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Palma de Mallorca © Galen R Frysinger

Overview: Palma de Mallorca is a renonwn holiday destination. Palma, capital of the autonomous region of the Balearic Islands, is a lively, cosmopolitan city in true Spanish tradition, its centre forming a bustling montage of shopping centres, a maze of narrow lanes and restored buildings surrounded by ruined ancient city walls, and modern boulevards.

Like mainland Spain, Mallorca and Palma itself was under Moorish control between the ninth and 13th centuries until the re-conquest by Jaume I of Aragon. The Moorish heritage is still evident, as are the remnants of Palma's golden years when it rose to wealth and prominence in the 15th century as the main port of call between Europe and Africa.

Later the city, set on the beautiful bay Bahia de Palma, became the favoured Royal retreat for Fernando and Isabel, which helped it to become the popular holiday haunt of the rich and famous. Despite the invasion of foreign tourists, Palma has kept its local flavour, particularly in its old quarter lined by cafés and tapas bars. Often the native dialect of Mallorquin is the only language heard in the backstreets, a fine Palma de Mallorca trait.

Restaurants: For the best dining while on holiday in Palma de Mallorca try Rock City, Taberna de la Boveda, Forn de Sant Joan or Koldo Royo.

Nightlife: Palma de Mallorca is well known for its foam parties, discos, bars and nightclubs; try Tito's disco or the Café Barcelona jazz club.

Negatives: Be sure to carry a map as the streets are not well signposted.

Nearby Attractions

Banys Arabs

The only remaining complete Moorish-built building in Palma is the bathhouse in the medieval quarter. It contains an elegant horseshoe-arched and domed chamber, supported by 12 columns, and is fronted by a garden with picnic tables. ...  see full details

Beaches near Palma

There are several good, though usually crowded, beaches accessible by bus from Palma. El Arenal, seven miles (11km) to the southeast of the city, attracts many German visitors as is reflected along its waterfront in the signs on restaurants, bars and hotels. The long...  see full details

Castell del Bellver

The round hilltop castle built in 1309 was the summer residence of the kings of Mallorca during the short period in which the island had a Royal family. The fortified castle with its double moat also served as a prison. Today it contains...  see full details

Catedral El Seo

Palma's magnificent Catalonian Gothic cathedral is a landmark of the city, standing in the old town overlooking the ocean. The cathedral is dedicated to Palma's patron saint, San Sebastian, and contains some saintly relics and pieces of the True Cross in its treasury. Construction...  see full details

Museo d'Art Espanyol Contemporani

Palma’s most renowned art gallery contains works collected by the Juan March Foundation, housed in a restored mansion on the Carrer Sant Miquel. The collection focuses on modern works including Picasso’s Head of a Woman and paintings by Miro, Dali, Juan Gris and Antoni...  see full details

Palau de l'Almudaina

Opposite the cathedral in Palma stands an austere fortress palace that was erected by the Moors and later became the residence of the kings of Mallorca. Inside, most rooms and corridors are bare, but there are some beautiful Flemish Gobelin tapestries on display as well...  see full details

Soller

Soller, set in a lush valley of orange groves between the mountains and the sea, half way along the northwest coast of the island, is a popular day-tripper destination because it can be reached on a vintage train ride from Palma. The town is...  see full details

Valldemossa

Mallorca’s favourite titbit of tabloid gossip has turned the monastery in the small town of Valldemossa, on the west coast, into a tourist attraction. In 1838 Frederic Chopin arrived with his lover, George Sand, to stay in a former monk’s cell in the Cartoixa Reial...  see full details

Lluc

About 20 miles (32km) beyond Soller, after a precipitous drive through the Serra de Tramuntana in the north of the island, is the remote mountain village of Lluc, in a valley that has been an important place of pilgrimage since the 13th century....  see full details

Activities

Castell d’Alaro: Mallorca’s most popular hiking trail is the climb from the town of Alaro up to a ruined castle and hilltop chapel, which offers panoramic views of the sea and plains as far as Palma. From Alaro the walk takes about two hours to complete. The castle ruins on the hilltop date from the 15th century and dominate the landscape. At the summit there is a restaurant and bar to refresh weary climbers. On Sundays the trail becomes rather busy.