Palma De Mallorca Guide

By Author: Bonny Kominek
Total Articles: 230
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10 million tourists descend on Mallorca every year, and with all that sun, sand and sea its no stretch to see why. However, although most of these 10 million holiday makers will fly into Palma de Mallorca, they will hop straight in a car hire or bus and head out to the fine, golden sands and crystal clear waters on the coast.

The beautiful capital is mostly overlooked. But this means it has escaped much of the tourism that has plagued the rest of the island. It is extremely upmarket, that is apparent as soon as you arrive, but there is a welcoming feel to the city that the luxury yachts in the harbour can''t distract you from.

The old part of Palma is centred on the stupidly stunning La Seu Cathedral. It abuts the waterfront and makes for an impressive and regal-looking backdrop for the over-the-top boats bobbing up and down in the harbour.

The building itself, designed in part by none other than Gaudi himself, is an astonishing blend of several schools of architecture, including Renaissance European and Gothic. Inside is just as impressive. The vault is 43 metres high and its columns rise 20 metres. The ...
... enormous stained-glass window complete with rose design, is one of the largest stained-glass windows in the world.

Inside is just as impressive. The vault is 43 metres high and its columns rise 20 metres. The enormous stained-glass window complete with rose design, is one of the largest stained-glass windows in the world.

The streets in the historic quarter all flow to the Placa Major, the heart of the old town. The warm pastel shades of this 19th century square give off a calming effect, which restaurants and bars use to their advantage to entice customers in for more than just one drink.

Seeing as Mallorca has a long, intertwined history with the Arabs, any visit should include a trip to the Banys Arabs, Arab baths. It is now the only building in Palma dating back to Moorish times. They were constructed in the 10th century AD and offer a unique insight into life in Palma and Mallorca at the time.

Palma de Mallorca is also about relaxing, seeing and being seen, and with this in mind you shouldn''t be surprised to see ?ber-trendy Europeans sauntering down the city''s streets. However, you don''t need to worry about Palma being pretentious. It''s down to earth locals keep this haughtiness well at bay.

Palma de Mallorca is also about relaxing, seeing and being seen. Expect well-dressed people sipping cocktails and shops selling the best in fashion from top European fashion houses. However, you don''t need to worry about Palma being pretentious. It''s down to earth locals keep this haughtiness well at bay. Bonny Kominek is a travel expert and freelance writer. They recommend Octopus Travel for Palma de Mallorca.