A family legacy for sale after more than a century of history

PollençaThe house of Guillem Cifre de Colonya, located in the Colonya Valley in Pollença, has recently been put on the market for €3.2 million. This property is much more than just a building; it is a living testament to a family history marked by dramatic personal events, significant social changes, and contact with leading figures in the architecture and culture of a crucial era in the Balearic Islands. The estate, which was home to the Cifre family for over a century, retains a great deal of symbolic and historical significance that has influenced the local culture and educational history of the island. According to historian and archivist Pere Salas Vives, who has dedicated years to studying and compiling information about the Cifre family and their property, the estate was acquired by the founder of Caixa Colonya, Guillem Cifre Coll, at a very young age. Cifre inherited the Colonya estate from a local landowner who had no children. At that time, the estate was just one of the businessman's many possessions, but it became one of the most important as Cifre consolidated his fortune and established himself as a key figure in Mallorcan society. This acquisition took place during the early years of the 20th century, when Cifre was beginning to build his own legend in the Balearic Islands.

Personal tragedy

Before moving to the Colonya estate, Guillem Cifre's family lived in a house on Mallorca Street in Pollença, where the Sagrat Cor convent stands today. However, Cifre's family life was marked by a great tragedy that led them to make a radical decision: to leave their house on Mallorca Street and settle in a new home. Their young daughter died from an infectious disease, a situation exacerbated by the unsanitary conditions prevalent at the time. The areas near streams filled with filth and organic waste contributed to the spread of disease. Thus, this painful event accelerated the family's need to find a healthier place to live, with a cooler climate and better ventilation.

Construction of the new residence in Colonya began in 1901. The estate enjoys a privileged location with spectacular views of the valley and mountains, views that, in addition to enhancing the family's quality of life, were considered essential for improving the health of all its members. From its completion in early 1903, the new house became the family home until Cifre's death.

History of the house and its architecture

The house of Guillem Cifre de Colonya is also a remarkable architectural gem, reflecting the evolution of architecture in the Balearic Islands at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. One of the most unique features of this building is the presence of two original medieval mullioned windows, which come from the Plaça de la Almoina in Pollença. These windows, of great historical value, add a touch of tradition and authenticity to the building and reflect the influence of medieval architecture in the area.

Guillem Cifre lived in this house until his death in 1908, under tragic circumstances. After spending some time in León for health reasons, he suffered a severe depression that ended in suicide. His wife, Clara Hammerl, and their children continued to live in the house until 1920, when Cifre's children left to pursue their studies abroad. Clara Hammerl traveled to Oregon in the United States to accompany her son during his university studies. She lived abroad until her death in 1931, in the city of Rufino, Argentina.

Uninhabited until sale

After Clara Hammerl's death, the Colonya house remained uninhabited until 1965, when it was sold to the architect Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oiza, one of the most prominent figures in 20th-century Spanish architecture. Sáenz de Oiza, known for his work on the Huarte house in Formentor, carried out a minor renovation of the Colonya house. One of the most notable changes was the installation of a skylight turret in the center of the house to increase the amount of natural light inside. Sáenz de Oiza's renovation was modest but effective, managing to maintain the historical character of the property while incorporating modern elements that improved the functionality of the space.

The architect used the estate as a second home until his death in 2000. Since then, the property has passed to his descendants, who decided to put it up for sale over a year ago. The house, which has been in the hands of a single family for almost 60 years, still retains vestiges of its former splendor and offers a unique glimpse into the historical and cultural past of Pollença and the Balearic Islands.

The enduring legacy

Today, the house of Guillermo Cifre de Colonya represents not only an architectural gem but also a testament to the historical, cultural, and social evolution of Mallorca. The house's future is uncertain, but its value lies not only in its beauty and state of preservation but also in the legacy it holds. From the figure of Guillermo Cifre, an educator and philanthropist who left a profound mark on the island's educational history, to the influences of Sáenz de Oiza's modern architecture, the house is a symbol of an era of change and transition on the island. This sale also opens a debate about the future of historic buildings in the Balearic Islands. Some residents of Pollença suggest that the Cifre de Colonya house could be transformed into a cultural or educational space that recovers the memory of a man who profoundly influenced Mallorcan society. Many see this property as a unique opportunity to preserve the community's heritage and to develop projects that keep the history and culture of Pollença and the Balearic Islands alive. In short, the Casa de Guillermo Cifre de Colonya is more than just a building for sale: it is a living legacy that continues to connect past, present, and future through its architecture, its history, and its connection to the local community.