History
There is archaeological evidence to suggest that people inhabited the island of Majorca from around 1000 years before the birth of Christ. Many tools, animal horns and pottery items have been discovered over the years. The Talayots found on the island also suggest inhabitation from this long ago as these cone-shaped towers were a popular feature in Spain at the time.
Both the Greeks and the Phoenicians are thought to have inhabited the island before the eventual Roman conquest, around 123BC. The Roman Empire built the island’s first settlements, roads and civil structures. Roman rule would last for 600 years until the island changed hands as the Roman Empire began to fall apart. During the 10th century, the Moors successfully defeated the Iberian Peninsular. The 300 hundred years of Islam rule heralded a time of great upheaval for Mallorcans with several wars and battles between the Christians and the Muslims. However, the island prospered as a strategic port between Africa and Islamic Spain.
King Juame of Aragon invaded Majorca in 1229 after the Mallorcan Emirate stole his ships. Moorish buildings were destroyed and the independent Kingdom of Mallorca was founded. The king built Palma cathedral and became a well-respected and liked governor. He aided local traders and gave equal rights to the inhabitants of the island, regardless of religious persuasion. The king left the island to his son, Juame II upon his death, however Pedro of Aragon landed on the island in1349 and took control of the island for himself.
Majorca’s main language had been Catalan until the 18th century when it was replaced by Castilian. The island saw a lot of Catalonian refuges during the Napoleonic wars. The 19th century was particularly tough for the small island with several droughts and famines blighting the local population. Improvements in irrigation techniques and agriculture led to significant improvements in the quality of life for the islanders and by the 1950s, tourism was beginning to take over from fishing as the island’s main industry. While the local economy in Majorca is generally very healthy, one fifth of the island’s properties is owned by foreigners.
Population
The permanent population of Majorca is just over 700,000. Nearly half of those reside in the capital, Palma. Five million people per year are thought to visit Majorca with tourism booming all over the island. The island has one of the most concentrated populations of foreign immigrants in Spain with Majorca becoming very popular in recent years with British and German retirees.
Places to Visit
Majorca is an island of contrasting resorts. The party towns of Magaluf and Palma Nova are in stark contrast to the more family friendly resorts of Alcudia and Can Pastilla. The island truly offers something for everyone and is more than just a place for stag and hen nights!
Nemo Submarine – With free pick-ups from all the major resorts, this is a mini submarine that dives to depths of thirty metres. Situated on the Isla Del Sech, an enjoyable boat trip carries passengers to the sub. Wrecks, local wildlife and a show put on by scuba divers make this one of the most popular attractions on the island.
Caves of Drach – These astonishing caves are home to rock formations that are thousands of years old. The hour long tour covers a walk of 700m within the majestic caves and culminates in a magical concert on Lake Martel – the biggest underground lake in Europe!
Caves of Ham – The Caves of Drach draw huge crowds so a quieter alternative are the Caves of Ham. The caves include a chamber called, Dream of an Angel and include thousands of stalactites that resemble fish hooks. The tour includes a concert on the Sea of Venice.
La Reserva – Parc Natural – This is a fantastic place to take children with many outdoor activities such as horse-riding, rock-climbing and an adventure trail featuring slides and rope bridges. There are also birds of prey flying displays.
Golf Fantasia – Located in Palma Nova and open all year round, this is an 18 hole mini golf course full of exciting features such as waterfalls, caves and tropical paradises.
The Soller Train – This is a vintage train that starts in Palma with Soller being the final destination. The journey takes place through fruit tree plantations and beautiful scenery. There is also a tram service to the port where a boat trip or a day on the beach can be a great way to relax.
Botanicactus – This botanical garden features 400 species of cactus and is one of Europe’s largest. Located just outside the village of Ses Salines, the gardens also feature bamboo jungles and huge lawns.
Cuisine
Majorca is one of the largest tourist resorts in Europe and offers a wide range of cuisine from all over the world. There are plenty of British style restaurants and pubs as well as Chinese, Greek, French and of course, Spanish. The local Majorcan cuisine predominantly consists of pork, fish and vegetables with the generous use of garlic and olive oil.
The area is also known for its local sausages. Sobrasada is made with pork and hot red pepper, while botifarro is cured with blood. Many of the Spanish bars and restaurants also feature a jamon Serrano which is a whole cured ham! Frit Mallorqui is a ‘fry-up’ consisting of offal, tomatoes and onions and is a Majorcan speciality. Tumbet is a Majorcan style ratatouille made with aubergines, peppers and potatoes. Sopes Mallorquines is a classic Majorcan broth with thinly sliced brown bread and vegetables. Locally caught sea bass is a speciality all over the island and is usually baked, with rock salt.
Accommodation
There is no shortage of places to stay on the island of Majorca. Everything, from campsites to the five-star, Gran Melia Victoria Hotel in Palma is available, meaning all budgets are catered for. Majorca has hundreds of complex hotels where residents can enjoy a number of leisure facilities as well as nightly entertainment.
Climate
The climate in Majorca is typically Mediterranean with dry, hot summers and winters that are mild, when compared with north-European winters. The autumn is considered to be the wettest time of year in Majorca. However, rain is still rare compared with many parts of Europe and with a few exceptions, falls in the form of sharp showers that soon clear to reveal clear blue skies and sunshine. The autumn rains cause many parts of the island to turn green with sprouting vegetation, leading local people to refer to the time of year as the ‘winter’s spring.’
The average temperatures in the summer months of July and August are between 24C and 27C, however, temperatures can often reach the mid 30Cs. The average temperature in January is a pleasant 11C. Winters are relatively popular in Majorca with older tourists. The autumn rains have finished by mid-December and the island enjoys clear blue skies for much of winter and temperatures significantly warmer than those found in north-Europe. The south-east of the island tends to be hotter than the rest of Majorca with temperatures reaching nearly 40C on a regular basis in August. Summer evenings can be warm and humid while winter nights can get cold with temperatures dipping to just above freezing regularly.
Transport
The island of Majorca is served by Palma International Airport which receives hundreds of flights in the summer from both scheduled and chartered operators. The airport is particularly popular with budget airlines such as Easyjet and Jet2. Palma enjoys a very efficient public bus system. However, most of the resorts have small streets, not conducive to regular bus services, so taxis are the best way to get around. There is no shortage of cabs on the streets of the largest Majorcan resorts. The resorts are generally small so getting around shouldn’t be a major problem.
There are plenty of organised tours to resorts and attractions around the island that include transport by coach. There are also a number of mopeds for hire, provided a legitimate driving licence can be produced.
