Photo Contest – January 4, 2013
Last week’s photo contest asked for the name of the village shown in this photo. We provided two hints: (1) It is located on an island in Europe, and (2) Two famous lovers stayed here — one a composer and the other a writer — in the winter of 1838/39.
The name of the village is Valldemossa. The winners of the contest and the $25 gift card are Matt and Rhoda Refsin of Huntingdon Valley, PA who were randomly selected from 11 correct responses.
Valldemossa is a tiny, quaint village nestled in the mountains of Majorca, one of the most beautiful of Spain’s Balearic Islands. Its main landmark is a former Carthusian monastery built in the 14th century. The main church is still in use but most of the monastery is now a museum.
The most famous guests of the former moastery, now known as the Royal Charterhouse of Valldemossa, were the Polish composer, Frederic Chopin and the French writer and early feminist, George Sands. The particular room in which they stayed is a point of controversy.
We loved our one-day visit to Valldemossa (and the Monastery) and recommend a visit here if your ship stops in Majorca. Additional photos of the village and the monastery are below.