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.

Palma tourist information

Palma is the capital city of the Spanish island of Mallorca. It is 5km west of the island’s Palma airport and has a population of over 300,000 people. It is easily accessible using public transport from nearby resorts such as Palma Nova and has become a very popular short break destination.

The majority of visitors to the island rarely take the time to visit the city in their rush to get to their resort and soak up the sun. By doing so they miss out on one of the most beautiful Spanish cities.

The city lies on the Bay of Palma with the long Passeig Maritim running the full length of Palma’s waterfront. Some of the world's largest yachts can be seen moored in Palma's marina. Regular ferries from the mainland, offering services to the adjacent port.

From the whole length of the Passeig Maritim there are breathtaking views across the bay to the magnificent Sa Seu Cathedral and to the Bellver Castle which is above the city, on the west side. These are Palma's most visited tourist attractions. The tourist highspots of the city are all within a short distance of the 14th century Gothic cathedral on which Gaudi worked and he added finishing touches to the interior.