GRACE Kelly did it. So did Prince Rainier III of Monaco. Not to mention, countless ordinary others.

What they did was to bask in Spanish island Mallorca's golden beaches and scenic mountains on their honeymoon.

No one knows exactly when Mallorca became the location for honeymooners, but it seems it started in the 1950s, evident in posters of the era, which depict two birds on their way to a city, luggage in tow. The text at the bottom of the poster reads: "Honeymoon in Mallorca".

Fall in love with Mallorca you will, but that is not all to this lovely island.

MUST SEE, MUST DO

If you arrive at Mallorca by sea, you will not miss Palma Cathedral. It is worth a visit for its magnificent Rose Window and bizarre canopy above the altar.

Those flying in are likely to land in Palma city. Be sure to visit Can Marques, a stately home that is, today,a museum open to the public.

A recommended rest stop is Can Juan de S'aigo, an ice-cream parlour where you can sample the island's specialty - a chewy pastry called ensaimada.

While the majority of Mallorca's visitors are there for the pristine beaches, there are charming villages inland that can capture your imagination just as well. For instance, the Valledemossa. This is where composer Frederic Chopin and novelist George Sand spent one winter, and which the latter wrote about in A Winter in Mallorca.

For couples, here are some places to stay in Mallorca:

Palacio Ca Sa Galesa
www.palaciocasagalesa.com

Located within the historical centre of Palma, this hotel has just 12 rooms housed in a 16th-century manor house. There are numerous charming nooks where you can share secret moments, such as a sunny yellow kitchen, designed to look like one of Monet's paintings.

Es Moli
www.esmoli.com

Es Moli, which means he mill", is a haven in quiet Deia, which is situated in the northwestern part of Mallorca. The ruggedly romantic coast has been a popular destination for more than 2,000 years, since the days the Phoenicians, Romans and Moors landed on its shores.

Es Moli, a restored country mansion, has 87 rooms and is open every year from April to October. Apart from having a swimming pool filled with fresh spring water, there is a regular coach service that takes guests down to a private cove for swimming.

Son Bernadinet
www.son-bernadinet.com

If the countryside, rather than the mountains, is your cup of tea, check out this intimate family-run hotel 40km from Palma. There are 11 rooms spread out over the 42ha estate. All the rooms have private terraces from which to enjoy views of the surrounding cypress, almond and orange trees.

Esplendido
www.esplendidohotel.com

The most interesting way to get to the valley of Soller, where this hotel is located, is via a vintage railway that runs from Palma, passing through citrus and olive groves and a dozen tunnels. Esplendido Hotel boasts 884 rooms overlooking a sheltered bay.

HOW TO GET TO MALLORCA

Fly from Singapore to London, Frankfurt or Zurich, and then transfer to Palma on airlines such as Air Berlin and EasyJet. If you are already in Spain, jet to Palma from Spanish cities such as Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid, or take a ferry from Barcelona or Valencia.

Lynn Seah is a freelance writer. She was in Spain as a guest of the National Tourist Office of Spain, Singapore.

Note: This article was part of the Natas Travel 2006 Special published in The Straits Times on March 23, 2006. As a reference to the project's main lead, 'Travel is a numbers game', it's original headline in print was: '1,236 stained glass pieces in Palma Cathedral's Rose Window draw many to Mallorca'.