Advertisement

'Paradise' island of s'Espalmador in the Balearics sold for £16m

A Spanish island described as an "unspoiled paradise" and which boasts a 13-bedroom house, chapel and watchtower, has been bought by a family from Luxembourg for €18m (£16m) "for their own use".

For decades tourists have been flocking to s'Espalmador - located in the Balearic Islands between Formentera and Ibiza - to enjoy its pristine beaches, crystal clear waters, picturesque coves and famed mud baths.

Its previous Barcelona-based owners - Catalan architect Norman Cinnamond and his sister Rosy - whose ancestors are believed to have bought the island for the equivalent of €252 in 1932, put it on the market almost three years ago for €24m (£17m).

Its natural beauty is protected as it lies inside the Las Salinas Natural Park, and although s'Espalmador is one of the most coveted private islands in the world, its seafront is public land and is a favourite sunshine getaway for celebrities.

Prince William reportedly romanced his then-girlfriend Kate Middleton on the idyllic island and was photographed caked in mud.

When the island was put up for sale it was offered to the Formentera government, but proved too expensive for the local authority and eventually went to the highest bidder.

"Like the majority of people from Formentera, we would've preferred for local government to have reached an agreement to use state funds to buy s'Espalmador and make it available to the general public," local politician Silvia Tur told Spanish media.

It is unclear whether the new owners have the power to ban tourists from the island, but with their newfound luxury comes the responsibility for its conservation and upkeep.

The island, which is under two miles (3km) long and half a mile (800m) wide, is said to have "a remarkable location that few other private islands of this calibre can match", according to estate agents Vladi.

"It's easy to enjoy the best of Ibiza from Espalmador, for example the happening beach clubs on Ibiza's Ses Salines beach, a short boat ride away, or the night clubs in Ibiza town," the listing reads.

"And after the buzz of Ibiza, Espalmador is the perfect sanctuary to retreat to, somewhere to get away from it all and unwind in beautiful surroundings, with zero stress."