Mallorca
Encyclopedia
Majorca or Mallorca is an island located in the Mediterranean Sea
, one of the Balearic Islands
.
The capital of the island, Palma, is also the capital of the autonomous community
of the Balearic Islands. The Cabrera Archipelago is administratively grouped with Majorca (in the municipality of Palma). The anthem of Majorca is La Balanguera
.
Like the other Balearic Islands of Ibiza
, Formentera
and Minorca
, the island is a highly popular holiday destination, particularly for tourists from the United Kingdom
, Germany
, Ireland
and the Scandinavian countries
. The name derives from Latin
insula maior, "larger island"; later Maiorica, "the larger one" in comparison to Minorca, "the smaller one."
period (6000–4000 BC) have been discovered. The island was occupied by the Romans
in 123 BC under Quintus Caecilius Metellus Balearicus
. It flourished under Roman rule, during which time the towns of Pollentia (Alcúdia
), and Palmaria (Palma) were founded. The local economy was largely driven by olive
cultivation, viticulture
, and salt mining. Majorcan soldiers were valued within the Roman legions for their skill with the sling
.
In 426, the Vandals
sacked the island, and annexed it to their kingdom in 465. In 534, Majorca was conquered by the Byzantine Empire
, and administered as part of the province of Sardinia
. Under Byzantine rule, Christianity flourished and numerous churches were built. But from 707, the island was increasingly attacked by Muslim
raiders from North Africa
.
In 902, the Caliphate of Córdoba
conquered Majorca, ushering in a new period of prosperity for the island. With the Caliphate at its height, the Moors
improved agriculture with irrigation
and developed local industries.
After the Caliphate was dismembered in 1015, a new, more decadent, era started. Majorca came under rule by the Taifa
of Dénia
, and from 1087 to 1114 was an independent Taifa during that period the island was visited by Ibn Hazm
. However, in 1114, an expedition of Pisa
ns and Catalans
overran the island, laying siege to Palma for eight months.
After the city fell, the invaders retreated, and were replaced by the Almoravides from North Africa, who ruled till 1176. The Almoravides were replaced by the Almohad dynasty until 1229. In the ensuing confusion and unrest, King James I of Aragon
launched an invasion which landed on Santa Ponsa, Majorca, on September 8–9, 1229 with 15,000 men and 1,500 horses, entering the city of Medina Mayurqa on December 31, 1229, and annexing the island to his Crown of Aragon
after a campaign which climaxed on October 30, 1230.
After the death of James I in 1276, his kingdom was divided between his sons. James II
became king of the new Kingdom of Majorca
. In 1344, King Peter IV of Aragon
invaded, and re-incorporated the island into the Crown.
From 1479, the Crown of Aragon was in dynastic union with that of Castile
. The Barbary corsairs
of North Africa often attacked the Balearic Islands, and in response coastal watchtowers and fortified churches were erected. In 1570, King Philip II of Spain
and his advisors were considering complete evacuation of the Balearic islands. In the early 18th century, the War of the Spanish Succession
resulted in the replacement of that dynastic union with a unified Spanish monarchy. In 1716, the Nueva Planta decrees
made Majorca part of the Spanish province
of Baleares, roughly equivalent to present-day Illes Balears province and autonomous community. In 1891 a disease destroyed Majorca’s vineyards and decimated the island's main source of income. From 1891 to 1895 Majorca witnessed a major emigration of islanders to mainland Spain and to the Americas.
camp called Palmaria upon the remains of a Talaiot
ic settlement. The turbulent history of the city saw it subject to several Vandal sackings during the fall of the Roman Empire. It was later reconquered by the Byzantines
, colonised by the Moors
(who called it Medina Mayurqa), and finally established by James I of Aragon
. In 1983, Palma became the capital of the autonomous region
of the Balearic Islands
.
, Majorca was subjected to an amphibious
landing, on August 16, 1936, aimed at driving the Nationalists from Majorca and reclaiming the island for the Republic
. Although the Republicans heavily outnumbered their opponents and managed to push 12 kilometres inland, superior Nationalist air power mainly provided by Fascist Italy
forced the Republicans to retreat and to leave the island completely by September 12. Those events became known as the Battle of Majorca.
For the rest of the civil war the island was used as a base for the Nationalist navy and airforce, who mounted raids on the Spanish mainland.
Since the 1950s, the advent of mass tourism
has transformed the island into a centre of attraction for foreign visitors and attracting workers from mainland Spain. The boom in tourism caused Palma to grow significantly. In 1960, Majorca received 500,000 visitors, while in 1997, it received 6,739,700. In 2008, 22,832,865 passengers passed through the Palma de Mallorca Airport
with an additional 1.5 million arriving by sea.
In the 21st century, urban redevelopment, under the so-called Pla Mirall (English "Mirror Plan"), attracted groups of immigrant workers from outside the European Union
, especially from Africa
and South America
.
, with mild and stormy winters and hot, bright summers.
Majorca has two mountainous regions each about 70 km in length. These occupy the north-western (Serra de Tramuntana
or Tramuntana range) and eastern thirds of the island. The highest peak on Majorca is Puig Major
(1,445 m) in the Serra de Tramuntana. As this is a military zone, the neighbouring peak at Puig de Massanella
is the highest accessible peak (1,364 m). The northeast coast comprises two bays: the Badia de Pollença and the larger Badia d'Alcúdia. The northern coast is rugged and has many cliffs. The central zone extending from Palma is generally flat fertile plain known as Es Pla. The island has a variety of caves both above and below sea-level. Two of the caves above sea-level also contain underground lakes and are open to tours. Both are near the eastern coastal town of Porto Cristo
, the Coves dels Hams and the Coves del Drach. It is the largest by area and second most populated island of Spain (Tenerife
in the Canary Islands
). The climate is Mediterranean
, with markedly higher precipitation in the Serra de Tramuntana. Summers are hot in the plains and winters mild to cool, getting colder in the Tramuntana range; in this part of the island brief episodes of snow during the winter are not unusual.
There are two small islands off the coast of Majorca: Cabrera
(southeast of Palma) and Dragonera
(west of Palma).
The island is administratively divided into these municipalities:
and Junípero Serra
, the Franciscan
friar who founded the mission chain in Alta California
. From the 19th century, the military commander Joaquín Jovellar y Soler
and two-time Spanish Prime Minister Antonio Maura. Sportsmen from the island include basketball player Rudy Fernández
, as well as (former) world no. 1 tennis players Rafael Nadal
and Carlos Moyá
. Rafael Nadal's uncle is the former Spanish international footballer, Miguel Ángel Nadal
. In 2006, Majorca's Jorge Lorenzo
won the world 250cc grand prix motorcycle title and the 2010 MotoGP World Championship . Former Everton
footballer, Duncan Ferguson
now resides in Majorca. Cynthia Lennon
, former wife of John Lennon
of the Beatles
also lives in Majorca.
The island is home to dance artist/producer DJ Sammy and contemporary painters such as Miquel Barceló
, José María Sicilia, and Astrid Colomar. Maria del Mar Bonet
and her brother Joan Ramon Bonet, both members of the group of Catalan language
singers known as Els Setze Jutges
in the 1960s, are from Majorca, as is the contemporary pop group Antònia Font
.
The members of the Spanish Royal Family
spend their summer holidays in Majorca where the Marivent Palace (image) is located. The Marivent Palace (image & map) is the royal family's summer residence. While most royal residences are administered by Patrimonio Nacional
, the Marivent Palace, in Palma de Mallorca, one of many Spanish royal sites
, is under the care of Government of the Balearic Islands
. As a private residence it is rarely used for official business. Typically, the whole family meets there and the Fortuna yacht, where they take part in sailing competitions. However, unofficial business does occur (though rarely) at the Marivent Palace such as when Hugo Chávez
, current (2009) President of Venezuela, visited King Juan Carlos at the Marivent Palace in 2008 to mend their relationship and normalize diplomatic relations after the King (now famously) told him, "Why don't you shut up?" during the Ibero-American Summit
in November 2007.
. The two official languages of Majorca are Catalan
and Spanish. The local dialect
of Catalan is Mallorquí, even though the dialects are slightly different in most villages. Typically, young Majorcans are bilingual in Catalan and Spanish, with some knowledge of English. A significant number of the tourist population speaks German as a native language, so much so that in Germany, Majorca is jokingly referred to as the 17th Federal State.
Since the 1950s Majorca has become a major tourist destination, and the tourism business has become the main source of revenue for the island. In 2001, the island received millions of tourists, and the boom in the tourism industry has provided significant growth in the economy of the country. More than half of the population works in the tourist sector, which accounts for approximately 80% of Majorca’s GDP. The currency currently used in Majorca is the euro.
. It is governed by a coalition of five different leftist and nationalist parties headed by the Partit Socialista (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
) under Francesc Antich.
There is a government for the island, called Consell Insular de Mallorca (Majorca Insular Council), with responsibility for culture, roads, railways (see Serveis Ferroviaris de Mallorca
) and municipal administration. As of 2008, the president of the institution is Francina Armengol from PSIB-PSOE.
In 2005, there were over 2,400 restaurants on the island of Majorca according to the Majorcan Tourist Board, ranging from small bars to full restaurants. Despite Majorca’s location in the Mediterranean, seafood is often imported. Olives and almonds are typical of the Majorcan diet. The island has over 4 million almond and olive trees. Among the food items that are Majorcan are sobrassada
, arros brut (saffron rice cooked with chicken, pork and vegetables), and the sweet pastry ensaïmada
.
With millions of rooms available Majorca’s economy is largely dependent on its tourism industry. Holiday makers are attracted by the large number of beaches, warm weather and high quality tourist amenities.
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
, one of the Balearic Islands
Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands are an archipelago of Spain in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula.The four largest islands are: Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. The archipelago forms an autonomous community and a province of Spain with Palma as the capital...
.
The capital of the island, Palma, is also the capital of the autonomous community
Autonomous communities of Spain
An autonomous community In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian .*Galician .*Basque . The second article of the constitution recognizes the rights of "nationalities and regions" to self-government and declares the "indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation".Political power in Spain is...
of the Balearic Islands. The Cabrera Archipelago is administratively grouped with Majorca (in the municipality of Palma). The anthem of Majorca is La Balanguera
La Balanguera
La Balanguera is the national anthem of the Balearic Islands, Spain.The official anthem is an adaptation of Joan Alcover i Maspons poem based on an ancient and popular Majorcan children's song. The music is a work by the Catalan composer Amadeu Vives and in November 1996 the Consell Insular de...
.
Like the other Balearic Islands of Ibiza
Ibiza
Ibiza or Eivissa is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea 79 km off the coast of the city of Valencia in Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands or Pityuses. Its largest cities are Ibiza...
, Formentera
Formentera
Formentera is the smaller and more southerly island of the Pine Islands group , which belongs to the Balearic Islands autonomous community .-Geography:...
and Minorca
Minorca
Min Orca or Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. It takes its name from being smaller than the nearby island of Majorca....
, the island is a highly popular holiday destination, particularly for tourists from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and the Scandinavian countries
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
. The name derives from Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
insula maior, "larger island"; later Maiorica, "the larger one" in comparison to Minorca, "the smaller one."
Founding of Majorca
Burial chambers and traces of habitation from the PaleolithicPaleolithic
The Paleolithic Age, Era or Period, is a prehistoric period of human history distinguished by the development of the most primitive stone tools discovered , and covers roughly 99% of human technological prehistory...
period (6000–4000 BC) have been discovered. The island was occupied by the Romans
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
in 123 BC under Quintus Caecilius Metellus Balearicus
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Balearicus
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Balearicus was a son of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus. He was a Consul in 123 BC and a Censor in 120 BC, dominated Sardinia and conquered the Balearic Islands - for what he earned his cognomen and the honours of Triumph - establishing at Palma and Pollentia two...
. It flourished under Roman rule, during which time the towns of Pollentia (Alcúdia
Alcúdia
Alcúdia is a municipality and township of the Spanish autonomous community of the Balearic Islands.It is the main tourist centre in the North of Majorca. It is a large resort popular with families.Most of the hotels are located in Port d'Alcúdia and Platja d'Alcúdia along the 14 km long beach that...
), and Palmaria (Palma) were founded. The local economy was largely driven by olive
Olive
The olive , Olea europaea), is a species of a small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to the coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean Basin as well as northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea.Its fruit, also called the olive, is of major agricultural importance in the...
cultivation, viticulture
Viticulture
Viticulture is the science, production and study of grapes which deals with the series of events that occur in the vineyard. When the grapes are used for winemaking, it is also known as viniculture...
, and salt mining. Majorcan soldiers were valued within the Roman legions for their skill with the sling
Sling (weapon)
A sling is a projectile weapon typically used to throw a blunt projectile such as a stone or lead "sling-bullet". It is also known as the shepherd's sling....
.
In 426, the Vandals
Vandals
The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe that entered the late Roman Empire during the 5th century. The Vandals under king Genseric entered Africa in 429 and by 439 established a kingdom which included the Roman Africa province, besides the islands of Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearics....
sacked the island, and annexed it to their kingdom in 465. In 534, Majorca was conquered by the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, and administered as part of the province of Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
. Under Byzantine rule, Christianity flourished and numerous churches were built. But from 707, the island was increasingly attacked by Muslim
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
raiders from North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
.
Caliphate of Córdoba
The Caliphate of Córdoba ruled the Iberian peninsula and part of North Africa, from the city of Córdoba, from 929 to 1031. This period was characterized by remarkable success in trade and culture; many of the masterpieces of Islamic Iberia were constructed in this period, including the famous...
conquered Majorca, ushering in a new period of prosperity for the island. With the Caliphate at its height, the Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
improved agriculture with irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
and developed local industries.
After the Caliphate was dismembered in 1015, a new, more decadent, era started. Majorca came under rule by the Taifa
Taifa
In the history of the Iberian Peninsula, a taifa was an independent Muslim-ruled principality, usually an emirate or petty kingdom, though there was one oligarchy, of which a number formed in the Al-Andalus after the final collapse of the Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba in 1031.-Rise:The origins of...
of Dénia
Dénia
Dénia is a city in the province of Alicante, Spain, on the Costa Blanca halfway between Alicante and Valencia, the judicial seat of the comarca of Marina Alta...
, and from 1087 to 1114 was an independent Taifa during that period the island was visited by Ibn Hazm
Ibn Hazm
Abū Muḥammad ʿAlī ibn Aḥmad ibn Saʿīd ibn Ḥazm ) was an Andalusian philosopher, litterateur, psychologist, historian, jurist and theologian born in Córdoba, present-day Spain...
. However, in 1114, an expedition of Pisa
Pisa
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
ns and Catalans
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
overran the island, laying siege to Palma for eight months.
After the city fell, the invaders retreated, and were replaced by the Almoravides from North Africa, who ruled till 1176. The Almoravides were replaced by the Almohad dynasty until 1229. In the ensuing confusion and unrest, King James I of Aragon
James I of Aragon
James I the Conqueror was the King of Aragon, Count of Barcelona, and Lord of Montpellier from 1213 to 1276...
launched an invasion which landed on Santa Ponsa, Majorca, on September 8–9, 1229 with 15,000 men and 1,500 horses, entering the city of Medina Mayurqa on December 31, 1229, and annexing the island to his Crown of Aragon
Crown of Aragon
The Crown of Aragon Corona d'Aragón Corona d'Aragó Corona Aragonum controlling a large portion of the present-day eastern Spain and southeastern France, as well as some of the major islands and mainland possessions stretching across the Mediterranean as far as Greece...
after a campaign which climaxed on October 30, 1230.
After the death of James I in 1276, his kingdom was divided between his sons. James II
James II of Majorca
James II was King of Majorca and Lord of Montpellier from 1276 until his death. He was the second son of James I of Aragon and his wife Violant, daughter of Andrew II of Hungary...
became king of the new Kingdom of Majorca
Kingdom of Majorca
The Kingdom of Majorca was founded by James I of Aragon, also known as James The Conqueror. After the death of his first-born son Alfonso, a will was written in 1262 which created the kingdom in order to cede it to his son James...
. In 1344, King Peter IV of Aragon
Peter IV of Aragon
Peter IV, , called el Cerimoniós or el del punyalet , was the King of Aragon, King of Sardinia and Corsica , King of Valencia , and Count of Barcelona Peter IV, (Balaguer, September 5, 1319 – Barcelona, January 6, 1387), called el Cerimoniós ("the Ceremonious") or el del punyalet ("the one...
invaded, and re-incorporated the island into the Crown.
From 1479, the Crown of Aragon was in dynastic union with that of Castile
Crown of Castile
The Crown of Castile was a medieval and modern state in the Iberian Peninsula that formed in 1230 as a result of the third and definitive union of the crowns and parliaments of the kingdoms of Castile and León upon the accession of the then King Ferdinand III of Castile to the vacant Leonese throne...
. The Barbary corsairs
Barbary corsairs
The Barbary Corsairs, sometimes called Ottoman Corsairs or Barbary Pirates, were pirates and privateers who operated from North Africa, based primarily in the ports of Tunis, Tripoli and Algiers. This area was known in Europe as the Barbary Coast, a term derived from the name of its Berber...
of North Africa often attacked the Balearic Islands, and in response coastal watchtowers and fortified churches were erected. In 1570, King Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
and his advisors were considering complete evacuation of the Balearic islands. In the early 18th century, the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
resulted in the replacement of that dynastic union with a unified Spanish monarchy. In 1716, the Nueva Planta decrees
Nueva Planta decrees
The Nueva Planta decrees were a number of decrees signed between 1707 and 1716 by Philip V—the first Bourbon king of Spain—during and shortly after the end of the War of the Spanish Succession which he won....
made Majorca part of the Spanish province
Provinces of Spain
Spain and its autonomous communities are divided into fifty provinces .In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian , sing. província.*Galician , sing. provincia.*Basque |Galicia]] — are not also the capitals of provinces...
of Baleares, roughly equivalent to present-day Illes Balears province and autonomous community. In 1891 a disease destroyed Majorca’s vineyards and decimated the island's main source of income. From 1891 to 1895 Majorca witnessed a major emigration of islanders to mainland Spain and to the Americas.
Palma
The capital of Majorca, Palma, was founded as a RomanAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
camp called Palmaria upon the remains of a Talaiot
Talaiot
The talaiots, or talayots, are Bronze Age megaliths on the islands of Minorca and Majorca forming part of the Talaiotic Culture or Talaiotic Period. They date from the late second millennium and early first millennium BC. There are at least 274 of them, in, near, or related to Talaiotic settlements...
ic settlement. The turbulent history of the city saw it subject to several Vandal sackings during the fall of the Roman Empire. It was later reconquered by the Byzantines
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, colonised by the Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
(who called it Medina Mayurqa), and finally established by James I of Aragon
James I of Aragon
James I the Conqueror was the King of Aragon, Count of Barcelona, and Lord of Montpellier from 1213 to 1276...
. In 1983, Palma became the capital of the autonomous region
Autonomous communities of Spain
An autonomous community In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian .*Galician .*Basque . The second article of the constitution recognizes the rights of "nationalities and regions" to self-government and declares the "indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation".Political power in Spain is...
of the Balearic Islands
Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands are an archipelago of Spain in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula.The four largest islands are: Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. The archipelago forms an autonomous community and a province of Spain with Palma as the capital...
.
20th century and today
A Nationalist stronghold at the start of the Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, Majorca was subjected to an amphibious
Amphibious warfare
Amphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
landing, on August 16, 1936, aimed at driving the Nationalists from Majorca and reclaiming the island for the Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
. Although the Republicans heavily outnumbered their opponents and managed to push 12 kilometres inland, superior Nationalist air power mainly provided by Fascist Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
forced the Republicans to retreat and to leave the island completely by September 12. Those events became known as the Battle of Majorca.
For the rest of the civil war the island was used as a base for the Nationalist navy and airforce, who mounted raids on the Spanish mainland.
Since the 1950s, the advent of mass tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
has transformed the island into a centre of attraction for foreign visitors and attracting workers from mainland Spain. The boom in tourism caused Palma to grow significantly. In 1960, Majorca received 500,000 visitors, while in 1997, it received 6,739,700. In 2008, 22,832,865 passengers passed through the Palma de Mallorca Airport
Palma de Mallorca Airport
Palma de Mallorca Airport is an airport located east of Palma, Majorca, adjacent to the village of Can Pastilla. Also known as Son Sant Joan Airport or Aeroport de Son Sant Joan, it is the third largest airport in Spain, after Madrid's Barajas Airport and Barcelona Airport...
with an additional 1.5 million arriving by sea.
In the 21st century, urban redevelopment, under the so-called Pla Mirall (English "Mirror Plan"), attracted groups of immigrant workers from outside the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, especially from Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
.
Prehistoric settlements
- Capocorb Vell (LlucmajorLlucmajorLlucmajor is the largest municipality of the Balearic Island Majorca.There are sixteen towns in the district, including the town of Llucmajor and parts of s'Arenal, Cala Blava and Cala Pí.- Towns in the district :...
municipality) - Necròpoli de Son Real (east of Can Picafort, Santa MargalidaSanta MargalidaSanta Margalida is a municipality with a population of 10,204 located in the northeast of the Spanish Balearic Island Majorca....
municipality) - Novetiforme Alemany (MagalufMagalufMagaluf is a major holiday resort on the Spanish island of Majorca, primarily catering for the British, German and Scandinavian package holiday market. Magaluf is in the municipality of Calvià and is situated within a group of towns, primarily Torrenova and Palma Nova...
, CalviàCalviàCalvià is a municipality on the island of Majorca, part of the Spanish autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. It is located in the southwestern part of the island of Majorca, between the Serra de Tramuntana and the Serra de Na Burguesa. The municipal seat is the town of Vila Calvia.Calvià...
) - Poblat Talaiòtic de S’Illot (S’Illot, Sant Llorenç des CardassarSant Llorenç des CardassarSant Llorenç des Cardassar is a small municipality on Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands, Spain....
municipality) - Poblat Talaiòtic de Son Fornés (MontuïriMontuïriMontuiri is municipality in central Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands, Spain. It is a small town built on a hill. -Photo gallery:...
municipality) - Sa Canova de Morell (road to Colònia de Sant Pere, ArtàArtàArtà is one of the 53 independent municipalities on the Spanish Balearic island of Majorca. The small town of the same name is the administrative seat of this municipality in the region of Llevant.- Population :...
municipality) - Ses PaïssesSes PaïssesSes Païsses is a Bronze Age talayotic settlement on the southeastern outskirts of Artà in northwestern Majorca. It is one of the most important and best-preserved prehistoric sites in the Balearic Islands, although it is largely overgrown with woodland, mainly Quercus ilex , making it impossible to...
(ArtàArtàArtà is one of the 53 independent municipalities on the Spanish Balearic island of Majorca. The small town of the same name is the administrative seat of this municipality in the region of Llevant.- Population :...
municipality) - Ses Talaies de Can Jordi (SantanyíSantanyíSantanyí is a municipality on Majorca, in the Balearic Islands of Spain.This municipality in the South of Majorca is home to the towns of Santanyí, Calonge, s’Alqueria Blanca and es Llombards, as well as the coastal districts of Cala Esmeralda, Cala d'Or, marina de Cala d’Or, Portopetro, Cap d'es...
municipality) - S’Hospitalet Vell (road to Cales de Mallorca, ManacorManacorManacor is a town and municipality on the Mediterranean island of Majorca, part of the Spanish autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. It is one of the biggest municipalities in Majorca. It has tourist areas like Porto Cristo, site of the famous Caves of Drach, and Calas de Mallorca. Manacor...
municipality)
Climate
The climate of Majorca is a Mediterranean climateMediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical climate...
, with mild and stormy winters and hot, bright summers.
Geography
Serra de Tramuntana
The Serra de Tramuntana is a mountain range running southwest-northeast which forms the northern backbone of the Spanish island of Majorca. It is also the name given to the comarca of the same area...
or Tramuntana range) and eastern thirds of the island. The highest peak on Majorca is Puig Major
Puig Major
Puig Major is the highest peak on the Spanish island of Majorca. It is situated in the Serra de Tramuntana. As this is a military zone, the neighbouring peak at Puig de Massanella is considered the highest accessible peak ....
(1,445 m) in the Serra de Tramuntana. As this is a military zone, the neighbouring peak at Puig de Massanella
Puig de Massanella
Puig de Massanella is the second highest peak on the Spanish island of Majorca. It is situated in the Serra de Tramuntana....
is the highest accessible peak (1,364 m). The northeast coast comprises two bays: the Badia de Pollença and the larger Badia d'Alcúdia. The northern coast is rugged and has many cliffs. The central zone extending from Palma is generally flat fertile plain known as Es Pla. The island has a variety of caves both above and below sea-level. Two of the caves above sea-level also contain underground lakes and are open to tours. Both are near the eastern coastal town of Porto Cristo
Porto Cristo
Porto Cristo is a small town on the eastern coast of Mallorca. It is 10 minutes away from Manacor.-Tourism:Though not a primary tourist destination in Mallorca, the local council of Porto Cristo promotes the small town and new roads have been built between it and Manacor to encourage foreign visitors...
, the Coves dels Hams and the Coves del Drach. It is the largest by area and second most populated island of Spain (Tenerife
Tenerife
Tenerife is the largest and most populous island of the seven Canary Islands, it is also the most populated island of Spain, with a land area of 2,034.38 km² and 906,854 inhabitants, 43% of the total population of the Canary Islands. About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the...
in the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
). The climate is Mediterranean
Mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical climate...
, with markedly higher precipitation in the Serra de Tramuntana. Summers are hot in the plains and winters mild to cool, getting colder in the Tramuntana range; in this part of the island brief episodes of snow during the winter are not unusual.
There are two small islands off the coast of Majorca: Cabrera
Cabrera, Balearic Islands
Cabrera is an uninhabited islet in the Balearic Islands, Spain, located in the Mediterranean Sea off the southern coast of Majorca. It is currently a National Park...
(southeast of Palma) and Dragonera
Dragonera
Sa Dragonera is an uninhabited islet in the Balearic Islands, Spain, located just off the west coast of Majorca. It is currently a natural park.-Geography:...
(west of Palma).
- Alfabia MountainsAlfabia MountainsThe Alfabia Mountains are a mountain range in Majorca located in the municipality of Fornalutx....
- Es CornadorsEls CornadorsEls Cornadors are a mountain range in Majorca located in the municipality of Sóller....
- Cap de FormentorCap de FormentorCap de Formentor forms the eastern end of Majorca's Formentor peninsula. The Majorcans also call the cape the Meeting point of the winds.-Location:...
Administration
|
Esporles Esporles is a small municipality on Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands, Spain.Economy is mostly based on agriculture and animal husbandry.... Estellencs Estellencs is a small municipality to the west of Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands, Spain.It lies between the Tramuntana mountain range, on the slopes of Mount Galatzo , and the Mediterranean sea.-External links:*... Felanitx Felanitx is a municipality in the Spanish autonomous community of the Balearic Islands, located in the southeast of Majorca, 48 kilometres from the capital Palma.... Fornalutx Fornalutx is a mountainous municipality and village on Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands, in Spain. The nearest town is Sóller, which can be reached by foot via a series of pathways, and the hamlet of Binibassi. Surrounding mountains include the Alfabia Mountains and the Els Cornadors... Inca, Spain Inca is a town on the Spanish island of Majorca. The population of the municipality is 25,900 in an area of 58.4 km².There is a junction station Majorca rail network with trains to Palma, the island's capital, to Sa Pobla, and to Manacor.... Lloret de Vistalegre Lloret de Vistalegre, also known as Llorito, is a municipality located in the center of Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands, Spain.The municipalities bordering Lloret de Vistalegre are: Montuïri, Sineu, Sencelles, Algaida y Sant Joan.... Lloseta Lloseta is a small municipality in the district of Raiguer on Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands, Spain.There is a theatre which showcases alternative music and traditional acts.... Llubí Llubí is a small municipality on Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands, Spain. It has population of 1,800 inhabitants.... Llucmajor Llucmajor is the largest municipality of the Balearic Island Majorca.There are sixteen towns in the district, including the town of Llucmajor and parts of s'Arenal, Cala Blava and Cala Pí.- Towns in the district :... Manacor Manacor is a town and municipality on the Mediterranean island of Majorca, part of the Spanish autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. It is one of the biggest municipalities in Majorca. It has tourist areas like Porto Cristo, site of the famous Caves of Drach, and Calas de Mallorca. Manacor... Mancor de la Vall Mancor de la Vall is a small municipality in the district of Raiguer on Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands, Spain.... Maria de la Salut Maria de la Salut is a small municipality in the district of es pla on Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands, Spain.... Marratxí Marratxí is a municipality in the Raiguer region of Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands of Spain.Population: 28,237Area: 54 km² . It is also a station on the Majorca rail network.... Montuïri Montuiri is municipality in central Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands, Spain. It is a small town built on a hill. -Photo gallery:... Muro, Balearic Islands Muro is a small municipality on Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands, Spain.It is located in the north-east.... Petra, Balearic Islands Petra is a town and municipality on the Mediterranean island of Majorca, in the Spanish autonomous community of the Balearic Islands.It is the birthplace of Junipero Serra.-External links:*... Sa Pobla Sa Pobla is a small municipality in the district of Raiguer on Majorca, one of the Spanish Balearic Islands. It is a terminus on the Majorca rail network.... |
Pollença Pollença is a town and municipality situated in the far north corner of the island of Majorca, near Cap de Formentor and Alcúdia. It lies about 6 km west of its port, Port de Pollença.-History:... Porreres Porreres is a municipality on Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands, Spain.- References :... Santa Eugènia Santa Eugènia is a small municipality in the comarca of Pla de Mallorca on Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands, Spain.-History:In prehistoric times, the area was settled by the Talaiotic culture.... Santa Margalida Santa Margalida is a municipality with a population of 10,204 located in the northeast of the Spanish Balearic Island Majorca.... Santanyí Santanyí is a municipality on Majorca, in the Balearic Islands of Spain.This municipality in the South of Majorca is home to the towns of Santanyí, Calonge, s’Alqueria Blanca and es Llombards, as well as the coastal districts of Cala Esmeralda, Cala d'Or, marina de Cala d’Or, Portopetro, Cap d'es... Sant Joan Sant Joan is a municipality on Majorca, Spain, situated in the center of the island in the comarca of Pla de Mallorca. The town Sant Joan, formerly known as Sant Joan de Sineu, was founded in 1300... Sant Llorenç des Cardassar Sant Llorenç des Cardassar is a small municipality on Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands, Spain.... Sencelles Sencelles is a mountainous municipality in central Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands, Spain. It is located in the centre of the island... Ses Salines Ses Salines is a small municipality of Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands, Spain.... Sineu Sineu is a mountainous municipality in central Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands, Spain.... Sóller Sóller is a town and municipality near the north west coast of Mallorca, in the Balearic Islands of Spain. The town is some 3km inland, from the Port de Sóller, in a large, bowl-shaped valley that also includes the village of Fornalutx and the hamlets of Biniaraix and Binibassi. The combined... Son Servera Son Servera is a municipality in northeast Majorca, in the Balearic Islands, Spain.Founded in 1300 by James I of Aragon, in the lands of the Servera family, Son Servera was first documented in 1354 with the name of Benicanella, which would later become two towns: Son Fra Garí and Ca l'Hereu which... Valldemossa Valldemossa or Valldemosa is a village and municipality on the island of Majorca, part of the Spanish autonomous community of the Balearic Islands.... Vilafranca de Bonany Vilafranca de Bonany is a small municipality in the district of Pla on Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands, Spain.- External links:*... |
Notable Majorcans
Famous Majorcans include writer and philosopher Ramon LlullRamon Llull
Ramon Llull was a Majorcan writer and philosopher, logician and tertiary Franciscan. He wrote the first major work of Catalan literature. Recently-surfaced manuscripts show him to have anticipated by several centuries prominent work on elections theory...
and Junípero Serra
Junípero Serra
Blessed Junípero Serra, O.F.M., , known as Fra Juníper Serra in Catalan, his mother tongue was a Majorcan Franciscan friar who founded the mission chain in Alta California of the Las Californias Province in New Spain—present day California, United States. Fr...
, the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
friar who founded the mission chain in Alta California
Alta California
Alta California was a province and territory in the Viceroyalty of New Spain and later a territory and department in independent Mexico. The territory was created in 1769 out of the northern part of the former province of Las Californias, and consisted of the modern American states of California,...
. From the 19th century, the military commander Joaquín Jovellar y Soler
Joaquin Jovellar y Soler
Joaquín Jovellar y Soler was a Spanish general who served as the Prime Minister of Spain from September 12, 1875 – December 2, 1875 and governor and captain-general of the Philippines from April 7, 1883 – April 1, 1885....
and two-time Spanish Prime Minister Antonio Maura. Sportsmen from the island include basketball player Rudy Fernández
Rudy Fernández (basketball)
Rodolfo "Rudy" Fernández y Farrés is a Spanish professional basketball player. He is a 6'6" tall shooting guard/small forward who is currently signed to the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, though he will play for Real Madrid until the current NBA lockout ends...
, as well as (former) world no. 1 tennis players Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal
Rafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera is a Spanish professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. , he is ranked No. 2 by the Association of Tennis Professionals...
and Carlos Moyá
Carlos Moyá
Carlos Moya Llompart is a retired former world no. 1 tennis player from Spain. He was the French Open singles champion in 1998 and was the singles runner-up at the 1997 Australian Open. In 2004, he helped his country win the Davis Cup. He currently resides in Switzerland...
. Rafael Nadal's uncle is the former Spanish international footballer, Miguel Ángel Nadal
Miguel Ángel Nadal
Miguel Ángel Nadal Homar is a retired Spanish footballer and current coach.Nicknamed The Beast, Nadal based his game in a tremendous physical display, also being adaptable to various defender and midfielder positions....
. In 2006, Majorca's Jorge Lorenzo
Jorge Lorenzo
Jorge Lorenzo Guerrero , is a Spanish professional motorcycle road racer. He is the 2006 and 2007 250cc World Champion, and the MotoGP World Champion...
won the world 250cc grand prix motorcycle title and the 2010 MotoGP World Championship . Former Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
footballer, Duncan Ferguson
Duncan Ferguson
Duncan Cowan Ferguson is a Scottish former footballer. He was notorious for his "hardman" image and nicknamed "Big Dunc" and "Duncan Disorderly"....
now resides in Majorca. Cynthia Lennon
Cynthia Lennon
Cynthia Lillian Lennon is the former wife of musician John Lennon, and mother of Julian Lennon. She grew up in the middle-class section of Hoylake, on the Wirral Peninsula in North West England. At the age of twelve, she was accepted into the Junior Art School, and was later enrolled in the...
, former wife of John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
of the Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
also lives in Majorca.
The island is home to dance artist/producer DJ Sammy and contemporary painters such as Miquel Barceló
Miquel Barcelo
Miquel Barceló is a Spanish painter from Felanitx, Majorca.-Career:After having studied at the Arts and Crafts School of Palma for two years, he enrolled at the Fine Arts School of Barcelona in 1974. A year later he returned to Mallorca to participate in the happenings and actions of protest of...
, José María Sicilia, and Astrid Colomar. Maria del Mar Bonet
Maria del Mar Bonet
Maria del Mar Bonet i Verdaguer is a Balearic singer from the island of Majorca.-Early life and career:She studied ceramics in the school of arts, but eventually she decided to dedicate herself to song. She arrived in Barcelona in 1967, where she began to sing with the group Els Setze Jutges...
and her brother Joan Ramon Bonet, both members of the group of Catalan language
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
singers known as Els Setze Jutges
Els Setze Jutges
Els Setze Jutges was a group of singers in the Catalan language founded in 1961 by Miquel Porter i Moix, Remei Margarit, and Josep Maria Espinàs...
in the 1960s, are from Majorca, as is the contemporary pop group Antònia Font
Antònia Font
Antònia Font is a Majorcan band, formed in 1997. They are characterized by their festive music and their humorous and fantastic lyrics. The group's creative universe includes elements such as outer space and astronautics, combined with themes from everyday life...
.
The members of the Spanish Royal Family
Spanish Royal Family
The Royal Family of the Kingdom of Spain consists of the current king, Juan Carlos, his spouse, Queen Sofia of Spain and their direct descendants. The Spanish royal family belongs to the House of Borbón...
spend their summer holidays in Majorca where the Marivent Palace (image) is located. The Marivent Palace (image & map) is the royal family's summer residence. While most royal residences are administered by Patrimonio Nacional
Patrimonio Nacional
The Consejo de Administración del Patrimonio Nacional is a Spanish state agency, under the jurisdiction of the Minister of the Presidency by delegation of the Prime Minister of Spain, that administers the sites owned by the Spanish...
, the Marivent Palace, in Palma de Mallorca, one of many Spanish royal sites
Spanish royal sites
The royal sites are a set of palaces, monasteries, and convents built for and under the patronage of the Spanish monarchy. They are administered by Patrimonio Nacional , a Spanish state agency; most are open to the public, at least in part, except when they are needed for state or official...
, is under the care of Government of the Balearic Islands
Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands are an archipelago of Spain in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula.The four largest islands are: Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. The archipelago forms an autonomous community and a province of Spain with Palma as the capital...
. As a private residence it is rarely used for official business. Typically, the whole family meets there and the Fortuna yacht, where they take part in sailing competitions. However, unofficial business does occur (though rarely) at the Marivent Palace such as when Hugo Chávez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
, current (2009) President of Venezuela, visited King Juan Carlos at the Marivent Palace in 2008 to mend their relationship and normalize diplomatic relations after the King (now famously) told him, "Why don't you shut up?" during the Ibero-American Summit
Ibero-American Summit
The Ibero-American Summit , is a yearly meeting of the heads of government and state of the Spanish-...
in November 2007.
Language
Majorca's own language is CatalanCatalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
. The two official languages of Majorca are Catalan
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
and Spanish. The local dialect
Dialect
The term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists. One usage refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. The term is applied most often to regional speech patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors,...
of Catalan is Mallorquí, even though the dialects are slightly different in most villages. Typically, young Majorcans are bilingual in Catalan and Spanish, with some knowledge of English. A significant number of the tourist population speaks German as a native language, so much so that in Germany, Majorca is jokingly referred to as the 17th Federal State.
Economy
Politics
The Balearic Islands, of which Majorca forms part, is one of the autonomous communities of SpainAutonomous communities of Spain
An autonomous community In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian .*Galician .*Basque . The second article of the constitution recognizes the rights of "nationalities and regions" to self-government and declares the "indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation".Political power in Spain is...
. It is governed by a coalition of five different leftist and nationalist parties headed by the Partit Socialista (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party is a social-democratic political party in Spain. Its political position is Centre-left. The PSOE is the former ruling party of Spain, until beaten in the elections of November 2011 and the second oldest, exceeded only by the Partido Carlista, founded in...
) under Francesc Antich.
There is a government for the island, called Consell Insular de Mallorca (Majorca Insular Council), with responsibility for culture, roads, railways (see Serveis Ferroviaris de Mallorca
Serveis Ferroviaris de Mallorca
Serveis Ferroviaris de Mallorca or SFM is a company which operates the metre gauge railway network on the Spanish island of Majorca.The line Palma - Inca was since 1977 the sole remnant of a network that once connected Palma with most of the island...
) and municipal administration. As of 2008, the president of the institution is Francina Armengol from PSIB-PSOE.
Cuisine
Sobrassada
Sobrassada is a raw, cured sausage from the Balearic Islands made with ground pork, paprika and salt and other spices. Sobrassada, along with botifarró are traditional Majorcan sausage meat products prepared in the laborious but festive rites that still mark the autumn and winter pig slaughter in...
, arros brut (saffron rice cooked with chicken, pork and vegetables), and the sweet pastry ensaïmada
Ensaimada
The Ensaïmada is a pastry product from Majorca, Spain. It is a common cuisine eaten in most former Spanish territories in Latin America and the Philippines, which has been continuously made and eaten for a very long time. The first written references to the Majorcan ensaïmada date back to the 17th...
.
Tourism
The popularity of the island as a tourist destination has been steadily growing since the 1950s with many artists and academics choosing to visit and even live on the island. Visitors to Majorca continued to increase with holiday makers in the 1970s approaching 3 million a year. In 2010, over 6 million visitors came to Majorca staying at the many resorts.With millions of rooms available Majorca’s economy is largely dependent on its tourism industry. Holiday makers are attracted by the large number of beaches, warm weather and high quality tourist amenities.
See also
- Gymnesian IslandsGymnesian IslandsThe collective name of the Gymnesian Islands or Gymnesic Islands distinguishes the two largest Balearic islands , from the Pine Islands .- Etymology :The word Gymnesian means "naked"...
- Es BaluardEs BaluardEs Baluard is the museum of modern and contemporary art of Palma, Majorca, Spain.Founded on 30 January 2004, Es Baluard exhibits an important collection of contemporary art, of Balearic artists or made by those related somehow to the Balearic Islands. In addition of showing the pieces that form...
Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art - RCD MallorcaRCD MallorcaReal Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
– local football team - Observatorio Astronómico de MallorcaObservatorio Astronómico de MallorcaThe Observatorio Astronómico de Mallorca is an observatory just south of Costitx, Mallorca, Spain.The observatory was inaugurated in May 1991 and was the first astronomical center in the Balearic Islands autonomous community and province of Spain....
- Majorca rail networkMajorca rail networkThe Majorca rail network on the Spanish Island of Majorca has three lines to four destinations from the Estació Intermodal/Plaça d'Espanya station in Palma.- TIB :...