- Majorca landmarks
- Religious buildings of the island
- To Mallorca with children
- Holidays and festivals
- Delicious points on the map
Spanish Mallorca is very popular with fans of beach holidays in the Mediterranean. Guests of the largest island in the Balearic archipelago go diving and windsurfing, hiking in the mountains, enjoying excellent cuisine and exploring the rich history of the island and the country through excursions. There are plenty of attractions in the city of Palma and its environs, so the answer to the question of where to go in Mallorca is always ready with local guides. After the cognitively active part of the program, tourists prefer to relax at the tables of restaurants: gourmets will find the best Mediterranean cuisine in Mallorca.
Majorca landmarks
From the list of architectural monuments, ancient castles most often fall into the excursion plan of local guides:
- In the north-east of the island, there is a citadel founded in 1300 to protect the inhabitants from sea robbers. Pirates often dropped in on Mallorca during the Middle Ages. The fortress walls of Capdepera became the core of the settlement, and two hundred years later there were more than 100 houses inside the fortress. Note the fresco in the fortress chapel. It tells the story of the miraculous rescue of Capdepera from the invaders: the fortress was saved by the Mother of God, whose image the defenders installed on the wall. Today, the church of Nostra Señora de l'Esperanza is also known for its observation deck, from where a magnificent view of Mallorca opens up. If you are into photography, be sure to go there at sunset or early in the morning.
- Castel de Bellver was also founded in the XIV century. The honor of its construction belongs to King Jaime II, the ruler of Aragon. Later, the residence of the monarch was turned into a prison, and today a museum is opened in Belver. It presents a collection of archaeological finds discovered during exploration in Mallorca. Pay attention to the shape of the building! The Gothic Bellver Castle is round, which is very atypical for buildings of that era.
- On the islet of Cabrera, south of Mallorca, according to rumors, the commander Hannibal was born. And here the ships of the Carthaginians kept watch, using a high stone cliff as an observation outpost. The castle on the island appeared in the XIV century. and is still well preserved. The main tower rises to a height of 80 m and from there you can clearly see Mallorca and a little Ibiza.
When planning your excursions, pay attention to the sights of Valldemoza - a small town with narrow streets from the times of the Moorish rule and magnificent views of the surrounding mountains. The main attraction of Valldemoza is the abode of the Carthusian order, where Frederic Chopin and Georges Sand lived for some time. The monastery was founded at the end of the XIV century. on the ruins of a palace built by the Moors. Of particular interest are the monastery church and the pharmacy, where novices prepared medicines. On the square in front of the main building, there is a monument to Chopin, and in the cell where he lived, there is a piano and the death mask of the musician.
The Spanish Village in the capital of the island is called an open-air museum. It presents two dozen buildings typical for different regions of the country. Visitors will see palaces and temples, houses of ordinary townspeople and castles of crowned persons. The peculiarities of the various styles used in the construction of such structures make it possible to imagine the evolution of Spanish architecture. The Arab conquerors had a considerable influence on it. The village's most notable exhibits are a replica of the Bisagra gate from Toledo, a patio from the Alhambra, a Tenerife's home and a recreated replica of the artist's El Greco's home. Be sure to check out the restaurants in the Spanish Village, which offer typical dishes from different regions, and run through the souvenir shops displaying local artisans.
Religious buildings of the island
The Cathedral in Palma de Mallorca is a worthy example of classical Gothic, which in Spain is generously seasoned with special grandeur and pomp. Only one front outlet, whose diameter is just a little short of one hundred meters, which is worth it! In the first third of the XIII century. King Jaime I gave the order to build a cathedral on the site of the Arab mosque, which would later serve as a burial vault for local monarchs and their families. The construction lasted for several centuries, and as a result, Antoni Gaudi took over the interior of the cathedral. He appreciated the huge windows and stained-glass windows created in the XIV-XV centuries, and used the abundance of light, making the interior rooms and frescoes play in a new way. The main relic stored in the Cathedral of St. Mary is the ark of the Life-giving Cross. You will see numerous paintings from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance in the temple.
The spiritual center of the archipelago, the Luc Monastery was built and consecrated in honor of the Virgin Mary. Work began in the 13th century. from the construction of the chapel. It was erected on the spot where the icon of the Mother of God appeared to the local shepherd. The facade of the cloister, rebuilt in the Renaissance, was later completed by the immortal Gaudi. A dark stone figurine depicting the Holy Virgin Luke is carefully preserved in the monastery.
To Mallorca with children
Holidays in Mallorca promise a lot of interesting and informative young tourists. The island has ideal conditions for school holidays: hotel infrastructure, children's menu in many restaurants, fascinating animation. Mallorca's beaches rank high in the world ranking for cleanliness, and a huge selection of water activities will not let active teenagers get bored.
The excursion program for young travelers in Mallorca can be very diverse. The first step is to go to the Palma de Mallorca aquarium, where the kingdom of Neptune is presented in all its diversity and splendor. More than fifty departments introduce visitors to the representatives of the underwater world of the Mediterranean and the world's oceans. Fascinating excursions are held in the aquarium, the participants of which not only observe the representatives of the underwater fauna, but can also come into direct contact with them - touch or feed them. There is also a tunnel with predators, traditional for many aquariums in the Old World, in Mallorca. Sharks glide right over the heads of guests passing through the tunnel.
Dolphinarium "Marinaland" is the next address where you should go with your children. In addition to dolphins, other inhabitants of the sea and tropical forests also take part in the show. For example, performances with parrots are very popular with children, and performances of sea lions invariably attract full houses. There is also a small zoo and an aquarium at Marinaland. Their inhabitants are penguins and snakes, frogs and iguanas, flamingos and monkeys. After visiting the dolphinarium, you can sunbathe and swim on its own private beach, and have fun on the rides.
Kathmandu Park is as popular in Spain as the famous Port Aventura. Its attractions are capable of captivating visitors of all ages, but young guests especially enjoy it. Of the dozens of attractions on offer, the most frequently visited are the upside-down house with labyrinths, golf courses, climbing walls and water slides with trampolines.
Holidays and festivals
On the third Sunday in May, the town of Capdepera hosts a festival dedicated to the Middle Ages. The program includes reconstructions of historical events, fairs with the participation of local craftsmen, carnival processions, wine and food tasting and concerts with the participation of amateur groups.
During the summer solstice, Palma begins the Nit del Foc, a fire festival. Mesmerizing fire shows and fire fountains in the Marine Park of the capital of Mallorca gather thousands of guests in the evenings.
On the last day of June, a ceramics fair is held in Marrachi. Mallorca has been famous for this craft for a long time, and craftsmen from all over the island come to the festival. It is also worth going to a holiday for the sake of buying gifts and souvenirs - the exhibition and sale in Marrachi will satisfy the most sophisticated taste of ceramics lovers.
Delicious points on the map
Fresh meat, vegetables, garlic, seafood and extra virgin olive oil are the staples of Majorcan cuisine. You can go to an expensive restaurant, or order a couple of dishes at a family tavern, where the locals prefer to dine - the result will still exceed all expectations. On the island, they cook deliciously and quite rightly make a cult out of food.
- The Flanigan restaurant, which opened three decades ago and has gained a reputation as one of the best establishments on the island, can experience local gastronomic traditions. The fish dishes from the local chef are beyond praise, and the apple cake for dessert should be a must on your culinary program.
- Sa Roqueta is often referred to as a small museum. The establishment is furnished with antique furniture made of natural wood, the walls are decorated with paintings by artists from Mallorca, and the dishes on the menu have been served on the island for several hundred years.
- Meson La Villa perfectly cooks young lamb, seasoned with aromatic herbs. The wine list of the institution allows you to hold any event in it - from a romantic dinner to friendly get-togethers.
- Do you like high-quality service and pay attention to the stars on the signs? Michelin-starred Santi Taura in Mallorca offers haute couture cuisine. Author's recipes can be appreciated by ordering dishes from the tasting menu, and the choice of drinks - by looking at the wine list.
Yet Mallorca is Spain and Spain is tapas. The best restaurant where traditional snacks are served especially varied is called La Boveda. You will find shrimp and mussels, squid and jamon, cheeses and even paella on the tapas menu.
