding residential area.
Kusak’s ambitious dream became a reality. The castle was transformed into a hotel. In June 1961 it opened its doors. It was the region’s first high-end hotel. José Luis Ferrer Ramonell Joan Mora Gornals and Stephen A Kusak established it.
Today the Castillo Hotel Son Vida belongs to Marriott International. It has hosted countless esteemed guests. Among them were Prince Rainier of Monaco and Grace Kelly Aristotle Onassis Maria Callas Anthony Quinn Pedro Almodóvar and Claudia Schiffer.
Son Vida remained one of Spain’s last privately-owned luxury residential areas. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the owners of Son Vida SA reached an agreement with the city of Palma. Roads open spaces and public areas were transferred to the city’s jurisdiction. Son Vida now benefits from all essential public services.
Son Vida has grown. It is now home to approximately 450 single-family luxury villas. Prices range from €3.5 million to an astounding €65 million. The average villa size is about 600 square meters situated on half-acre plots. Most properties boast breathtaking sea views across Palma Bay.
From a medieval estate Son Vida evolved into Mallorca’s premier luxury destination. Its exclusive atmosphere and rich yet little-known history continue to enchant residents and visitors alike. This is Son Vida a unique place full of hidden stories. A place where history and luxury meet.