Raixa sold

One of Majorca's most historic estates, Raixa, has finally been saved with the Ministry for the Environment and the Insular Council of Majorca yesterday reaching a 8.414.169'46 euros (1.400 million pesetas) deal to secure the property's purchase. The property, located in the municipality of Bunyola, will become the new headquarters for the National Parks Foundation and the deal was ratified by Insular Council President, Maria Antonia Munar and the secretary general for the Environment, Carmen Martorell. Munar and the Environment Minister, Jaume Matas, sat the ball in motion to purchase Raixa, which was declared a national heritage site in 1993, last October during a meeting in Madrid. A previous offer had been made by the German designer Jill Sander, but this latest deal is believed to match Sander's price. Substantial work will have to done to the estate and the cost of renovating and transforming the estate in to the Foundation's headquarters and a location for official receptions, will be met by the National Parks Foundation, an organisation dependent on the Ministry for the Environment. Work of devising a renovation project will start before the summer. Despite the final price being higher than the initial 1.200 million pesetas, Munar said yesterday “the Majorcans have cut a good deal” adding that thanks to the involvement of the Ministry for Environment, the Insular Council “has only had to pay 400 million pesetas as a deposit.” However, had the Insular Council acted four years ago when it was offered Raixa for 800 million pesetas, it would have saved a great deal of money. Over the years there has been continual interest in the Raixa estate, the late former Australian tycoon Christopher Skase was interested at one point, but none of the interested parties managed to close a deal. The estate possesses some of the most beautiful gardens in the Balearics and the property has been used as the backdrop for a number of films. mc.mdbUbitel.es