Majorca Villas & Apartments
The oldest and largest of the Balearic islands, Majorca manages to encapsulate the best of all that is Spanish – a temperate climate, fine beaches, diverse landscape and a proud cultural heritage.
It is inland Mallorca that will really impress the first time visitor: vibrantly coloured sunflower fields, citrus and olive groves stand alongside ancient market towns, windmills and terraced gardens. Each village has its weekly market and fiesta with traditional dances, food and wine.
One of the most noticeable fiestas is held in the old Roman market town of Pollenca which in early August stages a re-enactment of a great battle between the Christians and the Moors. Pollenca also hosts a magnificent music festival in the intimate surrounds of its ancient cloister.
Like the other Balearic islands, Mallorca has had encounters with occupying forces from the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Arabs to the Vandals. The capital Palma was established by the Romans and its narrow, largely medieval streets, have much to offer in the way of architectural and historical interest.
The island may have a reputation for its tourist resorts but recently the government’s attempts to halt mass construction on the coast and to protect some threatened historical sites and revive traditional culture have ensured that the true lure of the island – its diverse landscape, rocky coves and local traditions – will endure for years to come.
The Sierra de Tramuntana towers majestically over the island and the drive from Pollenca to the beautiful towns of Soller, Deia and Valldemosa, or even a walk through the verdant foothills, will be an experience to savour.
Many a picture postcard fishing village can be found in the rural South East corner of the island. Cala Figuera, Porto Petro and Porto Colom continue to exist as they have done for centuries – fishermen’s houses line idyllic harbours and clear bays, and the fish restaurants are simply beyond compare.
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