Prehistory and pre-Roman people

Archaeological research at Atapuerca indicates the Iberian Peninsula was peopled many ago. Modern humans began arriving in the Iberian Peninsula through the Pyrenees. The best known artifacts of these prehistoric human settlements are the famous paintings in the Altamira cave of Cantabria in northern Spain.

Archaeological and genetic evidence strongly suggests that the Iberian Peninsula acted as one of three major refugia from which northern Europe was vastly repopulated following the end of the last ice age.

The two main historical peoples of the peninsula were the Iberians and the Celts, the former inhabiting the Mediterranean side from the northeast side to the southwest, the latter inhabiting the Atlantic side, in the north and northwest part of the peninsula. In the most inner part of the peninsula, where both groups were in contact, a mixed, distinctive culture, known as Celtiberian, was present.

In addition, Basques occupied the western area of the Pyrenees. Other ethnic groups existed along the southern coastal areas of Andalusia. Among these southern groups there grew the earliest urban culture in the Iberian Peninsula, that of the semi-mythical southern city of Tartessos (pre-1100 BC) near the location of Cádiz. The flourishing trade in gold and silver between the people of Tartessos and Phoenicians and Greeks is documented in the history of Strabo and in the biblical book of king Solomon.

Between 500 BC and 300 BC, the seafaring Phoenicians and Greeks founded trading colonies all along the Spanish Mediterranean coast. Carthaginians took control of much of the Mediterranean coast in the course of the Punic Wars, until they were eventually replaced by the Romans.

Roman Empire and the Germanic Kingdoms: During the Second Punic War, an expanding Roman Empire captured the Carthaginian trading colonies along the Mediterranean coast from roughly 210 BC to 205 BC, leading to Roman control of almost the entire Iberian Peninsula; this lasted over 500 years, and they were bound together by law, language, and the Roman roads.

The base Celt and Iberian population remained, and local leaders were admitted into the Roman aristocratic class. Hispania served as a granary for the Roman market, and its harbours were used to export gold, wool, olive oil, and wine.

About Mallorca

Mallorca is Spain's largest island with 554 km of coastline, and has a population of just under 1,000,000. Like the other Balearic Islands ibiza, Formentera, and Menorca, Tourism is the main industry, with about 11,000,000 visitors to Mallorca each year. In Germany and the United Kingdom, where package tourism to the island started in May 1952, Mallorca has remained a popular destination.

Mallorca's landscape is very varied, and the first thing which attracts your attention is the Tramuntana Mountain range, formed by a line of mountains running parallel to the north west coast, the highest of which is Puig Major. The mountains give way to a coastline of tiny villages, sand, pebble and rock beaches, including the wonderful towns of Soller and Deia.With a mild climate in the winter, hot summers, beautiful scenery, beaches and great hotels, you can see why it is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world.

The capital of the island is Palma which is also the capital of the Balearic Islands. Palma is a wonderfully vibrant city with something for every taste. Some of the largest Yachts in the Mediteranean, fabulous Tapas Bars, winding alleys and superb art galleries. The national anthem of Mallorca is La Balanguera.