Mallorca (pronounced
my-YOR-ka), the largest of the Balearic Islands, is also the most popular. It draws visitors from the colder climes of Europe. Its beaches, sunny weather and dazzling seaside scenery are the main attractions, though it retains a bit more of its traditional flavor than the Costa del Sol, another package-tour haven.
Palma de Mallorca is the largest and most cosmopolitan city in the Balearics. Its best attractions are an impressive Gothic cathedral, the Old City, Bellver Castle, the Convent of St. Francis and Palacio Vivot. The Moorish architecture of the Almudaina Palace is a striking contrast to the nearby cathedral. Palma also has several fine museums. We recommend the Palau March, with its striking sculpture terrace, cathedral views, collection of nativity scenes, and murals by Josep Maria Sert. Not to be missed is the terrace at the Baluard Museum, with stunning views over the port, castle and cathedral. Inside, an imaginative conversion has turned this former military bastion into an impressive museum of modern art. Also worth visiting are the Museum of Spanish Contemporary Art near Placa Major and the Fundacio Joan Miro out beyond the castle.
But the resorts are where many visitors head—those at the Bay of Palma are the most crowded and least attractive. Another option is the relaxing resort of Puerto Pollensa, on a long beach of golden sand in the northeast. Stretching beyond it is the dramatic headland of Cabo Formentor, with a luxury hotel near the end. The nearby town of Alcudia has a fine beach, but the resort is a little frantic.
Inland in the hills is the old town of Pollensa. Visit the northern towns of Soller and Puerto de Soller, linked by a narrow gauge train and filled with old-world charm, although the beaches are unimpressively small. A spectacular mountain drive leads you to Valldemossa, a picturesque highland village. It's the home of La Cartuja (a former monastery) and the nearby La Granja working museum. George Sand and Frederick Chopin stayed at Valldemossa in the winter of 1838-39, and Chopin wrote some of his familiar piano pieces there. On the east coast there are many coves, inlets and fishing villages. The main resort is Cala D'Or. If you are looking for a more out-of-the-way village, try Petra, the birthplace of Fray Junipero Serra, the 18th-century Franciscan missionary who founded the chain of Spanish missions and settlements along the California coast. 345 mi/555 km east of Madrid.
