MALLORCA: Mediterranean LadyThis elegant island has to offer anything a visitor might dream of.
Tourism at Mallorca started to develop already in the 1920s, and until the Spanish Civil War it was mainly intellectuals and artists who were attracted by this island.
Mallorca's wonderful climate, beautiful landscapes as well as its cosmopolitan ambience make it a privileged holiday resort, with a cultural offer comparable to the one of many European capitals. The Auditiorio de Palma, for instance, ranks among Europe's top concert halls.
Mallorca: What to seeMost visitors spend all their holidays at the beach where their hotel is located and do not consider how attractive can be a tour through the island.
Let us start with the capital, Palma de Mallorca, and its beautiful bay, Bahía de Palma. The way from the port to El Arenal is ideal for an excursion by bicycle. At those just 16 kilometers, all the time along the seaside, you will see the beaches El Portixol, El Molinar, Coll d'En Rebassa and Can Pastilla, before arriving to the final destination, el Arenal.
Illetas and Santa Ponça are other great beaches with fine sand and crystalline water.
Another recommendable excursion from Palma is the mountain range Sierra de Tramuntana in the North-East, parallel to the sea. You should visit the picturesque village Calvía, located in typical mediterranean landscape, with its Romanesque-Gothic church Iglesia Parroquial and the 18th, century castle Castillo de Bemdinat.
On the way to Andraitx you will pass romantic fishing villages and some of the island's most outstanding landscapes. Camp de Mar is a most beautiful bay with a small island at its center, and Puerto de Andraitx is a natural port surrounded by pine woods. Andraitx itself has to offer a fantastic view over the coast, as well as some interesting monuments: its church, Iglesia Parroquial, and the house palace of Son Mas. San Telmo is, without doubt, the most visited port at the island. Major attractions are its 16th. century fortress and the ruins of the Sa Trapa Monastery nearby. It is also the starting point for excursions to the beautiful island Isla Dragonera.
Taking the road N-710 from Andraitx and driving along the marvelous coast, you should pay special attention to Puigpunyent with its beautiful cultures of olives and almonds and Valldemosa, with its Real Cartuja where Chopin spent the winter 1838/39, and its charming port. Deiá, is a beautiful village with architectonical constructions in remarkable harmony with nature. Another attraction is Deiá's unique cementery. Bahía de Lluc Alcari is another most beautiful beach.
Soller , with its manorial houses, is another must see. It has as well a curious tramway leading to the port, and a romantic fishing port. Monuments to visit are the neo-gothical church Parroquia de San Bartolomé, the museum Museo de Soller and the Convent of San Francisco. Very close to Soller there is Biniaraix , an outstanding example of typical mallorquinian architecture. Narrow mountain roads through marvelous landscapes lead us to Sa Calobra with the monastery of Lluc, located at one of the highest peaks of Mallorca. Nearby there is the small village Escorca, with an interesting museum.
Pollença, a very picturesque place, is located at the foot of two hills. Both offer a splendid panorama. Pollença's museum includes paintings, medieval arts and an interesting zoological collection. Worth a visit are also the 16th century tower Atalaya de Formentor, the ruins of the 14th century castle Castell del Rei, the Greco-Roman temple Parroquia de Santa María de los Angeles, the sanctuary of Puig de Maria, and the Calvary Mountain . Its "Via Crucis" leads to a 14th century oratory. The fishing port Puerto de Pollença, at 6 kilometers, has become an artists' colony, founded by Anglada Camassara, whose works are exposed in the museum. Also the birthplace of poet Costa i Llobera can be visited here. Just a few kilometers from Pollença you will find the marvelous beaches Cala de San Vicente and Playa de Formentor.
Located at the other extreme of the Bahía de Pollença there is the medieval town Alcudia . Take yourself time to have a walk through its narrow lanes flanked by house palaces of 16th and 17th century and to see its church, Iglesia Parroquial, its town-gate, Puerta de la Ciudad, and its Roman Theater . The road N-717 leads us to Inca, known for its highly reputated textile and shoe production. Worth a visit are, apart of the Cathedral, its wine cellars with huge barrels called botes congranyades. The nearby mountain Puig de Santa Magdalena offers a great panorama. Now, via Binissalem, you'll arrive back to Palma.
Taking the N-717 from Palma direction South-East, you should visit Llucmajor and the outstanding landscapes around, as the well-known Bahía de Pi . The fortifications of Santanyí remind us of a time when pirates from the neighboor island Cabrera frequently attacked the town. The old town-gate, Porta Murada, is still conserved. In Felanitx, well-known for its wine production, you should visit the church Iglesia Parroquial and the Sanctuary of San Salvador.
Manacor is the second town in size on Balearic Islands. It has an important production of furniture, glass and artificial pearls. Its Archaeological Museum, with an important collection of prehistorical and paleochristian objects, is well worth a visit. The nearby Petra was the birthplace of Fray Junipero Serra, foundator of missions in today's California. You may visit the house where this monk was born, the monastery of 17th century, and the hermitage of Nuestra Señora de Bonany. Porto Cristo is an area of high touristical importance. Major attractions are the beautiful natural caves Cuevas de Drach, with a subterranean lake, the Acuario showing the submarine fauna of Balearic Islands, and Exotic-Park with a wide variety of cactus and exotic birds. Continuing your way along the coast you pass most beautiful bays, as Cala Millor, located at the Bahía de Artá. Artá is highly interesting thanks to its richdom in monuments: its castle, several small palaces, the San Francisco Monastery, Iglesia Parroquial, and a museum with important prehistorical objects. In Ses Paises were made important findings of the megalythical epoch. Last but not least let us mention the beautiful natural caves, Cuevas Naturales de Artá, and the fantastic view over Bahía de Alcudia which you may enjoy from Capilla de Betlem.
The picturesque fishing village Cala Ratjada with its 13th century castle Castillo de Capdepera has been converted into a residential area. You should visit the Jardines de Casa March, a very important private collection of modern art, the giant 12th century tower Torre de Canyamel, and the beautiful Cala Mesquida.
Bahía de Alcudia is certainly one of the island's most outstanding places. Enjoy the view from Monte San Talaia! And do not miss the beaches in its South as well as Puerto de Alcudia. Worth a visit is also the natural park Parque de la Albufera. Cyclists should know: there is a bicycle path of 12 km length around it.
Palma de Mallorca, the great capitalLa Ciutat, as the Mallorquines call their capital, will impress you from the moment you arrive to its port: yachts, palms, the cathedral ... Palma creates magic, more than ever in the early hours of the day. History and modernity melt together with the deep blue of Mediterranean sea. Approximately 320.000 people live here, about half of the island's total population.
The city's cultural offer is impressive, specially if you take its size into consideration, and there is a large number of monuments you really should not miss.
The Cathedral
This is, probably, the most distinctive landmark of Palma. The cathedral, called la Seo by the Mallorquines, was constructed from 14th to 19th century, and the highly creative Antoni Gaudí designed its interior in 20th. century. Results are fascinating and original at the same time, almost impossible to describe with words. Most outstanding are perhaps the Puerta del Mirador, a door towards the sea created by architect Guillen Sagrera, and, in the interior, the chapels Capilla Real and Capilla de la Trinidad, as well as the museum with masterworks specially of the Baroque epoch.
La Almudaina
The "Royal Palace", constructed over the remains of the Muslim Alcazar, was the residence of the early kings.
La Lonja
Perhaps one of the most outstanding examples of Gothic civil architecture in all the Mediterranean area, with a great facade and fantastic interior. It was built by Guillem Sagrera and is used today as Museum of Arts.
Consulado del Mar
Close to "La Lonja", with an outstanding Renaissance gallery of 17th century. Today this building is the seat of the autonomous government.
Paseo del Borne
The heart of the historical center, and one of the most lively streets in town. At both sides it is flanked by narrow medieval lanes as well as elegant palaces of 19th century. The italian influence, very characteristical for Mallorca in general, is remarkably evident here.
Between Cathedral and Plaza de Cort
Here you will find several great palaces, as the ones of Colom, Villalonga, Oleo, Truyols, Oleza, the Archiepiscopal Palais, the church Iglesia de San Francisco and the Arabian Baths, one of very few remains of the Moorish epoch at Mallorca.
Plaza de Cort
Here are located the Ayuntamiento, town hall, with its outstanding 17th century facade, and the Gothic church Iglesia de Santa Catalina.
El Puig de San Pere
Located behind "La Lonja", this is another old quarter of town that is well worth a visit. Of particular interest are the church Iglesia de Santa Cruz, of 14th century with a 13th century crypt, the Palacio de Montenegro, Casa Weyler and Casa Belloto.
Around Plaza Mayor
La Rambla and Avenida de Jaime III are two important shopping streets with beautiful buildings, as Casa Berga (today the province's court of law) with its impressive Baroque balcony. Calle del Sindicato was the seat of the medieval committees.
Castillo de Bellver
A fortress located on top of a hill close to the historical center, built by Peré Salvá during the Gothic epoch. Its elegant appearance almost makes forget that it was originally constructed to defend Mallorca's inhabitants from their enemies. In its interior there is a museum with a valuable collection of pieces of classical antiquity.
Night life in MallorcaIn all tourist areas on Mallorca you will find an ample offer of restaurants, bars, and discotheques with boiling night life, in particular during the summer months. Very popular among visitors from Britain is the beach of Magaluf located west of Palma de Mallorca. The numerous beer pubs and steak houses could almost make you feel in Britain - were there not the Mediterranean vegetation and climate around. We will now however concentrate on the liveliest places in and around Palma de Mallorca:
Palma's historical center
In Palma's Casco antiguo, the historical center with its charming narrow lanes, you will find a large number of pubs and fashionable locals. Also one eats very well here, so this is maybe the ideal place to start your tour through Palma's night life.
Paseo Marítimo
Paseo Marítimo offers elegant and sophisticated places, discotheques and locals with live performances of jazz, swing and blues. Zona Darsena Can Barbara is preferred by young visitors who want to dance. At Paseo Mallorca, in the very center of town, there are numerous elegant places and cocktail bars.
Plaza Gomila
The locals at Plaza Gomila showcase the island's traditional style and are heavily visited as well. Another great area to enjoy.
Playa de Palma and El Arenal
These wide beaches located east of Palma de Mallorca are among the most crowded and lively areas of the island with countless restaurants, bars and discotheques: eating, drinking, singing and dancing all night long. This area is particularly popular among visitors from Germany, so don't be surprised to find lots of beer locals in typically German style.
