After telling you about the things to do and see in Mallorca and giving some tips for visiting the island in my recent article on 'Visiting Mallorca', I'm going to tell you about one of the must-do activities in Mallorca, the academy created by tennis player Rafael Nadal, the Rafa Nadal Academy and its must-see museum, the Rafa Nadal Museum Xperience.
Located in Manacor, in the east of the island of Majorca, home town of the Spanish tennis player, this academy and its museum are among the essential stages of a visit to Mallorca for all fans of tennis, but also sports in general.
Summary:
- Rafa Nadal Academy
- Rafa Nadal Museum Xperience
- Visit of the Rafal Nadal Museum Xperience: Prices, reservations and times
- My opinion on the Rafa Nadal Museum Xperience
Book your visit to the Rafa Nadal Museum Xperience directly online. Book your visit
Rafa Nadal Academy
Let's start our tour of the Rafa Nadal Academy and Museum Xperience with the primary purpose of this center, its academy. The academy is the raison d'être of this center. Even if, as we will see later, the museum is a very nice experience that I strongly recommend, it is the academy that occupies the foreground.
The academy, created by Rafael Nadal in association with Movistar, is a training center for young tennis players. The center was created in the image of Rafael Nadal with quality teaching, specific training and rigorous monitoring of young athletes. The academy has a clinic to treat residents but also rooms to accommodate them, classrooms and, of course, very high quality sports facilities.
The academy has no less than 27 tennis courts, 7 padel courts, 2 squash courts, a fitness center, an indoor and an outdoor swimming pool, a spa with sauna and Turkish baths and a beauty salon.
The fitness center and the spa are accessible to members of the complex in addition to young athletes.
The academy receives young people who come to spend part of their studies, but also organizes shorter sessions during the holidays, for example.
A tournament is also organized every year in this academy with many tennis stars.
It is also possible to eat in this center thanks to the restaurant accessible to all.
Rafa Nadal Museum Xperience
Now let's move on to the main attraction of this complex, the Rafa Nadal Museum Xperience. This unique place is a special museum, a real experience in which you will take part.
The visit begins in front of an impressive wall of used balls which represents a week of training for Rafael Nadal.
Once past this wall, the experience begins in a tunnel which will immediately immerse you in the atmosphere and will make your adrenaline rush as if you were entering the court.
The first part of the museum is made up of a multitude of attractions, games or simulators of all kinds that Rafael Nadal is particularly fond of. Mountain biking, Formula 1, tennis of course simulator as well as augmented reality activities. This part of the museum is really interesting and fun.
Going a little further, you will discover the beginning of the museum itself where many objects and trophies are exhibited. You will discover a whole heap of rackets that belonged to the greatest tennis players. This part continues in the basement on a large room where is exposed a large part of Rafael Nadal's trophies, his outfits but also a whole bunch of objects that have marked sport in general. Donations from many athletes like his friend Roger Federer, but also basketball players, Formula 1 pilots, golfers, etc.
At regular intervals, the entire museum becomes animated with remarkable sound and light effects.
Visit of the Rafal Nadal Museum Xperience: Prices, reservations and times
The Rafa Nadal Museum Xperience is open daily from 10 a.m. to 18:30 p.m.
It is located at the following address: Ctra. Cales de Mallorca in Manacor.
The museum is about 50 minutes drive from the center of Palma and less than 40 minutes from Mallorca airport at Manacor. Manacor being the hometown of Rafael Nadal.
You can book your tickets online or directly at the museum entrance. The entrance will cost you 18€ per adult, free for children under 7 years old.
My opinion on the Rafa Nadal Museum Xperience
Visiting the Rafa Nadal Museum Xperience is something I highly recommend. For all sports fans, and not just tennis fans, you will be surprised by this extraordinary museum that is completely different from a traditional museum. The experience is intended to be interactive: you are an actor in the visit and take part in the activities offered.
You will learn more about Rafael Nadal, his career, relive his beginnings and contemplate his countless trophies!
