Enclosed by lush, picturesque mountains, Mallorca’s island is an extravagant holiday destination for many across the world. It is also known as Majorca and is the largest isle among the Balearic Islands in Spain. Miles of the blue sea provide a perfect backdrop for a lazy afternoon for a chill holiday experience. But that’s not all, for the adventure junkies there are activities like scuba diving and snorkeling.
How to reach there?
Mallorca, a part of the Cabrera Islands, is a trendy holiday destination and has one of Spain’s busiest international airports. The center of this island, Palma, became the Balearic Islands’ autonomous community’s capital in 1983. Its airport, Palma de Mallorca Airport, is the third-largest airport in Spain. More than 28 million passengers used it in the year 2017.
Lanzarote, the third-most populous Canary Island, has an international airport, Arrecife Airport. It is situated 5 miles from Arrecife, which is the capital of the island. About 6 million passengers travel to this airport every year.
Travel Guide
Palau de l’Almudaina
Initially an Islamic fort, this robust construction opposite the cathedral was turned into a home for the Mallorcan kings at the end of the 13th century. The King of Spain still lives here. The royal family is seldom in residence, except for the special ceremony, as they favor Palau Marivent (in Cala Major). At other times you can stroll through a blend of cavernous stone-walled rooms that have been extravagantly decorated. The Romans are believed to have built a fort here, perhaps on a prehistoric settlement. The Governors of Muslim Mallorca remodeled and extended the Roman original to construct their own fortress, before Jaume-I and his heirs modified it to such an intensity that little of the alcázar remains.
The first narrow room you enter has a black-and-white Mudéjar ceiling, symbolizing day and night extremes, light, and darkness. You then enter a set of three grand rooms. Notice the bricked-in Gothic arches cut off in the middle. Originally these three rooms were double their existing height and formed one great hall added to the primary Arab fort and known as the Saló del Tinell. This was once a big ceremonial and banqueting hall. The rooms are graced by period tapestries, types of furniture, and other curios.
Catedral de Mallorca
Palma’s vast cathedral (‘La Seu’ in Catalan) is the city’s principal architectural landmark. Apart from its utter scale, treasures, and established beauty, its striking interior features, designed by Antoni Gaudí and celebrated contemporary artist Miquel Barceló, make this unlike any cathedral elsewhere worldwide. The incredible structure is entirely Gothic, apart from the main facade, shocking, quite beautiful, and fully mongrel. The charming rose window is the largest in Europe; see it up close by exploring the roof gardens.
Palau March
This house, magnificent by any definition, was one of many residences of the wealthy March family. Sculptures by 20th-century legends, including Henry Moore, Auguste Rodin, Eduardo Chillida, and Barbara Hepworth, adorn the outdoor terrace. Within lie many more decorative treasures. Not to be avoided are the beautifully crafted figures of an 18th-century Neapolitan belén.
Things to do in Palma de Mallorca
- Taking an Adventure Boat Ride: With beautiful beaches and clear water, you have to go on a boat trip to enjoy Mallorca to the finest. If you like it adventurous, book a speed boat trip, or book a boat tour which takes you around the east coast and takes several hours. You will not only see the most fascinating places along the ride (seriously, I could stare at the water and caves for hours), but also make a couple of stops.
- Art Attack: If you’re an art and culture enthusiast or wish to explore exciting places for dinner,you really must visit the Es Baluard Contemporary Art Museum located in a centuries-old military fortress in Palma’s old city walls. The Gallery is home to some astonishing art pieces with perpetual pieces from famous artists such as Picasso and Joan Miro, alongside continually changing temporary exhibits.
- Emblematic Shops: A chain of over 70 historical shops in Palma, which each have importance in the island’s heritage, the emblematic shops include traditional shoemakers, bakeries, handblown glass and wickerwork shops. I suggest you look for an Ensaimadas from Forn Fondo or a handmade traditional Mallorcan wicker basket from Mimbreria Vidal.
- Wooden Train: One of the most enjoyable things to do in Palma is to take a quick trip to Soller, a delightful town in the Northern Hills of Palma. To get to Soller, you could rent a car, but far more fun and exciting is taking the celebrated Palma to Soller train. The quaint wooden train leaves from a station next to Palma’s central bus station on Plaça d’Espanya, making it a leisure tour anywhere in Palma.
