Palma Information

Palma is the capital city of Mallorca (Majorca) and the rest of the Balearic islands that lay off the south east coast of mainland Spain, situated in the Mediterranean Sea. Adjoining islands are Ibiza and Menorca.

Mallorca is a lovely holiday destination and place to live, and a visit to Palma will be a real eye opener, and will hopefully demonstrate that there is more to the island. The island of Mallorca has an average of 300 days of sunshine each year.

Mallorca’s mild temperatures and the low rainfall make of this island a perfect beach destination. In Summer the average daily temperature is 23ºC. Rain is an almost unknown during Summer, and it’s not often you see a cloudy day. The rainy season is the winter, but even then rain is not common, especially in Palma in the South of the Island!

On one side of Palma is the Mediterranean sea on the other the beautiful mountains of Serra de Tramuntana. Palma is an old town with a lively atmosphere which complements the surroundings.

Mallorca has plenty of attractions, places to visit and things to see and do! There is something here for everyone. In Palma, there are lots of museums offering you the history of the island and interesting information and facts about Mallorca. The history of Mallorca dates back to ancient times and has traces of Roman and Arab civilisations.

Palma is packed with restaurants, bars and dance clubs. In Palma you will find many wonderful restaurants that are more traditionally Spanish rather than directly aimed at tourists. Plus in the capital you will find many local bars, fun entertainment bars with bands to bars where you can just chill out and watch the world go by.

Again you will also find the more Spanish bars as well. Then there are the many types of clubs that play all sorts of music like salsa, pop, dance, funky etc. Palma also has casinos which are great fun for a different night out.

Palma, has some excellent beaches. The airport, Son Sant Joan is situated just outside the capital, Palma. A flight to Mallorca is only between just over two hours from the UK. The first landmark you will see on the final approach before landing will be the impressive 14th Century Gothic cathedral, and the view from the air never ceases to amaze.

The little towns and villages around Palma are all easily accessible, with good roads throughout the island. Mopeds are also another easy way of travelling and exploring the island. They are available for hire very cheaply.

About Palma

Palma, The Jewel of the Mediterranean. Palma is being touted as the new Barcelona. It was recently voted Spain’s best place to live and is a wonderfully cosmopolitan city.

The Old town is a maze of alleyways and hidden courtyards and the visitor can get lost for hours among the boutiques, coffee shops and picturesque squares. One essential attraction is the magnificent gothic cathedral, with Gaudi having worked on the interior, it is a magnificent spectacle.

Property in Palma has risen significantly over the last few years, with the Old Town, Santa Catalina, Portixol and the Paseo Maritimo being the most popular places to buy.

Recent history

The fall of Barcelona in 1714 signalled the end of the Spanish Succession War and this was reflected on the Decretos de Nueva Planta, which modified the government of the island and separated it from the government of Palma, which became the official city name. In the 18th century Charles III of Spain removed restriction of commerce with Spanish colonies in America and the port and commercial activities of the city grew again.

In the 19th century, Palma became the refuge of many who had exiled themselves from the Napoleonic occupations. In this period, freedom flourished. With the establishment of the Spanish state administrative organisation, Palma became the capital of the newly formed province of Balearic Islands in 1833. The French occupation of Algeria ended the fear of Maghrebi attacks, which encouraged the expansion of new maritime routes, and the economic growth of the city expanded quickly.