From Joseph Fiennes to Carlos Moyá: the famous neighbors of Son Vida, the Beverly Hills of Mallorca

Palma is a city full of contrasts that can be confirmed on a municipal bus route. If you get on line number 7 and reach the end of the route, the passenger will have passed through the poorest and richest neighborhood in just over half an hour and you will have heard different accents without getting up from your seat.

From Son Gotleu, whose average income does not reach seven thousand euros per year and in which Moroccans and their Sub-Saharan Africans are the majority population, to Son Vida, which leads the ranking of the Balearic capital with 36,750 euros per year (the National Institute of Statistics -INE- does not offer information beyond this amount) and in which the Germans, Swedes, Austrians and English are protagonists.

That luxury urbanization, which is part of 3% of the richest neighborhoods in the country, It has been a refuge for decades of national and foreign fortunes that find in it the tranquility of living in a sophisticated, exclusive environment and with impressive views of the entire city.

At first, the wealthiest families in Palma, hotel businessmen and jewelers, among others, bought their homes in the lower Son Vida area. Some of the family members reside there Escarrer, of the Meliá group or the I look.

Also in the area he bought a plot of land from businessman Matthias Kühn, current sentimental partner of Norma Duval, the late former president Aldolfo Suárez; It was a 4,000 square meter house, with ten bedrooms and as many bathrooms. Unfortunately, the disease of Amparo Illana, prevented the couple from enjoying it.

Little by little, the location was attracting the attention of foreigners, who found it a safe place, with the airport 15 minutes away, three first-class golf courses and great privacy.

The Castillo Son Vida also has merit of this international fame, which began to host monarchs such as don Juan Carlos, Faisal from Saudi Arabia or, of the most remembered, Rainero and Grace of Monaco, who acted as hosts of Maria callas and Aristotle Onassis.

Mikhail Gorbachev, Felipe Gonzalez, Brigitte Barot, John Lenon, Julio Iglesias, Truman capote, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Montserrat Caballé, Jean-Paul Belmondo O Anthony Quinn They are other names of illustrious people who have left their signature in the establishment.

And for signature, that of Pedro Almodóvar who wrote the script for the film Carmen Trémula between those four walls.

The upper part of Son Vida then became the favorite place of the great international fortunes, tycoons, athletes, artists and businessmen who even today reside there under the most absolute discretion.

The late German Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle and his partner, the businessman Michael Mronz; the serbian tennis player Anna Ivanovic; the german goalkeeper Oliver Kahn; midfielder Schweinsteiger; the former Real Madrid player, Steve McManaman or the arms dealer Adnan Kashoggui.

Too Moody Fayed, nephew of the Egyptian millionaire Mohamed Al Fayed, -in his day owner of Harrods- live with his wife and four children; Douglas Tompkins, founder of the Esprit firm; Mona Nasser, daughter of Egyptian President Gabal Abdel Nasser, high-ranking Qatari politicians, and even actors like Joseph Fiennes, protagonist of Shakespeare In Love and that he has his two daughters schooling at an international school in the area.

Among the national names, in addition to the already mentioned Gabriel Escarrer, there are neighbors like the hotelier Antonio Catalan or the marriage formed by Carlos Moya and Carolina Cerezuela. There are more national fortunes with official residence, but their stay is more anonymous.

Neighbors “indiscreet”

And although Son Vida has always been pointed out as a place where everyone can go unnoticed and nobody draws attention to anyone, the truth is that in recent years, a wealthy German real estate agent is putting the discordant note of that “calm Neighborhood.

Marcel Remus, every summer, from the town that bears his name, he stars in massive parties with names that are very relevant to the pink press. In fact, this past August, the actress Joan Collins she was one of the German’s guests.

Before they had passed Elle McPherson, Andie MacDowell O Eva Herzigova. The presence of Sir Elton John. Perhaps, in 2022, he will join the long list of VIPs in love with Mallorcan Beverly Hills.