Island of Mallorca
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Palma de Mallorca
Palma Cathedral
Cosmopolitan Palma is Mallorca’s capital city and largest port. Its Moorish and European architecture is dominated by the Gothic cathedral, La Seu while the fascinating “old town” or central area, offers numerous narrow streets, hidden behind the high walls of ancient buildings. The historic center extends inland from the port, which includes the prominent cathedral and royal palace. Many charter yacht visitors enjoy a walking tour starting at the popular gathering point at Placa d’Espanya. Stroll along various streets that weave throughout the area including the Passeig des Born, a tree-lined boulevard and heart of the city’s life. Other areas to shop or sip a café con leche are the Calle Jaime III, Calle San Miguel, Plaza Mayor, and la Rambla.
Palace of Almudaina
Yacht charter visitors frequent La Seu Cathedral, Almudaina Palace, La Lonja and the Arab baths, all located in the old town and close to the port. Another must-see site is the old Gran Hotel, now a museum of modern art called the Fundacio la Caixa. Higher up in the city but still within walking distance are the 14th century hilltop royal fortress Castell de Bellver and the Pueblo Espanol, a Spanish Village theme park featuring reproductions of Spanish architecture.
Fruit filled decorations at Abaco
At night, dine in the old town or sip cocktails along the lively, tree-lined avenues. A must-do is a visit to Abaco, located at Calle San Joan 1. This favorite bar of many residents is located in a 17th century historic mansion and is decorated with an impressive array of fruits and flowers. On Friday nights there is a “rain of roses” with classical music. Although pricier than other Palma bars, it’s worth the visit.
Puerto de Andratx
Harbor at Puerto de Andratx
The relatively undiscovered resort of Puerto Andratx lies in the southwest corner of Mallorca. Most visitors arrive via yacht or own homes in the area, resulting in a non-touristy atmosphere. The original town was built inland from the port as a defense against pirate attacks. Evidence of this is found in the town’s narrow cobbled streets and fortress-like Santa Maria church. Walk uphill for beautiful views of the old town.
During the 13th Century, King Jaime I and the Bishop of Barcelona had homes here and Andratx is still attracting the illustrious including Claudia Schiffer and Tom Cruise.
Soller
Puerto de Soller at sunset
The attractive town on Mallorca’s north-west coast lies inland from the Port de Soller but is worth a visit. The town lies in a large, fertile bowl-shaped valley famous for its orange groves and ancient olive trees. The valley and its surrounding mountain range, the Sierra de Tramuntana, is a favorite walking area due to its beautiful vistas and peaceful respite from the local tourist areas.
Wander around the town with houses ranging from the 14th century to modern architecture. Of particular interest is the parish church of Saint Bartholomew in the main square and the charming houses along the Gran Via.
Many charter yacht visitors enjoy hiking the mountains along a network of paths, many of which are cobble-stoned that were originally built by people traveling from town to town along the range. One route that’s easy to hike is the Cami del Rost, leading from Soller through the hills to Deia, past the fincas (large farms/estates) of S’Heretat, Ca’n Prohum and Son Coll. The walk, which takes about 2-3 hours, rewards hikers with beautiful views of Lluc-Alcari.
of Sóller.
Pollensa
Pollensa Pine Walk
Pollensa, located on Mallorca’s northwest coast, incorporates Puerto Pollensa and the old Roman town of Pollensa with narrow 18th century streets, which lies a few miles inland. The Bay of Pollensa is often filled with luxury yachts and colorful local fishing boats. A number of small area beaches offer warm, shallow waters, making the area a popular destination for families. The main attraction of the resort is the dramatic Sierra de Tramunana mountain range that shelters the town. It’s worth a hike through the hills to see stunning views over the bays. One of the most popular ways to see Puerto Pollensa is an evening stroll after dinner along the Pine walk. This pedestrian promenade is lined with palms and pine trees and runs for most of the length of the resort. Pollensa is one of Mallorca’s leading cultural centers. It has been a favorite area for painters and writers visiting the island throughout the past century.
The Calvari Steps and the Roman Bridge are one of the most popular cultural attractions of the island. The cypress tree lined Calvari steps lead up the tiny Calvari church with its ancient wooden cross and magnificent views over the old town of Pollensa. The Roman Bridge was possibly built from the first centuries CE, built to carry water to the city.
Calvari Steps
Cap de Formentor
Cap de Fromentor
Some of the most breathtaking views on Mallorca are found off Cap de Formentor, a spectacular bluff on the northern most point of the island. Its highest point, Fumart, looks out over the bays of Cala Fiquera, Cala Murta and Cala Pi de la Posada but there are various lookout points from which to see spectacular vistas. The most well-known is Mirador del Mal Pas, also known as Mirador d’es Colomer after the small island Colomer. To the east visitors will see Menorca, to the west Cala Figuera and to the south the sandy-beaches of Alcudia. However, some are intimidated by the high cliffs perched above a roaring sea and vicious headland winds.
In the southeastern part near Raco de Xot there is a cave with a sea opening. Two entrances are located over the surface of the water.
Alcudia
Alcudia Town
Alcudia is Mallorca’s oldest town, settled first by Phoenicians and Greeks. They were followed in the 2nd century BCE by the Romans who made it the island’s capital. Parts of the town dating to 1300 CE are in tact. Visitors to the Old Town enter the narrow streets through one of two gates that were constructed, along with the city walls, after the Spanish conquest of King Jaime I. A two-hour guided walking talk is offered every Wednesday at noon.
The port and holiday resort of Alcudia, lined with hotels and tourist development lies at the western end of the Bay of Alcudia. The warm shallow waters of the bay and wide sandy beaches make this area popular with families.
Porto Cristo
The Caves of Drac Located on Mallorca’s east coast, Porto Cristo is a very typical Spanish village. In fact, the focus of Porto Cristo is its natural harbor, one of the largest along the east coast. Over the years it has provided safe protection for local fishing boats and more recently has welcomed larger yachts. There are two popular stories told about the original of the village’s name, “the port of Christ.” The first is a legend that during 1260 CE when the earliest Christians arrived on the island, a fishing boat carrying a crucifix was washed ashore there. The second concerns two oxen carrying an icon of Christ to Palma. They stopped in the area and refused to move, so the icon stayed and the town was renamed in its honor. The resort is very quiet, especially during the evening, but lively Cala Millor is nearby.
The Caves of Drac and Caves of Hams are the most popular tourist attractions on Mallorca. Of the two, the “Cuevas del Drach” is the most famous and best visited of the island’s 200 known caves due to its abundant speleothems and the impressive underground lake. There are numerous pure white stalactites and stalagmites. Visits are scheduled hourly and visitors walk on their own into the 14 different rooms of the cave leading to the chamber lake which accommodates about 1000 visitors. This is the setting for a short classical music concert given by musicians on a boat.
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