Palma De Mallora (Spain)
Mallorca is the largest and most visited island in the Baleares. It accounts for a little less than half a million inhabitants in
a surface of 3,660 square kilometres. The island is approximately 100 km wide from east to west and at least 75 km from
north to south. The climate is mild in the winter and pleasantly hot in the summer, mitigated by a wind coming from the
Sierra del Norte Mountains, with peaks up to 1,445 metres.
Wind was one of the first sources of energy known to the island and to its population devoted to farming and to cattle
raising. Fruit trees and greenhouses, irrigated by the typical windmills and vegetation characterised by pine trees and
oaks represent a truly pleasant view. The terraces utilised for inland farming are very typical and similar to those in the
Italian region of Liguria and other regions in the Apennines producing a large variety of olives, almonds, grapes and
apricots. The coast stretches along 400 kilometres and offers nice contrasts with cliffs on the West Side hiding small and
idyllic bays (calas) and the rest of the island. Mallorca history started 1,000 years BC in the Talaiotic age witnessed by
monuments left on the island. In the 2nd century BC it was the safest shelter for the pirates of the Mediterranean.
After Roman rule, the Arabs reigned up to the VIII century AD and in 1229 the Spanish conquered it. In this period
Mallorca grew remarkably both economically and artistically. Since then Mallorca has been considered a Spanish
province, and to all effects, a sort of geographic and administrative appendix to the Iberian Peninsula. Palma, the most
important city in the island is renowned for its port and for tourists and it is divided into three quarters: the old city
surrounded by walls with the Cathedral in the middle, the modern city developed on the west along the Gulf and the port
with the promenades near the Cathedral. It took almost 400 years to build the cathedral which was restored at the
beginning of the XIX century by the famous architect Antonio Gaudì, the Sagrada Familia designer. The size of the building
is huge, with 13.3 metres of diameter of the rosette, one of the biggest in the world.
The presbytery hosts the remarkable bishop's throne in marble. The reliefs date back to the XV century. The most
interesting object in the Museum of the Cathedral is a silver tabernacle used in processions. The historical quarter,
Pueblo Espanol, is very typical and the dragon caves are another interesting place for tourists with a legend full of mystery
and charm.
The caves stretch along for some kilometres underground and the part that can be visited, in a highly peculiar musical
path, leads to enormous halls and to several underground lakes.
a surface of 3,660 square kilometres. The island is approximately 100 km wide from east to west and at least 75 km from
north to south. The climate is mild in the winter and pleasantly hot in the summer, mitigated by a wind coming from the
Sierra del Norte Mountains, with peaks up to 1,445 metres.
Wind was one of the first sources of energy known to the island and to its population devoted to farming and to cattle
raising. Fruit trees and greenhouses, irrigated by the typical windmills and vegetation characterised by pine trees and
oaks represent a truly pleasant view. The terraces utilised for inland farming are very typical and similar to those in the
Italian region of Liguria and other regions in the Apennines producing a large variety of olives, almonds, grapes and
apricots. The coast stretches along 400 kilometres and offers nice contrasts with cliffs on the West Side hiding small and
idyllic bays (calas) and the rest of the island. Mallorca history started 1,000 years BC in the Talaiotic age witnessed by
monuments left on the island. In the 2nd century BC it was the safest shelter for the pirates of the Mediterranean.
After Roman rule, the Arabs reigned up to the VIII century AD and in 1229 the Spanish conquered it. In this period
Mallorca grew remarkably both economically and artistically. Since then Mallorca has been considered a Spanish
province, and to all effects, a sort of geographic and administrative appendix to the Iberian Peninsula. Palma, the most
important city in the island is renowned for its port and for tourists and it is divided into three quarters: the old city
surrounded by walls with the Cathedral in the middle, the modern city developed on the west along the Gulf and the port
with the promenades near the Cathedral. It took almost 400 years to build the cathedral which was restored at the
beginning of the XIX century by the famous architect Antonio Gaudì, the Sagrada Familia designer. The size of the building
is huge, with 13.3 metres of diameter of the rosette, one of the biggest in the world.
The presbytery hosts the remarkable bishop's throne in marble. The reliefs date back to the XV century. The most
interesting object in the Museum of the Cathedral is a silver tabernacle used in processions. The historical quarter,
Pueblo Espanol, is very typical and the dragon caves are another interesting place for tourists with a legend full of mystery
and charm.
The caves stretch along for some kilometres underground and the part that can be visited, in a highly peculiar musical
path, leads to enormous halls and to several underground lakes.