Palma De Mallorca travel guide

By | July 22, 2019

City Overview Palma de Mallorca

Palma has blossomed from a stopover for all-inclusive travelers on the way to the beach to a popular holiday destination.

The city of Palma, which lies majestically on the Bay of Palma, is the economic, political and commercial center of the Balearic Islands and is home to almost half of the inhabitants of Mallorca.

Due to its increasingly cosmopolitan atmosphere, its magnificent squares, the avant-garde galleries and museums, the lively cultural scene and the ever increasing number of chic boutiques, designer hotels, modern bars, night clubs and restaurants, the city was able to free itself from its image of dusty provincialism .

At the same time, the dynamic and youthful city has taken great care to maintain a balance between its traditions and its modernity.

Palma has retained much of its old charm: there are still numerous traditional restaurants and bars that are popular with locals, and street cafes where you can spend hours. Fishermen continue to repair their nets by hand on the quays.

The island’s traditional handicrafts such as glass blowing, lace embroidery and carvings in olive wood continue in small specialty shops on the side streets.

It is also still possible to get lost in the labyrinth of old streets and in the hidden, sun-drenched squares of the charming old town.

Important facts

Area code: (0) 971

Population: 434.516

Latitude: 39.567454

Longitude: 2.647534

Weather in Palma de Mallorca

Thanks to its geographical location, Palma is a popular travel destination all year round. As in all the Balearic Islands, Mallorca has a milder weather than the Spanish mainland. The island is especially popular during the summer months (July to August) when the temperatures are high and the water is perfect for swimming. The beaches of Palma, like everywhere else on the island, are overcrowded with tourists.

Those looking for peace and relaxation should come in spring (March to May) or autumn (October to November), when the city is less busy and the temperatures are pleasant. Or you can flee to the mountains and olive plantations in the interior of the island, where only a few tourists get lost.

City History of Palma de Mallorca

Mallorca was founded in 123 BC. BC under Quintus Caecilius Metellus Balearicus occupied by the Romans. The Romans opened up the island and started growing olives and salt. Incidentally, the city of Palmaria Palmensis (Palma) was also founded.

In 534 AD, the island was taken by the Byzantine Empire, which gave Palma the name Medina Mayurqa, and administered as part of the Province of Sardinia in what is now Italy . Christianity flourished under Byzantine rule and numerous churches were built – many of which can still be seen in Palma de Mallorca today.

Around two centuries later, the island was attacked by the Moors from North Africa and finally conquered by the Caliphate of Cordoba. This started a new era of prosperity for the island. Under the rule of the North African caliphate, agriculture and industry were advanced, and the island’s economy reached a new high.

A new era began in 1015 when the island came under the rule of the Dénia Taifas and was an independent Taifa (Little Kingdom) for over a century. In 1114 the Catalans took over the island and claimed Palma de Mallorca for themselves, but Mallorca was soon recaptured by the Almoravids from North Africa.

In 1229 King James I of Aragon finally conquered Mallorca and the other Balearic Islands. Mallorca was soon taken over by Aragon and became part of the Union with the rest of Castile (today’s mainland Spain). In the 14th century, King Philip II of Spain united the country under a unified Spanish monarchy. Mallorca became part of the Spanish province of the Balearic Islands, and Palma was named the capital.

A severe plague hit Mallorca in 1891, which destroyed many vineyards and eliminated the island’s main source of income. As a result, numerous Mallorcans emigrated to mainland Spain and America from 1891 to 1895.

During the Spanish Civil War, Palma was a nationalistic stronghold. A major battle between the nationalists and the Republicans took place in the city. The superior nationalist air force forced the Republicans to withdraw and leave the island.

Since the 1950s, the beginning of mass tourism has turned the island into a tourist center for both Spanish and foreign visitors. This boom caused an increasing expansion for Palma’s industry and economy. In 2008, more than 22 million passengers arrived at Palma De Mallorca Airport, and another 1.5 visitors came into the city by sea. Today Palma is the leader in the Spanish tourism industry, and the city will continue to grow through technological developments and the expansion of the infrastructure.

In the past 10 years, Majorca’s urban redevelopment projects have attracted numerous immigrants from Africa and South America, who form a vibrant, international community in Palma De Mallorca. Today Palma is as cosmopolitan as many other Spanish cities. At the same time, Palma is only a stone’s throw away from crystal-clear beaches and remote islands, which makes the city a perfect place to stay for holidaymakers.

Impressive Palma Cathedral