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C/ Fra Joan Llabrés, 16. 07600 (Playa de Palma)
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www.barcelopueblopark.com
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| The country of Spain is located in southwestern Europe. |
| Mainland Spain has a surface area of 493,486 square kilometers, while the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands cover 4,992 and 7,447 square kilometers, respectively. The Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla on the African continent account for an additional 32 square kilometers. |
| The World Tourism Organization rates Spain as the second most popular tourist destination worldwide, with 49.5 million visitors annually. | |
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| Majorca is an island in the Balearic archipelgo, along with the islands of Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera, and Cabrera. It is the largest of the islands, with a surface area of 3,640 square kilometers and a population of 700,000. |
| Its warm climate, the beauty and variety of its landscapes, its history and traditions, the wide range of cultural activities, the facilities on the island for all sorts of sports, and the traditional hospitality of its people have all made Majorca a place you'll want to come back to. |
| Playa de Palma Beach is 5 minutes from Son Sant Joan International Airport, 10 minutes from the island's capital and close to the highway leading to the main towns on the island, making it an ideal location for those wishing to discover Majorca. The beach is 6 kilometers long and 40 meters wide, with fine sands and crystal-clear water, attracting water-sports lovers and outdoor activity enthusiasts. | |
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| Destination: | Beach-party town to some, hillside hideaway to others, sun-soaked haven to all. |
| There's far more to Mallorca than the holy triumvirate of sun, sea and sand. Fight your way past the army of tan-seeking tourists, and you'll discover Gothic architecture, hilltop villages, olive groves and hidden beaches. If you're after something a bit crazier, there are summer parties galore. |
| Visitors can fan out in the direction of either Palma de Mallorca, the main centre, or the northwest coast with the Serra de Tramuntana mountain ranges, or the north and east coast beaches. Whatever your poison, you (and about ten million other tourists) can find it here. |
| Weights measures system: | Metric |
Location and surroundings |
| Population: | 741000 inhabitants . |
| The charm of chowing in Mallorca is discovering your favourite hidden gem. There's a whole mess of bars and restaurants in the maze of streets between Plaça de la Reina and the port, and in the Santa Catalina area, plus a great central produce market in the Plaça del Olivar. |
| Overwiew | The first big bash of the year is January's festival of San Sebastián, the patron saint of Palma. San Antonio Abad, the patron saint of animals, is also celebrated in January, with pet processions and animal blessing ceremonies. The weekend before Lent, Sa Rua, is carnival time characterised by people wearing fancy dress and dancing on coloured floats. Semana Santa, holy week, is an even bigger do: Palma holds processions every day and the smaller towns have festivities too. In July the party moves Continue reading. to Valldemossa, where the Carro Triunfal commemorates Santa Catalina Tomàs, the patron saint of Mallorca. Also in July, battles from the 1229 Christian invasion are re-enacted in Pollença. Harvest festivals are observed all over the island in September/October.Public Holidays 1 January - New Year's Day 6 January - Epiphany 19 March - St Joseph's Day 1 May - Labour Day 24 June - St John's Day 29 June - St Peter & St Paul's day 25 July - St James's Day15 August - Assumption of the Virgin 12 October - America Day 1 November - All Saints' Day 6 December - Constitution Day 8 December - Immaculate Conception 25 December - Christmas Day Hide. |
| 1 Jan - Año Nuevo (New Year's Day) |
| Mar/Apr - Viernes Santo (Good Friday) |
| 1 May - Fiesta del Trabajo (Labour Day) |
| 15 Aug - La Asunción (Feast of the Assumption) |
| 12 Oct - Fiesta Nacional de España (National Day) |
| 8 Dec - La Inmaculada Concepción (Feast of the Immaculate Conception) |
| 25 Dec - Navidad (Christmas) |
| Mallorca is typically Mediterranean with hot, dry summers in the high 20°Cs (low 80°Fs) and mild winters, with the temperatures roughly half that of summer. The sea regulates extreme temperatures and pleasant sea breezes also keep hot days from becoming too unpleasant. Mallorca experiences irregular rainfall, mostly tending to fall between autumn and winter. |
| Intro: | | The most popular activities on the island are probably partying, drinking and generally having a good time. However if you're after something a bit healthier, the hiking on Mallorca is great, particularly in the mountainous northwest; spring is the best time, as summer can be a bit hot and dry. |
| Mallorca's international airport, Son Sant Joan Airport, is 8km (5mi) from Palma. The island is such a popular destination that most airlines fly direct. If you want to go via the mainland, it will invariably up the price of your journey. The cheapest flights tend to go from Barcelona and Valencia; you can get particularly good deals in low season. Cheap flights on airlines such as Air Europa are also available from Malaga and Madrid. Ferries to Mallorca also run from these cities, and from Dénia on the coast between Valencia and Alicante; you can buy tickets in advance or at the ports. A departure tax applies when flying out of Spain, but this is included in the price of the ticket. | |
| The best way to get around the island is by car or bike, and there are several rental companies in Palma. If you'd rather use public transport, a regular bus service connects the airport with Palma, where you can get buses to the rest of the island. There are also two train lines running from Plaça de Espanya in Palma: one goes to Sóller on the northwest coast; the other inland to Inca. A third train connects Inca with Sa Pobla and Manacor. You can get boats and water-taxis between the different resorts.If you want to island-hop around the Balearics, there are (costly) inter-island flights, and ferries, which operate from Palma, Port d'Alcúdia and Cala Ratjada. | |
| Pre-20th century history | It's not clear exactly where they came from or how they got there, but the first settlers on Mallorca were cave dwellers who left behind pottery and tools made from animal horns. The Talayotic period followed around 1000 BC: you can still see Talayots (cone-shaped towers) at Capocorp Vell in the south of the island. Phoenician and Greek traders came next and it's possible that the name Balearic comes from ballein, the Greek for sling throwing. These sling-throwers helped the Carthaginians fight the Continue reading. Romans in the 2nd Punic War, but by 123 BC the Romans had control of Mallorca. True to form they built roads and towns, and introduced the island to Christianity.At the beginning of the 10th century the island was annexed to the Emirate of Córdoba, kicking off 300 years of Moorish rule. During this time Mallorca had its ups and downs. There were serious squabbles between the Muslims and Christians, but trade prospered from its strategic position between Africa and Islamic Spain, and agriculture improved.This prosperity tempted King Jaume I of Aragón and Catalunya, who, annoyed with the Emir of Mallorca for stealing some of his ships, decided to have a crack at the island in 1229. Successful, he created an independent Kingdom of Mallorca, unfortunately destroying many Moorish buildings in the process. On the plus side, he governed progressively, giving rights to the island's Jews, waiving taxation and stimulating trade. He also built Palma cathedral. On his death he left his realm to his two sons: Pedro inherited Catalunya, Aragón and Valencia; Jaume II received Montpellier, Roussillon and the Balearics. The Balearics continued to prosper, and in 1349 a jealous Pedro IV of Aragón landed in Mallorca and claimed it for himself.Having lost its independence, Mallorca was quickly neglected by a ruling elite more interested in the Aragonese court. The islands were not allowed to trade with the newly discovered Americas, and the economy went into decline. The 16th century saw civil unrest, Jewish executions ordered by the Inquisition and threats from the Ottoman Turks. The 17th century wasn't much better: trade didn't improve and the plague killed thousands of people. By the 18th century Mallorca's official language, Catalan, had been replaced by Castilian Spanish. This did not deter the waves of Catalan refugees who fled to the island during the Napoleonic wars. Famine, drought and epidemics made 19th-century life hard on the island, however. Communications with mainland Spain, a new railway and agricultural advancements helped and Catalan culture experienced a revival. Nonetheless many islanders left Mallorca for America. Hide. |
| Modern history: | | With the advent of mass tourism in the 1950s the island made an impressive comeback. Since then thousands of people have flocked to the beautiful beaches every year (9 million in 1999 alone), and the islanders now enjoy the highest standard of living in Spain. But this has come at a price: unattractive resort developments have spoiled much of the coast, and more than a fifth of all property on the island is in foreign hands. In 1983 the Balearic Islands became one of Spain's autonomous regions, with Palma de Mallorca its capital. |
| recent history: | | The administration now faces a dilemma: how to continue the prosperity without losing the island's natural beauty to concrete. Mallorcans of today are among the wealthiest citizens of the country, but there have been downsides - construction and hotel mafias have made a killing on the coast while farming has fallen by the wayside. Now even inland real estate prices can be Manhattanesque in stature. |
 |  |  | | Old wood and stone windmill at Santa Maria, near town of Palma de Mallorca | Aquamarine waters at Portals Vells, south eastern Mallorca | Coves d'Arta limestone caves: more or less what Hell looks like | | David Tomlinson | Jon Davison | Jon Davison | | | | |  | | Dinky tourist tram, running between Soller and Port de Soller | | Damien Simonis | | |
| Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró | | miro.palmademallorca.es | | Category:art-related/art gallery | | | |
| | Direccion: Carrer de Joan de Saridakis 29 | | Teléfono: 97170 14 20 | | | bus: 3 from Plaça Espanya, 6 from Plaça de la Reina | | Horario: mid-May-mid-Sep: Tue-Sat 10:00-19:00, Sun & holidays 10:00-15:00; mid-Sep-mid-May: Tue-Sat 10:00-18:00, Sun & holidays 10:00-15:00 |
| | Joan Miró's art foundation is housed in the artist's Palma studios and contains a permanent collection of the works stored here at the time of his death. In all, more than 100 paintings, a small collection of sculpture and hundreds of drawings make up the collection. There are also temporary exhibitions and a shop selling Miró souvenirs, prints etc. | | _________________________________________________________________________________ | | Catedral | | www.catedraldemallorca.org | | Category:religious/spiritual/architectural highlight | | | |
| | Direccion: Carrer del Palau Reial 9 | | Teléfono: 97172 31 30 | | | | Horario: Year-round: Sat 10:00-14:30;
Jun-Sep: Mon-Fri 10:00-18:30;
May & Oct: Mon-Fri 10:00-17:30;
Nov-Mar: Mon-Fri10:00-14:30 |
| | Palma's enormous cathedral is often likened to a huge ship moored at the city's edge. Construction work started in 1230 but wasn't completed until 1600. This awesome structure is predominantly Gothic, apart from the main facade and parts of the interior which were renovated in Modernista style by Antoni Gaudí at the beginning of the 20th century. | | _________________________________________________________________________________ | | Banys Àrabs | | | Category:archaeological site/architectural highlight | | | |
| | Direccion: Carrer de Serra 7 | | Teléfono: 97172 15 49 | | | | Horario: Apr-Nov 09:00-19:30; Dec-Mar 09:00-18:00 |
| | These Arab Baths are the only extant monument to the Muslim domination of the island. All that remains are two small underground chambers, one of which has a domed ceiling supported by columns. Interestingly, each of the columns is topped by a different capital: the Muslims were really great recyclers and the capitals came from demolished Roman buildings. | | _________________________________________________________________________________ | | Museu d'Art Modern i Contemporani | | www.esbaluard.org | | Category:art gallery/food onsite | | | |
| | Direccion: Porta de Santa Catalina 10 | | Teléfono: 97190 82 00 | | | | Horario: mid-Jun-Sep: Tue-Sun 10:00-22:00; Oct-mid-Jun: Tue-Sun 10:00-20:00 |
| | The spectacular Museu d'Art Modern i Contemporani takes the grand Renaissance-era seaward fortifications, Es Baluard, as its setting. A 21st-century concrete complex has been built into the walls, creating a playful game of light, surfaces and perspective - the perfect framework for this major exhibition of contemporary artists from Spain and beyond. | | _________________________________________________________________________________ | | Palau de l'Almudaina | | | Category:art-related/significant house/royal | | | |
| | Direccion: Carrer del Palau Reial s/n | | Teléfono: 97121 41 34 | | | | Horario: Apr-Sep: Mon-Fri 10:00-18:30, Sat 10:00-14:00; Oct-Mar: Mon-Fri 10:00-14:00 & 16:00-18:00, Sat 10:00-14:00 |
| | A Muslim castle converted into a residence for the Mallorcan monarchs at the end of the 13th century, Palau de l'Almudaina is still occasionally used for official functions when King Juan Carlos is in town. | | _________________________________________________________________________________ | | Puro Beach | | www.purobeach.com | | Category:views/chillout | | | |
| | | Teléfono: 97174 47 44 | | | | Horario: 11:00-02:00 |
| | S'Arenal and Magaluf, the amorphous seaside tourist haunts, are full of bars and discos bursting with the lobster-hued package-tourist crowd. One marvellous exception is the uber laid-back sunset chill lounge, Puro Beach, an all-white bar with tapering outdoor promontory area that is perfect for sunset cocktails, DJ sessions and fusion food escapes.Blend in with the monochrome decor and wear white, thus emphasising your designer tan. | | _________________________________________________________________________________ | | Jazz Voyeur Club | | www.jazzvoyeur.com | | Category:bar/jazz/blues | | | |
| | Direccion: Carrer dels Apuntadors 5 | | | | |
| | Enter into the liveliest local music scene in the heart of the old quarter. The Jazz Voyeur Club is one of plenty of watering holes lining Carrer del Apuntadors. The smallish, black, upstairs bar fills quickly for live jazz and soul most nights. | | _________________________________________________________________________________ | | Abaco | | | Category:cocktail lounge/classical music/expensive/luxury | | | |
| | Direccion: Carrer de Sant Joan 1 | | Teléfono: 97171 59 47 | | | | Horario: Tue-Thu 20:00-00:30, Fri-Sat 20:00-03:00 |
| | Behind a set of ancient timber doors, Abaco is the bar of your wildest dreams (with nightmarish prices). Inside, a Mallorcan patio and candle-lit courtyard are crammed with elaborate floral arrangements, cascading towers of fresh fruit and bizarre artwork. Bow-tied waiters will fulfil your wishes while classical music soothes your ears. Take a look upstairs. | | _________________________________________________________________________________ | | Forn des Teatre | | | Direccion: Plaça de Weyler 9 | | Teléfono: 97171 52 54 | | | | Horario: Mon-Sat 08:00-20:00 |
| | This pastry shop has the best ensaimada (a light, spiral pastry emblematic of the island) in town. Drop in before you head to the theatre, or simply chow down on this Mallorcan delicacy and check out the peculiar Art Deco facade. | | _________________________________________________________________________________ | | Restaurant Celler Sa Premsa | | | Direccion: Plaça del Bisbe Berenguer de Palou 8 | | Teléfono: 97172 35 29 | | | |
| | Something of a local institution, a visit to the Celler Sa Premsa is practically obligatory. It's a cavernous tavern (dare we say 'tavernous'?) filled with huge old wine barrels and has walls plastered with faded bullfighting posters. The food is hearty but basic. | | _________________________________________________________________________________ | | Ca'n Joan de S'Aigo | | | | Teléfono: 97171 07 59 | | | | Horario: Wed-Mon 08:00-21:00 |
| | While sipping on a hot chocolate is probably not what you had in mind during a visit to sunny Mallorca, it's worth checking out this antique-filled milk bar that dates from 1700. Check out the ladies with their fans and the children with their ice creams. | | _________________________________________________________________________________ |
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