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The City
of Palma
Palma,
the capital of the Balearic Islands and its most important
urban centre, with a population of just over 350,000, is
a beautiful city where history and modernity merge in perfect
harmony. It stretches along 15 kilometres of the bay of
the same name. The people of Palma, as all the inhabitants
of the archipelago, constitute a bilingual community (Spanish
and Catalan). Nonetheless, in the streets of Palma the wide
variety of languages which can be heard demonstrate its
hospitable and multicultural character. Evidence of this
is the fact that approximately 10 million tourists visit
our islands every year.
The
old town is a monumental jewel where the visitor can admire
the legacy left by all the civilisations that have inhabited
it: The Arab Baths, the Almudaina, the Cathedral, the Exchange
and the Bellver Castle are all "musts". But not less renowned
are the courtyards in the noble houses, or the modernist
buildings such as the Gran Hotel, site of the La Caixa foundation,
with its cultural and exhibition centre. Highlights among
its museums are the recently-established Es Baluard, located
on the old medieval walls, the Museu Mirķ or the Museu de
Mallorca. In order to see the best of Palma in a single
day, there is a tourist bus whose itinerary offers the visitor
the opportunity of getting to know the most beautiful sites
in our city. These can be visited from any one of the 16
bus stops. (click here for more information). The most important
landmarks are the Almudaina Palace, in Gothic style on Muslim
foundations; the Arab Baths, featuring Islamic architecture
from the end of the 11th and beginning of the 12th century;
the Gothic-style Lonja, built between 1426 and 1448; Bellver
Castle, also Gothic, built between 1300 and 1310; and Palma's
breathtaking Gothic Cathedral, constructed from the 13th
to the 16th centuries, with later additions.
Our
cuisine is marked by the Mediterranean character and is
extensive and varied. The busy restaurants and terraces
in Passeig Maritim, the surroundings of La Lonja, or the
Passeig del Borne are places which provide both the best
food and a welcoming atmosphere. Majorca enjoys a mild Mediterranean
climate, with an average temperature of 17ē degrees (click
here to see the weather). It is an island of great diversity:
from the craggy peaks of the Tramuntana mountain range to
the valleys of the Plā, and from its many coves to the extensive
sandy beaches of the south-east of the island, the geography
of Majorca is characterised by a succession of landscapes
free of monotony, where every stretch of earth has its own
distinct charm.
Check
map
for directions
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