The Castillo de Bendinat is located in the municipality of Calvià. Not many people have been allowed to get close to this treasure, unless they attended Sale no. 6160, organised in 1999 by Christie’s (with total results of £ 5.9 million, a lot of money at the time, certainly in Mallorcan proportions).

The building is not a real chateau, despite its castle-like appearance. It was built in the 19th century by the Marqués de la Romana, copying the neo-gothic style of European castles. Don Pedro Caro y Sureda, the 3rd Marqués de la Romana, was a distinguished Spanish general of the Peninsular War. He served under alliance with the Duke of Wellington. De la Romana was the Spanish general most trusted and respected by Wellington, together with Francisco Javier Castaños, it is said.

After the demise of Pedro Caro y Sureda, the opulent inmueble came into the hands of Carlos Delgado, a one-time alcalde of Calvià. After first having auctioned off all of the furniture and some of the family silver, the property was sold in 2004 to Astroc, a realty conglomerate, and opened to grand fanfare as a fundación cultural, constituting the Mallorcan branch of IVAM (the Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderno). The castillo was opened to the general public during 2005, by appointment, but closed again during the following year in order to carry out further rehabilitation. Since then, Astroc seems to have become an early victim of La crisis. The castle is closed for the moment and has been for a long time now.

Apparently, the Castillo de Bendinat is currently on the market to be sold once more. If you want to own a castillo that never was a castle, this is your chance. Matthias Kühn knows all the details, it would appear.

The photo (top) was chosen from my archive. It was taken in Bendinat, Calvia, Mallorca, Spain. The date: September 21st, 2005. The time was 15:40:38. The photo (bottom) was borrowed from the internet; credit goes to the photographer, Joohoo. Muchas gracias.