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Rafa Nadal Academy: Inside Manacor's World-Class Tennis Complex
We've covered the Netflix documentary that introduced Rafa Nadal's story to a global audience. This is a different piece entirely — a visitor's guide to the actual complex in Manacor, which is open to the public and worth the drive from the southwest even if you've never picked up a racket.
What the Academy Actually Is
The Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar broke ground in November 2014 and opened officially on 19 October 2016, with Roger Federer among the guests at the inauguration — both players were sidelined by injury at the time. Toni Nadal, Rafa's uncle and the coach who shaped his early career, served as the academy's first director. Nearly a decade on, the complex has grown from its original 44 courts to 45 tennis courts today — 23 hard courts (4 indoor) and 22 clay courts (7 semi-indoor) — alongside 19 padel courts, making it one of the largest dedicated tennis training complexes anywhere in the world.
The site splits into two distinct zones. The Academy itself, which houses the supervised junior residence and the Rafa Nadal School, has restricted access reserved for enrolled students. The Rafa Nadal Residence, by contrast, is open to the general public and includes accommodation for adults and families alongside the courts, gym, spa, indoor and outdoor pools, restaurants and shops.
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The Museum: Inside the Legend
The Rafa Nadal Museum first opened alongside the academy in 2016 and has since become one of the most visited attractions in the Balearic Islands, drawing over 100,000 visitors a year. In May 2026, it reopened in a completely reimagined form under the name Inside the Legend — a two-floor experience built with production company Mediapro that goes well beyond a standard trophy cabinet. Visitors start with an immersive tunnel recreating Nadal's early years, move through a gallery covering his 22 Grand Slam titles, and finish with interactive simulators testing reaction speed, coordination and precision against the physical demands of professional tennis. A broader Sports Hall of Fame section extends the story beyond tennis, with memorabilia from football, Formula 1 and basketball. Most visitors spend one to two hours inside; a guided tour of the wider academy facilities can be added on as an optional extra.
Manacor Itself
The academy sits on the outskirts of Manacor, roughly seven kilometres from the town centre, and the contrast is part of what makes the visit worthwhile. Manacor is a genuine working Mallorcan town — known on the island for furniture manufacturing and pearl production — rather than a resort built around tourism. It's also the gateway to Porto Cristo and the Caves of Drach, around 12 kilometres further east, which makes an easy pairing for a full day out: morning at the academy, lunch in Manacor, afternoon at the caves or the beach in Porto Cristo.
Getting There from the Southwest
From Santa Ponsa or Palma, the drive to Manacor takes roughly 50 to 55 minutes via the Ma-15 motorway, a straightforward cross-island route that also gives a good look at the flat agricultural interior most southwest residents rarely see. Free parking, including accessible spaces, is available on-site, and advance ticket booking is recommended in summer, when demand is highest.
A Different Side of the Island
For residents of the southwest coast, a trip to the Rafa Nadal Academy is as much about seeing a different Mallorca as it is about the tennis — an inland, working town with its own economy and rhythm, a long way in character from the marina towns most visitors associate with the island. If exploring beyond the coast has you thinking about property further inland or on the eastern side of the island, browse our current listings across Mallorca or get in touch.
